Name: Liz Neely
Age: 38
Gender: Female
Height: 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight: 145 lb (65.8 kg)
Email address: liz at armory dot com
Location: Santa Cruz, California

Tester's Background:

I've been day hiking for many years, and started backpacking in 2005. My backpacking has been primarily in Central and Northern California, on designated trails. My backpacking trips have ranged in length from 2-4 days, with temperatures from 25 to 75 F (4 to 24 C), and elevations between sea level and 8700 ft (2652 m). I'm not an ultra-light backpacker, but I keep my pack weight between 28 to 35 lbs (12.7 to 15.9 kg) including food and water. I typically hike between 7 to 11 mi (11 to 18 km) per day and I sleep in a tent.

Product Information:

Manufacturer: GoLite
Year of Manufacture: 2006
URL: http://www.golite.com/
MSRP: $200 US
Listed Weight: size Medium - 13 oz (370 g); weight not listed for size Large
Measured Weight: size Large - 15.25 oz (432 g)
Available Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL; a men's version is also available in various sizes
Available Colors: Grease/Wheat, Grease/Blue Reef, Grease
Care: 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.

Product Description:

This is a waterproof and windproof jacket with an articulated hood and hand warmer pockets. It's designed to keep me dry and comfortable over a full range of weather and activities. It's made of a fabric called Fusion™ that is waterproof and windproof but is also soft, stretchable, and breathable.

These are the key features listed by the manufacturer:

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 Report October 28, 2006

Initial Impressions:

I ordered a size large based on the sizing chart on GoLite's website. The website said this jacket is semi-fitted, which is described as having freedom of movement and comfort without much excess fabric. This describes the fit perfectly. I'm accustomed to jackets that fit looser, but this jacket fits exactly as described. I put a fleece layer over my shirt, and put the jacket over that and found that it still fit well. The fabric the jacket is made of is somewhat stretchy, which helps with allowing layering but still having a close fit.

I went through the features listed on the website and there were a few features I was unable to find on the jacket. Namely, I can't find the welded chest pocket or the two rear mesh core vents. Also, the website says the jacket has elasticized cuffs, but the cuffs are not elasticized, they fasten with loop-and-hook closures with no elastic. Note that the features I am unable to find are also listed on the tag that was attached to the jacket. I also found two inside mesh pockets that weren't mentioned on the website; they are directly behind the outside hand warmer pockets. These inside pockets don't have closures, but they are deep enough that I don't think things will fall out of them. Another nice feature I found that I didn't see listed on the website is a fastener to keep the hood down behind my head when not in use.

The elastic loops on either side of the hood are designed to be pulled on to tighten the hood around my face. There is no fastener for the elastic loops after they are pulled. I am concerned that the hood will not stay tight since there is no fastener to hold the elastic pulls in place, however, I've worn the jacket around the house a bit and this hasn't been a problem yet. The real test will be when I'm wearing the jacket while backpacking/active.

One problem I'm encountering is that the elastic around the hood to keep it tight around my face only extends a little above my eyebrows, it doesn't extend across the top portion of the hood. That top portion of the hood has a large gap in it, which I'm concerned will allow wind and rain to get on my hair and head there. Here's a picture of what I'm trying to describe, notice the gap between my head and the hood at the top of my forehead. Regardless of how tight I pull the hood tighteners, this gap remains since the elastic is not in that top portion of the hood. I will report on whether that gap proves to be a problem for me during the test period.

Test Strategy:

Below are some specific questions that I will aim to answer and report on. In addition to these specific things, I will also report on anything else I discover about this jacket during the test period.

Comfort/Fit:
Is the jacket comfortable and easy to move around in or is it stiff and constricting? Is it cut appropriately to fit around a woman's hips? If I have the hood fully around my head, how much is my peripheral vision restricted by the hood? Is the hood fitted close enough to my head that the wind won't blow it off or blow into it?

Durability:
A jacket can get some rough treatment, such as being scratched by branches, brushed against sharp rocks, and exposed to dirt, mud, sun, snow, rain, and wind. How does this jacket hold up to such treatment? I will not intentionally treat the jacket roughly, but this sort of treatment just happens during outdoor adventures.

Warmth:
At what temperature do I need to add additional layers under the jacket to stay warm? Do I need a hat under the hood, or is the hood warm enough alone? How warm do the hand warming pockets keep my hands?

Wind/Water Resistance:
How water resistant is it, do I stay dry even in a heavy rain? Do I feel any wind getting through the jacket fabric on a very windy day? I reported above about a gap between the hood and my forehead; does wind or rain get into this gap and make my head cold?

Usability:
How easy is the zipper to use? Are the hand warmers easy to get my hands into and out of? What about while wearing a backpack?
What are the care instructions; is it easy to wash and dry or does it require special care? I can answer this one right now: The Xirtam jacket can be machine washed and dried.

