Product Information

Name and Model: IBEX Climawool Icefall Jacket
Maker: IBEX Outdoor Clothing, Inc.
http://www.ibexwear.com
Year of manufacture: 2004
Product Type: Nylon-wool-Spandex softshell jacket
Options: None available
Color: Cilantro green
Ships with: Two hangtags
Size tested: Men’s medium
Specified weight: 18.7 oz (530 g)
Measured weight: 16.0 oz (454 g)
MSRP: U.S.$225
Country of Origin: China

Tester Information

Tester: Rick Dreher
Email: redbike64(at)hotmail(dot)com
Male
Height: 6 ft (1.83 meters)
Jacket Size (typical): Men’s large/U.S. 40

Sleeve Length: 34 in. (86 cm)
Weight: 175 lb (79 kg, 12.5 stones)
Age: 50
Location: Northern California, USA
Years backpacking experience: 37
Backpacking skill level: Mid to advanced
Style of backpacking: Lightweight, but not ultra, alpine and subalpine travel (see bio at end of report)

Report date: January 6, 2005

Introduction

IBEX, a company specializing in wool and wool-blend outdoor garments, has a softshell outerwear lineup they call Climawool. The test Icefall jacket shares this line with a vest, another jacket, pants and knickers.

While there are specialty jackets for as many conditions as we can imagine, softshells seem to be aimed at meeting as many needs as possible in a single garment. If I understand the softshell premise correctly, it’s intended to fend off all wind and a certain amount of rain whilst providing warmth and quickly jettisoning perspiration and all other accumulated moisture. It should do so at minimal weight and bulk with but a single fabric layer. I began this test wondering what the fuss over softshell jackets was about, having observed hundreds hit the market the last couple of years. The IBEX Icefall has been winning me over to the concept during this test.

Product Design and Description

The IBEX Icefall is a straightforward jacket design that resembles many a “casual wear” jacket design (they call it “semi fit”). It’s waist-length with a slight hem extension in back (approximately 1 in./25 mm) and has raglan sleeves. The storm-flap backed front (one-way) zip extends all the way up the t-neck collar; the soft-lined collar itself can stand up for extra warmth or lay flat when not zipped up. There’s no hood. The Icefall has three zipped pockets: two hand-warmer pockets with slanted openings and a single side-opening chest-height pocket on the left side. Pockets are lined with soft, open-weave wicking nylon to aid in wicking and ventilation. The cuffs are half-elastic and the bottom hem has an adjustable elastic drawcord.

The two hangtags describe the Climawool series, emphasizing the fabric itself and highlighting suggested activities. There’s no detail specific to the Icefall; for that, one must travel to the IBEX Website.

Materials, Construction and Details

The Climawool Lite fabric comprising the Icefall is a nylon (74%), merino wool (20%) and Spandex (6%) blend. It has a smooth, tightly woven exterior and a soft, somewhat fuzzy interior. It is unclear whether the fuzzy interior is wool bonded to a nylon-Spandex skin, or whether the wool is woven into the fabric throughout. My not-conclusive research has me believing it’s the former. In any case, the fabric stretches, and seems to do so more in one direction than the other. Applying a moderate amount of lungpower I can blow through the fabric, so I hesitate to call it wind*proof* (but in the field it seem to be so). Held under a faucet, water rolls off the fabric unless the stream is fairly powerful, then it wets through. It makes a bit of a “zzzt” sound when rubbing against itself: less noise than slick nylon; more noise than fleece or wool. The test jacket’s cilantro green, a middle-green in hue and intensity, is pleasant to my eye and will be stealthy in the woods without resorting to military surplus olive-drabdom. Certain jacket detailing, such as the fuzzy inside collar face, pocket lining and inside bias tape, is black. There’s a hang loop at the collar seam in back.

Zippers are of the non-waterproof variety and have metal pulls with fabric grab-tabs attached. These tabs have bits of foam sewn into their tips, which makes them easy to hold—a nice little touch. The pocket zip sliders fit inside little fabric covers when closed, presumably to prevent them from whipping in the wind. The bottom hem’s elastic drawcord has two cord locks, attached on either side of the jacket with bits of nylon grosgrain. The arrangement makes it possible to tighten (grabbing and pulling a small plastic bead) and loosen (releasing the toggle) the cord one-handed.

Sewn seams appear to be straight and even. Some seam edges are serged, some are taped and some are folded over and finish-stitched. In an interesting style detail, the raglan sleeve panels end about halfway down the forearm, giving a sort of sleeve-patch look. Recalling that the fabric doesn’t stretch equally in both directions, this may be to accommodate the different stretching forces applied to the shoulder and sleeve areas.

Care instructions are to machine-wash inside out on gentle cycle at 88 F (30 C) using mild detergent, and to hang dry. This is similar guidance to other wool-blend garments I own.

Fit

My size medium fits well with a couple of minor glitches. The length and torso girth are fine. The shoulders are a little snug, but due to the raglan sleeve design and the stretchy fabric this hasn’t proven to be a problem. The sleeves are about an inch (2.5 cm) shorter than I prefer, most noticeably when I’m extending my arms (e.g., cycling). The Icefall’s close fit has proved useful when using the Icefall as a mid-layer, and for cycling (where flapping jackets quickly become profoundly annoying).

When the jacket is fully zipped, the collar extends to my chin and covers most of my neck. The handwarmer pockets are roomy; the smaller chest pocket has proved just big enough for a pair of glasses, a tube of sunblock, film, a small GPS or a cellphone. It would only serve as a Napoleon pocket if the emperor had previously lost his fingers.

