Tester Bio
I live in North East Alabama. I enjoy hunting, fishing, canoeing, and most other outdoor activities but backpacking is my favorite pastime. I enjoy hiking with friends and family or solo. I hike throughout the year and actually hike the least in the hot humid months of summer. My style is slow and steady and my gear is light. However I will sacrifice weight for comfort and durability. A typical 3-season load for me is around 20 lb (9 kg) not counting food or water. I usually sleep in a hammock and cook with an alcohol stove. My backpacking trips are usually 2, 3 or 4 days in length.

Product Information

Item	Xirtam Jacket (Men's)
Manufacturer	GoLite
Year of Manufacture	2006
URL	http://www.golite.com/
Listed Weight	LG 15 oz (430 g) weight not listed for my XL size
Measured Weight	my size XL 16 oz (454 g)
Color	Wheat/Sable (Grease/Med Blue and Grease/Blaze also available)
MSRP	$200 US

Product Description
It's a rain jacket...but according to GoLite it is much more.
"The Xirtam jacket is revolutionizing the way people dress for the outdoors. A single jacket that’ll keep you dry and comfortable over a full range of weather and activities, it features a breakthrough new fabric called Fusion™ that is both waterproof and windproof but that also has the soft feel, stretch, breathability, and comfort of a soft shell. With thoughtful features like an articulated hood with stretch panels for complete coverage, a watertight full front zip, two hand warmer pockets, and articulated sleeves for maximum range of motion, it's hard to believe the Xirtam weighs in at under a pound!"

GoLite also list these features for the Xirtam
-Imported
-Fusion™ (3 layer shell combines a polyurethane membrane for -waterproofness with a polyester tricot knit for warmth)
-Alchemy3 Stretch™ breathable-waterproof fabric in front, back and hood
-Waterproof, highly wind-resistant, breathable
-Watertight full front zip
-Articulated hood with stretch panels
-2 hand warmer pockets
-Welded chest pocket
-2 rear mesh core vents for increased airflow
-Articulated sleeves for maximum range of motion
-Aerodynamic fit
-Elasticized cuffs with rubber grip pull tab

Initial Impressions
It looks like a very nice rain jacket with impeccable craftsmanship in the sewing, taping and general finish of the jacket. I also like the hand of the material. It actually does feel less like a rain jacket than the hard shells I am familiar with. That said, the jacket is missing a few features listed on the website. These would be the welded chest pocket and 2 rear mesh core vents. Also, I am not quite sure what is meant by "Articulated hood with stretch panels" because the hood on my jacket appears to be made of only one type of material. I can't find any stretch panels, though the entire hood is pretty stretchy. In fact this is the same material used on the shoulder section and down the outside of each arm.   It is described on the GoLite website as "Alchemy3 Stretch™ breathable-waterproof fabric in front, back and hood". This material has a fuzzy feel and seems slightly more stretchy than the rest of the jacket.

The rest of the jacket is made of Fusion™. I came to this conclusion since the hood is listed as Alchemy3 Stretch™ and there is absolutely a difference in the two materials. This material (Fusion™) is a tad less fuzzy than the Alchemy3 Stretch™ but still not slick like most hard shell jackets. It is also stretchy but my unscientific testing says it is not as stretchy as the Alchemy3 Stretch™.

Fit
I picked an XL based on my personal experience with other jackets. If I had used my chest measurement of 45 in (114 cm) the chart says I would need a Large but that I am right at the edge. I am pretty sure a Large jacket would be too small. They place an XL at 45.5 in through 49.75 in (115 - 126 cm). On the other hand, my neck measure of 17.5 in (44 cm) is at the dead center of the measurement range the chart recommends for the XL.

Regardless of all the guessing, the jacket fits me very well in the chest area but is definitely not too big. However, it is snug enough on my shoulders that layering under it will be a challenge. My guess is, my shoulders are broader than the average guy with a 45 in (114 cm) chest. It is also comfortable, due in large part too the stretchy material. I have put the jacket on over several of my layers I expected to wear it with. My fleece jacket makes the Xirtam feel way too tight on my shoulders. My wool Ibex Scout shirt (really a light weight sweater) is just about perfect even with a regular tee-shirt on under the Scout.

Proposed Testing Plan
My main thrust in testing will be to see if the manufacture's claims for the new fabric called Fusion™ are true.   Is it really waterproof yet breathable? I will test this claim while hiking with and without my backpack. I have a regular climb which makes me sweat in all but the coldest weather. When I wear my pack I sweat even more easily. I will pay close attention to how much I sweat and also how wet my layers under the Xirtam get. And since the Xirtam is advertised as "A single jacket that’ll keep you dry and comfortable over a full range of weather and activities" I will use it not only for backpacking and day hiking, but biking, and any other time I'm outdoors in the rain, wind or cold (or any combination of the three). When biking I have already seen that it does not have to be that cold to need a jacket.

