Product Information

Name and Model:	IBEX Climawool Icefall Jacket
Maker:	IBEX Outdoor Clothing, LLC
Website	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:	April 26, 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.

As I understand the concept, softshell jackets are intended to fend off all wind and a certain amount of rain whilst providing warmth and quickly jettisoning perspiration and all other accumulated moisture. They are most attractive to backpackers when they do so at minimal weight and bulk. With this in mind, the Icefall jacket fits the bill for this backpacker.

Product Design and Description

The IBEX Icefall is a straightforward jacket design that resembles many a “casual wear” jacket design (IBEX calls it “semi fit”). It’s waist-length with a slight hem extension in back (approximately 1 in./25 mm) and 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 (per the jacket’s sewn-in label). It has a smooth, tightly woven exterior and a soft, somewhat fuzzy interior. The fuzzy interior is wool bonded to a nylon-Spandex skin. The fabric is moderately stretchy, and moves with me. It’s also fairly windproof. Water rolls off the fabric initially, but wets through after a time, or more quickly if it’s forceful. The 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. 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.

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 that for 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, a snack bar, film, a small GPS or a cellphone. It would only serve as a Napoleon pocket if the emperor had previously lost his fingers.

Long-Term Report

The Icefall has been a consistent companion in the field and around town in all sorts of weather, from late fall through much of spring. 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.

http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Clothing/Jackets/Ibex%20Icefall%20Jacket/Rick%20Dreher/Initial%20Report/

My long-term report answers follow:

• Climawool is effectively windproof, shielding me from biting, cold wind.
• Climawool sheds drizzle and moderate rain and snow. It wets through after a time in heavy and wind-driven precipitation. The fabric’s skin develops wet patches and the wooly lining becomes damp, but not soggy.
• The Icefall dries out quickly once the rain stops or when I get under shelter. The best way I found to dry it is to shake off as much water/snow as possible then wear it so my body heat drives out the remaining 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 and needs drying out after an extended period of packing. In certain cold hiking conditions I’ll keep a shell handy to wear over the Icefall on trail breaks to keep me warm and start drying off the accumulated sweat.

I’ve changed my mind somewhat since the Field Report, and now think that the hand-warmer pockets do provide a bit of useful ventilation in certain conditions, but they definitely could be better designed for that function. I like that I can access all three pockets while wearing a pack (although a daypack’s high waist belt can interfere with the hand-warmer pockets). None of the jacket seams chafed me 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 or thin wind shell.

Due to its 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 still shows no wear, even from pack abrasion, although it has acquired a few minor persistent wrinkles (perhaps mocking the tester?). Several washes in my front-load machine (keeping to the recommended 88 F/30 C maximum temperature) have been tolerated. I use a low-sudsing detergent specifically for front-loaders and hang it to dry, as directed by IBEX. I have no sense that it’s faded or shrunk.

In the Field

Most commonly, I wear the Icefall as my outer layer 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. The Icefall’s snug fit means I can’t comfortably wear anything bulkier underneath. These combinations accommodate temperatures from the upper 50s F (15 C) down to about freezing (or below, when active enough to generate significant heat). A cap adds significant 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 its 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/

In colder wintertime trips with temperatures down to 20 F or so (-7C), when I’m moving vigorously the Icefall itself can keep me warm; in fact, it is similar in function to X-C ski jackets I’ve used in the past. The fabric’s ability to rapidly transport moisture away from my skin is very much appreciated. A down vest, a warm hat and a hard-shell jacket rounded out my clothing system very nicely. Accumulated snow on the shoulders, back and sleeves can wet through, so I try to knock as much off as I can.

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 wears like iron.

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

I learned camping and hiking in Boy Scouts, tramping the Washington Cascade foothills, and eventually took up 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). Now living in northern California most of my hiking is 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 4.26.2005