Note: Integral Designs list the Dolomitti as 21 oz (595 gm) without the hood, and 24 oz (680 gm) with the hood. Assuming these are measurements of the size medium that most manufacturers use to list weights, I believe the weights of my test Dolomitti are in line with what an XXL should weigh. This works out to about 1.6 oz (45 gm) weight gain per size. For the weights of other sized Dolomitti jackets, take a look at the other testers' reviews.

Loft of Jacket at Chest: 1 7/8 in to 2 1/8 in (4.8 cm to 5.4 cm)

2. Integral Designs Dolomitti Long Term Report

A general description of the Dolomitti can be found in my Initial Report.

While our Pacific Northwest winter began cold and wet and saw the Dolomitti being used on an almost daily basis, spring has sprung early and the jacket has spent much more time in a backpack than in rough conditions over the past couple of months.

Despite the conditions as of late that do not warrant a cold-weather jacket like the Dolomitti, it has still been on nearly every outing I've made, and has become one of my favorite pieces of outdoor wear. There is certainly a weight penalty to choosing the Dolomitti in warmer conditions – it weighs roughly double what the lighter (and thinner) PrimaLoft pullovers do – but for the cold and wet drizzly weather of Western Washington and the Cascade Range, I can think of no better insulation option than Integral Designs' Dolomitti Jacket.

During testing, I wore the Dolomitti in temperatures as high as 50°F (10° C) and temperatures as low as 17°F (-8° C). It was certainly too warm in the warmer temperatures if I was doing even mild activity, and handled the lower temperatures just fine. With the hood, I would be confident taking the Dolomitti as my primary insulation layer with expected temperatures down to as low as 0°F (-18° C).

I used the Dolomitti while skiing, camping, hiking, walking, and for in-town use almost anytime temperatures fell below 50°F (10° C). It certainly saw its share of rain and snow, and handled it all without fail. Here are my final impressions of the Dolomitti:

Function

The Dolomitti does exactly what it is intended to do: keep the wearer warm without consideration for climatic conditions. I wore the Dolomitti in steady drizzle, snow, sun, and even a couple of downright downpours. While certainly not the most pleasant of situations, the Dolomitti kept me both warm AND dry. I spent up to 2 hours in drizzly conditions at a time, and almost 30 minutes in real rain once, and neither situation allowed water to penetrate all the way to my body. The Dolomitti is not a waterproof jacket, and makes no claims to be. But my experience would suggest that the PrimaLoft and Pertex combination is an effective water-repellent for short periods of time. Particularly in winter mountain conditions, this is a tremendous insurance policy. Getting wet in the Cascades during winter is a serious life-threatening situation. The Dolomitti at its best could make this a much less important worry, and in the least could buy time in an emergency.

The jacket dries very, very quickly and has lost no noticeable loft – something I have experienced in other PrimaLoft garments before. I have taken care not to over-stuff the Dolomitti and store it fully lofted on a hanger to minimize the degradation of loft. Regular use and wet-weather exposure, however does not seem to negatively impact loft in my experience. The Dolomitti looks brand new. Granted, there's not a lot of sun around here in the winter to cause fading or UV damage, but this thing really looks as if it could go right back on the store rack without notice.

Fit

As I mentioned in my previous reports, the fit it is not quite snug, but certainly not roomy, either. I usually wear a layer or two of thin synthetic clothing underneath the jacket, and this is fine. When layered with a windshirt, the Dolomitti is exceptionally comfortable, and this is my preferred cold-weather layering system. For active use, the Dolomitti remains nearly perfect.

Features

Hood - The hood is so big and so cozy that I am planning on taking it with a quilt for summer backpacking. The silky smooth Pertex fabric and soft insulation combine to make this the warmest hood I've ever used. The cavernous, unshaped design and a lack of any kind of size-reduction mechanism do significantly reduce peripheral vision, and this can be a problem. My solution was to wear a ball cap. A way to reduce the volume on the hood and improve peripheral vision would be welcome improvements to the design. I do still long for some kind of chin/mouth wrap-around. With this option, it could serve as a very lightweight synthetic balaclava.

Cuffs - The cuffs on the Dolomitti are still too tight, in my opinion. They are intentionally snug, and Integral Designs makes it known on their website that the cuffs are tight. I have large wrists, so it is difficult to pull back the cuffs to check the time or altitude on my watch when wearing gloves. The elastic used is very durable, as they have not loosened appreciably over the past six months. They do a fantastic job of sealing in heat. Pockets – The pockets are warm - the warmest I've ever had on a jacket. There seems to be a full-layer of insulation on the both the palm and the back of the hand when in the pocket. They are cozy and instantly warm. They are, however, very small. They will fit only the smallest and thinnest of spare gloves and mittens. My greatest frustration with the Dolomitti is still the black flaps that cover the pockets. They make getting into the pockets even more difficult, force you to bring your fingers up to get down into the pockets, and then stay in the way when your hands finally do get there. If I were ordering a Dolomitti, I would try to get one with these flaps removed. I do plan to get out my seam ripper and carefully remove them myself.

Quality - I have experienced no problems so far. The Dolomitti is exceptionally well built, and I have no doubt that changes in materials or taste will be my reasons for purchasing a new jacket in the future – not because the Dolomitti has worn out. For wet weather climates like the Pacific Northwest or worry-free usage, the Dolomitti is almost the ideal serious-insulation jacket. I can imagine using it for extra warmth or wet weather sleeping by draping it over a sleeping bag at night. I can imagine sleeping in the Dolomitti alone as a summer fast-packing option. But most of all, I can see using the Dolomitti for years in drizzly and cold weather, staying warm and cozy, and not feeling the constant worry that my insulation will fail when it's needed most.

High Points

Very high quality materials and flawless construction
Cozy, warm, and a fit that allows activity with comfort
Excellent wet weather performance

Concerns

Tight wrist cuffs
Small hand pockets
Lack of adjustments on hood, which significantly affects volume and vision

3. Contact and Background Information:
Review by Curt Peterson: e-curt@attbi.com
Age: 32
Gender: Male
Height: 6'3" (1.91 m)
Weight: 270 (122 kg)

I live in Seattle and do the vast majority of my outdoor activities in Washington State. During the summer I try to head to the backcountry at least every other week, averaging 3 to 5 multi-day trips in July and August. In the fall and early winter, I usually do a couple day hikes a month and probably one overnight per month. In the winter, I ski 1 to 2 days per week, and backpack in the Central Washington steppe 1 to 2 times over the season. Spring and early summer I usually climb, most often on the Cascade volcanoes. I usually go to the coast in Olympic National Park at least once a year, and try to summit at least one big volcano a year, so the range of locations that I test gear is pretty broad. I also do a 3-mile (4.8 km) walk each day with my dog, no matter what the conditions are, and I often evaluate gear during that time.

I played football in college, and have been pretty active my entire life. I have been camping and backpacking as long as I can remember. First in Utah as a child, in Minnesota until I finished college, and here in Washington ever since. I served on the Product Test Committee for Seattle's biggest outdoor gear retailer for a two-year term in the mid-90s, then guided backpacking tours with my wife in Olympic National Park for a few summers. I've been interested in the most recent shift to lightweight thinking for the past few years and really enjoy checking out new ideas and approaches to backpacking.

I would like to thank BackpackGearTest.org and especially Integral Designs for the opportunity to test this excellent product.

Read more reviews of Integral Designs gear
Read more gear reviews by Curt Peterson

Long Term Report

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