I will test the comfort of the Xirtam. The Fusion™ fabric is advertised as soft and stretchy which should allow me to be nimble on foot. I don't really rock climb, but do have to move in awkward positions as I scramble along some portions of trails. As a "soft shell" I expect the jacket to be quiet. I hate a noisy rain coat.

I will test the key features of the Xirtam. Is the jacket warm enough for most of my local hiking areas without a lot of extra layers underneath? Does the jacket allow for layering when needed (this depends on fit of course)?   My original plan was to wear the Xirtam over my fleece jacket in cold weather but early testing of fit says I will need to use slightly thinner layers under the Xirtam. How warm are the hand warmer pockets? Are they placed in a manner that lets my hands fit in them naturally? Do they collect water when used in heavy rain? Are the vents made in such a way so that they remain waterproof? Does the hood allow for good vision? Hearing? Does the Aerodynamic fit make me faster on the trail? On my bike?

I will test the durability of the Xirtam. I will wear it as my main winter coat during all backpacking and other outdoor activities. In order to wear the jacket more I will wear it in place of my fleece jacket even when it is not raining. When even colder I will wear whatever I can comfortably layer under the jacket. I will see how the zippers hold up. I will see if wearing my pack delaminates any of the fabric at the shoulders or where my pack may rub. And while I generally try to avoid really nasty brush, I invariably scrape on limbs and rocks in the course of a day in the woods.

And last, I will report on ease of care. GoLite gives these care instructions which I will follow "Machine wash cold separately. Rinse thoroughly. Do not use bleach. Do not use fabric softener. Line dry or tumble dry low if needed. Do not iron." Mostly I just plan to rinse the jacket off if I get it muddy and an occasional deep cleaning if it becomes extremely soiled or starts to smell bad.

Anticipated Testing Locations
I will be making several short overnight hikes and a few longer hikes when testing the Xirtam. I will be testing in the southeaster US with trips into the local mountains of Tennessee, Georgia, and North Carolina. However, most testing will be done in Northeast Alabama. Elevations will generally be less than 4000 ft (1219 m). I generally see some rain when hiking.

Anticipated Testing Conditions
Winters around here are usually quite rainy and often this rain comes with temperatures just above freezing.   I usually see some snow each winter but what usually transpires is that it stops raining just before the bottom drops out of the thermometer. Ice storms are also frequent happenings.

As far as my camping is concerned, I love camping in cold weather and try to hit the coldest spells, especially if there is snow in the forecast. I also get out day hiking in cold weather on an almost daily basis. I just recently started biking and will wear the Xirtam as I continue this throughout the winter.

Field Test Results

January 4,2007

Testing Locations and Conditions
I have worn or carried the Xirtam on five overnight hikes and several times when just out dayhiking. On a couple of the overnighters, I used a warmer down jacket so the Xirtam was just along for the ride. Temperatures were as cold as 12 F (-11 C) for one night though only 26 F (-3 C) as I was making supper that night. It made it down to 9 F (-13 C) that night but I packed up at 3 AM and went back home (my nose was getting cold). It dropped well below freezing for three of the five nights. The woods were always wet because my stomping grounds have received rain every few days. I was mostly out testing different bag and hammock setups for an anticipated cold January hike in the Great Smokey Mountain National Park. I have used it even more riding my bike. The temperatures during the bike riding have been a little warmer as I don't like to ride once it gets below about 50 F (10 C). However, I wore the jacket while riding several times when it was in the 40s F (4 C) and once when it was only 38 F (3). The cold and damp conditions have been perfect for testing a rain jacket.

Performance
biker

The Xirtam has been an excellent performer, especially in the rain. I have worn it in everything from sunny weather to downpours. On the cold but sunny days, I often wore the jacket while hiking until I hit a hill big enough to get me warmed up. I then either took it off and put it in my pack, or if dayhiking, put it in my fanny pack. On my bike I tied it around my waist for the big climbs.

On the overnight hikes I usually started out with the jacket on and took it off after I warmed up. On one trip it was 33 F (1 C) as I left home. I kept the jacket on for the hike down the mountain to my campsite. Temps were dropping fast so I switched over to a down jacket while setting up camp and cooking supper. The next morning it was 22 F (- 6 C) so I put on my down jacket instead of the Xirtam. I was soon back down to just my base layer though as I hiked back up the mountain. I did the same hike the next day when it was even colder but just wore the down jacket.

A few days later on a dayhike it was 66 F (19 C) and I really did not need the jacket to keep warm. However, since it was raining a slow steady rain I wore it anyways. The hood did what it was supposed to do, keep my head dry. The jacket kept the rain out but I did sweat enough to wet it on the inside, especially across the shoulder area and neck opening. I could have slowed down to limit the sweating but I really wanted to see how the advertised breathing properties worked. I can't say it worked all that great but I have had similar experiences with other breathable jackets. I will just say that in my experience, I will wet out any rain proof breathable jacket when hiking uphill for long.