Field Report Jan 2, 2007

Field Information

I have worn this jacket on two backpacking trips, two car camping trips, and several cold and rainy days around town.

The first backpacking trip was a two day/one night trip at Henry Coe State Park, CA. The elevations were between 1500 to 2900 ft (457 to 884 m) and the temperatures were between 43 to 70 F (6 to 21 C). The hike covered about 6 mi (10 km) each day. Because of the warm daytime temperatures, I did not need to wear the jacket while backpacking; I only needed it in camp in the evening and morning. I found that if I was active in camp, the jacket kept me very warm in temperatures in the low 50's F (10 C), with only a lightweight short-sleeved hiking shirt underneath. I often had to unzip it to let some air in to cool off a bit. When inactive, I needed some additional layers of clothing. I found that I stayed plenty warm with a lightweight long-sleeved fleece shirt and a thin silk undershirt under the jacket.

The second backpacking trip was a three day/two night trip at Henry Coe State Park, CA. The elevations were between 850 to 2700 ft (259 to 823 m) and the temperatures were between 31 to 65 F (0 to 18 C). The hike covered about 7 mi (11 km) the first day, 8 mi (13 km) the second day, and 4 mi (6 km) the third day. All three days were fairly cold and the second and third day were windy as well. There was no precipitation during this trip. I found that when I was inactive, such as in camp or during rest stops, the jacket, over a long sleeved, lightweight hiking shirt, provided adequate warmth and wind protection when temperatures were in the high 40's and 50's F (8 to 15 C). However, when I was inactive and the temperatures dropped into the low 40's F (6 C) or lower, I needed to add a fleece layer under the jacket. When I was actively backpacking, wearing a long sleeved, lightweight backpacking shirt, the jacket was great for temperatures in the 30's up to the low 50's F (-1 to 12 C), but once temperatures got higher than that, I needed to remove the jacket because I was overheating.

On both car camping trips, the temperatures were between 40 to 50 F (4 to 10 C) and it was raining. The jacket, over a cotton, long-sleeved t-shirt, and a thin fleece pullover, provided adequate warmth. The jacket also fully protected me from the rain, and the hood protected my head from the rain, all except for a small patch of exposed hair at the top of my forehead, as mentioned in my Initial Report. No rain got in through the jacket fabric.

When wearing this jacket around town, the temperatures were between 40 to 55 F (4 to 13 C), and it was rainy. The jacket kept me plenty warm, and when I kept my hands in the pockets, my hands stayed warm too. However, I found the hood to be inadequate. It rides too far back on my head, so the first several inches of my head and hair still get wet from the rain. When I tried to pull the hood forward more over my head, as soon as I started moving again, it slipped back.

Summary of feelings about this jacket after two months of field testing

Comfort/Fit: The fabric of the jacket is comfortable against my skin, and the jacket is not stiff or constricting. The jacket fits around my hips, although it's a snug fit. The jacket has some stretch to it, so this is ok, just not a jacket fit that I'm accustomed too. The arms of the jacket are a bit too long, and I think I could use slightly more length in the neck of the jacket. The reason I think it could use a bit more length is that when wearing my backpack, when I put the hood on, I feel as if I want to pull the hood further up and further forward over my head, but that's as far as the jacket will allow. I also find that the problem I mentioned in my Initial Report section, with the top front part of my head being exposed, is even worse when I'm wearing a backpack over the jacket and I don't have the hood tighteners tightened. Here's a photo demonstrating how much of my forehead is exposed in this situation.

Other comments about the hood are that I do find my peripheral vision somewhat restricted when I have the hood fully on, but not more than any other jacket hood I have worn. And I'm happy to report that the hood stays on even in wind and when moving around a lot. I never had the hood come off unintentionally. My overall feeling is that the jacket is comfortable, but the proportions are a bit unusual; the arms are too long, and the jacket neck is not quite long enough.

Durability: The jacket appears to be very durable. It does not show any signs of wear, even though it has been scratched by tree and bush branches, sat on on rough/rocky ground, and worn under a backpack for several days. It also seems to resist dirt and odors fairly well. I have not yet washed it, and it only has a slightly worn odor, and only has a few lightly soiled looking spots on it.

Warmth: The jacket is surprisingly warm. It's made of a thin fabric, so I wasn't sure it would provide much warmth, but it does. I found that at temperatures down to the high 40's F (8 C), the jacket provided sufficient warmth over only a lightweight, long-sleeved hiking shirt, even when I was fairly inactive. And, while backpacking (active), the jacket provided sufficient warmth over only a lightweight, long-sleeved hiking shirt, in temperatures as low as 30 F (-1 C). In camp, while inactive, the hand warming pockets kept my hands sufficiently warm in temperatures in the low 40's F (4 C).