Field Test Report

The Icefall has been a consistent companion in the field and around town in all sorts of late fall and early winter weather. In this wide array of conditions, I’ve been impressed by its usefulness and flexibility. In the initial report I asked a series of questions. My answers so far, are as follows:

Climawool appears to be windproof. It makes an effective shell jacket in strong wind.

Climawool sheds drizzle and moderate rain and snow. It wets through after an extended period, especially across the shoulders and sleeve tops. The shell fabric develops wet patches and the wooly lining becomes damp, but not soggy.

The Icefall seems to dry out quickly once the rain stops or when I get under shelter. The best way to dry it is to shake off as much water/snow as possible then wear it so my body heat drives out the moisture. Depending on how wet my undershirt is, this may take less than half an hour or a couple of hours until the jacket feels dry to the touch.

The stretch fabric allows active walking, cycling and the use of hiking poles without restriction, despite the snug fit.

The jacket transpires and evaporates moisture from perspiration rapidly, so long as I don’t completely overheat. I’ll go so far as to say the Climawool fabric transports moisture as well as any insulated windproof garment I’ve worn, and is significantly better than many. Note that it does retain moisture underneath a backpack, even a so-called ventilated one, and needs to be dried out after an extended period of packing.

I don’t notice additional ventilation resulting from unzipping the hand-warmer and chest pockets (note that IBEX doesn’t claim that they do so). I can access all three pockets while wearing a pack (although a high waistbelt can interfere with the hand-warmer pockets). None of the seams has chafed while I wore a pack.

The Icefall layers very well over smooth-finished poly undershirts, sliding easily over the slick fabric and not bunching beneath shoulder straps or waist belts. It can bind a bit when worn over fleecy fabrics or knitted wool, but this hasn’t been noticeable except when wearing a pack. The Icefall’s smooth outer face, snug fit, stretchy fabric and high moisture transfer ability make it a great middle layer under a rain parka.

Due to the relatively thin fabric, the Icefall wads or rolls into a bundle roughly half the size of a loaf of bread, making it an amiable companion in a compact backpack.

The Icefall shows no wear of any sort, even from pack abrasion. It washes well in a front-load washer (keeping to the recommended 88 F/38 C maximum temperature). I use a low-sudsing detergent specifically for front-loaders and hang it to dry, as directed by IBEX.

In the Field

Most commonly, I wear the Icefall over one or two shirts: a short-sleeve nylon or poly wicking t-shirt and a long sleeve mid-weight poly zip-t or button-front shirt. Sometimes I substitute a wool sweater for the second shirt. These combinations accommodate temperatures from the upper 50s F (15 C) down to about freezing (or below, when active enough to generate significant heat). Adding a cap adds significantly to the warmth. In extended light rain or snow, or heavy precipitation of any significant duration, I’ll wear a parka-length shell over the Icefall. This adds considerable warmth and water resistance, not to mention a hood. My Patagonia Essenshell jacket has been a great companion despite not being absolutely waterproof, possibly because its high breathability helps battle sweat accumulation (see owner review here):

http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Clothing/Jackets/Patagonia_Essenshell_Jacket/Patagonia%20Essenshell_owner%20review/

Further Tests

Reports of as much eight feet of new snow in parts of the high Sierra taunt me, home-bound as I am on the New Year. I’m intent on getting more snow country experience in the Icefall, followed by some early-to-mid spring pack trips prior to the final report. My winter test area/playground is the Tahoe Sierra, with elevations between 6-8,000 ft (1,830-2,440 m) and temperatures perhaps as high as the 50s to as low as the mid-teens F (+11 to –9 C). In between trips, the Icefall is a constant companion at soggy sea level and on regional day hikes and photography expeditions.

I’ve not explored the Icefall as a very cold weather option. Does it make sense as part of a clothing system for high-exertion activities in temperatures far below freezing? I hope I get the chance to find out.

Conclusions

Upside: The Icefall is nicely designed and well made, and the Climawool Lite fabric feels great. It performs well in cool and cold, windy and wet weather. It’s both an effective shell and insulating mid-layer. It packs small and dries rapidly when wet. It carries no weight-adding frills. It washes nicely and so far wears like iron. Finally, while I’ve noticed a recent trend to minimize clothing care instruction and to make it as miniscule as is conceivable, IBEX has gone in the other direction by making their care label large, comprehensive, easy to read and sewn where it’s a snap to find.

Downside: I’ve not found the drawcord waist to be of use. The unique dimensions (fit) won’t be for everyone.

Suggestions: Consider adding active ventilation via high, venting pockets or pit-zips.

Brief Hiking Bio and Experience with Similar Products

I learned camping and hiking in Boy Scouts, tramping the Washington Cascade foothills (lugging canvas pup tents, Trapper Nelson and BSA aluminum-canvas backpacks, kapok sleeping bags and always an axe). I eventually learned backpacking as a singular pursuit and found a home away from home in the Cascades and Olympics. My jacket choices always revolve around a layering system (base, insulation, shell).

Living in northern California, most of my hiking is now in the Sierra Nevada, the trips ranging from overnight to weeklong excursions. Total pack weight for three-day summer excursions, including food and water, is now roughly 25 pounds (12 kg), longer trips see pack weights ranging into the mid to upper 30s (17 kg) with water.

My thanks to IBEX and BackpackGearTest for the privilege of participating in this test.

--RTD 1.6.2005