I wore the jacket on at least 20 bike rides but I haven't kept an exact count. These rides usually lasted between one and two hours and were on hilly roads. The longest was 18 miles (29 km) and several were around 10 miles (16 km). However, most were 6 mile (10 km) rides which included going off the mountain. This required a 500 ft (152 m) gain in elevation coming back the same way. And just as with hiking, the jacket was great while going at a leisurely pace but I would get hot when I tackled hills. The only problem with this was that while on my bike I could not really take the jacket off and on for every little hill and subsequent coast on the downhill side. I just kept it on because the need for a wind proof layer outweighed the need to take it off during the short climbs.

When I rode off the mountain, I knew I had about 20 minutes of steady climbing so I would take it off for the climb but then put it back on for the short 1 mile (1.6 km) ride the rest of the way home.

I used the jacket on the bike in the rain twice. On both occasions it was around 60 F (16 C). The jacket did a great job. I returned from both rides warm and no wetter than I usually am from sweat on a dry ride. The hood fit well enough over my helmet to keep my head dry except for my face. And to be fair, the speed of the bike contributed to this as much as anything. My sweatpants, sock, shoes and gloves were soaked at the end of both rides. I need more than the Xirtam if I plan to ride in the rain often.

Comfort
This Xirtam enhanced comfort in the field in several ways. The fit, as I mentioned the Initial Report section, is tighter than I am accustom too, but the stretchy material made up for the tight fit. It did limit what I could wear under the jacket to nothing bulkier than a thick sweatshirt. When hiking the jacket did not hinder my movement and it was also fine while performing camp chores. It was also great for bike riding and did not feel restrictive as I reached for the drops on my handlebars.

The softshell characteristics were not that noticeable because I didn't wear the jacket directly against my skin. However, I think it made the jacket feel more comfortable. It's hard to put a qualifier on how it felt but I liken it to wearing new blue jeans compared to an older pair.

The hood always seems to be a little big for my head. This was never a problem and I finally learned to appreciate it when I wore it over my winter headgear. It also worked over my bike helmet though it is just barely big enough for that. The hood strap for securing the hood was not needed when I was hiking because I am a slow hiker. It was really handy for bike riding though.

The warmth the Xirtam provided also added to my comfort level. On the colder days, it felt good with just a single thin base layer and I was fine with just the jacket down to around 50 F (10 C). It worked in even colder temperatures when I was moving about. The wind proof material was also very nice, especially when riding my bike which creates wind even on a calm day.

Care and Durability
So far I have not had any issues. I have not needed to wash the jacket either. My hiking has been on trail and so far I have not had a bike wreck. I want to get in more hiking and perhaps some will be off trail but I hope to keep the bike wrecking at zero. I will continue to monitor the jacket for any signs of failure, whether it be a tear in the material, a leak, a seam failure, or zipper problems.

Summary Thus Far
I like the Xirtam. Besides giving excellent rain protection, it provides a lot of warmth for such a light and packable jacket. And while I would prefer it to be slightly bigger so that I could wear it over more layers, I do appreciate the non-bulky feeling when I did not need them. I guess it boils down to whether or not I want the added versatility of being able to wear it over more layers or, the liking the trim athletic fit this one provides.

Long Term Report
February 26, 2007

Long Term Testing Locations and Conditions.
I have used the jacket here in northeast Alabama and in eastern Tennessee. I have worn it when it was raining, snowing, or sleeting and twice when it was doing all three. I used it almost continuously on a two day hike in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park where the lowest temperature was 18 F (-8 C) and the highest elevation encountered was 6,643 ft (2025 m). It was also very windy and I was hiking exposed ridgelines for much of this hike.

Long Term Test Results
The jacket has seen a lot more use as daily wear, backpacking, dayhiking and bike riding. In fact, I have worn it almost daily since the start of this test. It has been cooler lately and on several occasions I have used a warmer down jacket early in the day until it warmed up to temperatures where the Xirtam was more appropriate. It was raining and cool enough a few times that I was wishing the Xirtam was a little bigger so it would fit over more layers.

I usually wore the Xirtam while hiking, especially if it was cold, windy or raining, and then switched to my down jacket after I arrived at camp. On the hike in the Smoky Mountains I used the Xirtam almost constantly. It was around 50 F (10 C) when we left the vehicles but a cold front was moving in so it did gradually get cooler. I wore a thin base layer and a light wool sweater under the Xirtam. Most of the trail was uphill and it rained off and on for much of the 6 miles (10 k) we hiked the first day. I played the put on jacket, remove jacket game quite a bit as I would get too hot while wearing the Xirtam during the steeper sections. However, this gave me a good excuse to stop often and I really did not mind. It also made me fall behind my hiking partner who probably just thought I was slow...fooled him.