Wind/Water Resistance: The jacket provides excellent protection against wind and rain. I have worn it a handful of times in the rain, and it has never leaked. The only exception to this is the hood doesn't fully cover the front/top of my head (see Initial Report above), so a little rain does get on that part of my head. One of my backpacking days was very windy and the jacket did a great job of protecting me from the chilling winds. Although a little wind got in the gap at the top front of the hood, it didn't get beyond that point, and didn't blow the hood off my head.

Usability: The zipper is easy to use and I have had no problems with it getting stuck. The hand warmer pockets are easy to use and my hands fit in them well, although I can't access these pockets while wearing a backpack over the jacket. I'm finding that I don't really like the pull cord system used to tighten the hood around my face. I pull on the cords, and sometimes they stay as tight as I pull them and sometimes they slip a bit and end up a bit looser than I had wanted them. Also, once during my most recent backpacking trip, I couldn't loosen the cords after having pulled them tight. They got stuck in the slots that are meant to keep them in place. I ended up having to have my backpacking partner help me with them.

Additional Testing

The only thing I set out to test but have not yet reported on is washing the jacket. It's in my laundry right now and I'll report on the ease or difficulty of cleaning and drying in my final amendment to this report. I'll continue testing this jacket for an additional two months and report on any changes of opinion or additional information obtained during the final test period.

Further Information

This concludes my Field Report. The Long Term Report will be amended to this report in approximately two months from the date of this report. Please check back then for further information.

Long Term Report February 25, 2007

Field Information

I've worn this jacket on two additional backpacking trips since posting my Field Report.

The first backpacking trip was a two day/one night trip at Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in Antioch, CA. The elevations were between 500 and 1300 ft (152 and 396 m) and the temperatures were between 40 and 55 F (4 and 13 C). The hike covered about 5 mi (8 km) each day. It rained lightly on and off all day on the first day, and was very foggy, but didn't rain, on the second day. I wore the jacket most of the time both days. I had a long sleeve, lightweight, hiking shirt on underneath the jacket. I started each day with a fleece shirt over that, and the jacket over the fleece shirt. But, I would quickly heat up from hiking, and remove the fleece shirt, leaving just the hiking shirt and Xirtam jacket. I found the jacket to be completely waterproof against the rain, however, it didn't breath well enough to let the moisture from sweating evaporate, so it was often damp inside from sweat.

The second backpacking trip was a two day/one night trip at Henry Coe State Park, CA. The elevations were between 850 and 2600 ft (259 and 792 m) and the temperatures were between 38 and 76 F (3 and 24 C). The hike covered about 8.4 mi (13.5 km) the first day and 10 mi (16 km) the second day. It was warm and sunny the first day, but cooled off as soon as the sun went down. The second day was colder and fairly windy. I didn't wear the Xirtam jacket until the first evening of the trip when the sun went down and the temperature dropped. I wore it over a short sleeved hiking shirt and I was warm enough in camp performing camp chores. The temperature was probably around 50 F (10 C) at this time. Later that night I was sitting outside wearing the Xirtam jacket over a long sleeved fleece shirt with a thin silk layer underneath, with the temperature in the low 40's F (4 C) and I was also warm enough. The second day of the trip had lower daytime temperatures, overcast skies, and it was fairly windy. I wore the jacket most of the day with a long sleeved, lightweight hiking shirt underneath. The jacket kept me warm enough and was great at keeping the wind out. Occasionally I would get a bit too warm and unzip (but not remove) the jacket to let some cool air in and to let some of the moisture (from sweat) evaporate.

Summary

My opinions I reported in my Field Report about the Xirtam jacket remain the same. One additional thing I have to report on is washing the jacket. I have washed and dried it three times now, and it has not shown any signs of deterioration. The dirt washes off easily and it dries on the line very quickly. Twice I had visible dirty spots on the jacket, and I did not pre-treat these spots, but they washed completely off. I'm also impressed with how fast the jacket line dries, even in the cool, humid environment I live in. The jacket is also very durable, it remains "like new" in appearance and functionality, despite being used for four months and being washed in the washing machine several times.

Conclusion

I recommend the Xirtam jacket as a very lightweight jacket that can be used for warmth over a lightweight shirt or layered over additional insulating layers, depending on activity levels and temperatures. I also recommend it as a waterproof and wind resistant jacket. The negative sides to this jacket are that the sizing is a bit unusual (sleeves too long but neck too short), and I'm not fond of the hood design; I don't like the mechanism for tightening and loosening the hood around my face and I feel that the hood is cut wrong for my neck length and head shape. However, due to it being very lightweight, surprisingly warm, and completely waterproof, I will continue using this jacket for my backpacking and other outdoor activities.

Thank you to BackpackGearTest.org and GoLite for giving me the opportunity to test the Xirtam Jacket.

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Read more gear reviews by Liz Neely

Test Report by Liz Neely

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