As I reported in the Field Test, the hood on this jacket is quite large, in fact large enough to fit over my bike helmet. Because of the cool temperatures and showers I wore the jacket for a longer period on this hike than I was used to and as I was hiking along I was aggravated at the way it hindered my peripheral vision. At some point early on during this hike I reached up and folded about an inch of the front part of the hood back. hood

Wow, what a difference! This not only solved the vision problem, as an added bonus, it kept any rain from dripping in the front. At first I was concerned it would come undone but it stayed just like I folded it in high winds and even as I removed my pack It is amazing how different the jacket feels with this simple adjustment. Where it once felt restrictive, it now feels liberating. Where it once felt like I was peering out of a tunnel, I now feels like I am standing on a fire tower overlooking a magnificent view. OK, maybe that last part is a bit of an exxageration, but it was such a difference it is hard to describe. The hood now fits as if custom made for my head. I know it sounds silly but trust me on this one. My biggest disappointment is that it took me nearly four months to make this discovery. I have since worn the jacket in several rains and now just instinctively fold the hood back anytime I pull it on And for the record, here is a photo which shows the fold much better than I can describe it.

Now back to the Smoky Mountains hike. The first night was cold and rainy with a low of around 35 F (2 C). I wore my down jacket before bedtime and again the next morning as I prepared breakfast and then packed up for the day. The next several miles were mostly climbing so I wore the Xirtam over my base layer and a light wool sweater. It was sleeting off and on and getting colder but I actually had to remove the Xirtam for some of the climbing. However, stopping was tough and the cold wind made me quickly start hiking again. By the time we reached Clingman's Dome it was around 25 F (-4 C) and the winds were getting stronger. Standing around in the Xirtam was not cutting it so I put my down jacket on for this short 30 minute lunch break. This was one of the times when it would have been great to be able to use the Xirtam over a bulky layer.

The temperatures continued to drop for the 7 mile (11 km) hike back to the car but I hiked in the Xirtam the rest of the day. When we got back to the car it was 18 F (-8 C) with winds that were very strong. I was actually a little cooler than I would have preferred while hiking and on the few breaks we took I did not stop long to avoid the hassle of digging extra clothes out of my pack. This was one of the few times that I actually did not notice any moisture even though I was hiking at a fast pace. Perhaps I was not sweating at all, or more likely, not sweating much, but I know I produced some moisture just walking along and the Xirtam was letting this moisture escape

During the Long Term Report phase I did wear the Xirtam numerous times when just out dayhiking. On a couple of these hikes it was raining and I wore it even when I worked hard and sweated. It breathed fairly well and I was warm despite being a little damp under the jacket. When not raining, I usually just tied the jacket around my waist while climbing. If I stopped for a break or the wind picked up enough to make me feel chilled, it was a simple matter to put the jacket back on.

I hve continued to use the Xitram as my bike riding jacket except when it was below about 40 F (4 C). On those few occasions when I needed something warmer, I used a down jacket. On a normal ride I used the Xirtam while riding on fairly level terrain and for going down the mountain at 35 mph (56 kph). I would then take the jacket off when I turned around for the climb back up the mountain. The jacket was great for cutting the wind at the higher speeds but when climbing at 3 mph (5 kph) I would sweat in just a light t-shirt.
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Care and Durability
The jacket is still looking good and I have not needed to wash it other than a quick wipe with a damp cloth. Wearing it in the rain serves to keep it fairly clean as well. The zippers are still functioning well and I have not had any snagging problems while zipping or unzipping it. I have noticed the main zipper is a little hard to unzip using just one hand. When I am riding my bike I am not comfortable riding no-handed which led to this discovery. To be honest, I noticed it while off the bike but with two hands available it was no biggie. And interestingly, the zippers for the pockets do not seem as sticky. I added a little candle wax to the zipper and it helped but when I near the top there is enough sagginess in that area of the jacket that unzipping is still a two handed job until I get below the loose area. I guess my big belly does come in handy occasionally....

Conclusion
Overall, I am very satisfied with the performance of the Xirtam. It proved to be waterproof, windproof and somewhat breathable. It also worked very nicely over a wide range of temperatures. I was most surprised at how warm it kept me when riding my bike down the mountain. The cut is such that it works great for this activity. It does not flap around in the wind like my old rain jacket does. But the downside is I have to be careful not to have on bulky clothing under the Xirtam. As a result, I will use the Xirtam more when it is not bitterly cold and wearing several layers is not called for. Fortunately, here in Alabama, this means I can wear the Xirtam more often than not.

I would like to thank BackpackGearTest and GoLite for the opportunity to test the Xirtam jacket.

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