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Integral Designs Dolomitti
Jacket: Long Term Report
April 16, 2004
Thomas Vickers
36 years old
Male
5 feet 11 inches tall (1.8 meters)
170 lb (77 kg)
redroach@pobox.com
Southeast Texas, Houston Area
Background:
I grew up in the piney woods
of southeast Texas. Camping was a quick trip into the mosquito-infested woods behind the
house. I started hiking in my college years
and my style has evolved over the past 17 years - from my discovery, heavy gear, period
(internal frame packs, sleeping bags and tents) to - believe it or not - heavier, more
expensive gear. Over the last 3 or 4 years, I
have begun to take a lighter weight approach to hiking gear (I still use sleeping bags and
tents, just lighter versions) and I have rediscovered the pleasure that can be involved in
being outdoors with your gear. While I have flirted
with lightweight hiking, I feel that I am more of a mid -weight hiker now. My philosophy
is one of comfort, while carrying the lightest load possible
Manufacturer Details:
Website: www.integraldesigns.com
Weight:1 lb 5 oz (595 g) / 1 lb 8 oz (680 g) with hood
Colors: Black, red, cobalt
Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL
Stuffed Size: 12 inches (30.5 cm) long x 5 inches (12.7 cm) diameter
Year of Manufacture: 2003
Options: Removable hood
Details from Tester: (all measurements are approximate)
Size: Medium
Color: Black
Stuff Sack Weight: 0.6 oz (17 g)
Jacket Weight: 1 lb 7 oz (652 g)
Hood Weight: 3.6 oz (102 g)
Stuffed Size: 12 inches (30.5 cm) x 5.5 inches (14 cm)
Additional Tester Measurements:
Chest: 38 inches (97 cm)
Arm Length: 30 inches (76 cm)
Torso Length: 19 inches (48 cm)
Testing Conditions:
The Integral Designs Dolomitti Jacket has been used in temperatures from 30 degrees F (-1
degree C) to 65 degrees F (18 degrees C). The wind conditions varied from no wind to
gusts up to 23 mph (37 kph). The Integral Designs Dolomitti Jacket has been worn in
all levels of precipitation. This ranged from thick fog all the way to a full downpour.
All testing has been carried out in Southeast Texas at or nearly at sea
level. The Dolomitti has been worn under packs and around camp with a variety of
shirts under it
Comfort:
Even at the end of this test I am still impressed by the comfort of this jacket. It
fits well and does not bind. This is especially important since I slept in it for at
least 8 nights during the test period. Another facet of this jacket's comfort that
I like is that it makes a nice pillow. Whether in camp or in the car, I have found
that the fabric is soft and the loft provides a nice place to rest your head. There
are no sharp edges or stray straps or zippers to rub against your face.
As I mentioned in my earlier reports, the jacket kept the wind off of me at all times. It
never seemed to penetrate the jacket and I was extremely comfortable no matter how hard
the wind was blowing.
The last thing I want to mention here is the fact that the Integral Designs Dolomitti
Jacket is warm. No matter how low the temperature dropped, I was always warm in this
jacket. This was most impressive to me when I was sitting around camp in the
evenings and in the mornings when I first crawled out of my tent. I didn't have to be
physically active to get warmed up quickly in this jacket.
Durability:
The Integral Designs Dolomitti Jacket has not snagged after spending a lot of time in and
around the forest. The outer shell is very durable despite being rubbed against trees,
rocks, and packs. I have not torn or ripped the outer shell during normal usage and
I think that it would take a very considerable disaster to cause such a thing to occur.
The lack of damage to the jacket is also a important to me since I tend to be rough
on my hiking gear due to my clumsiness and sometimes stupidity.
There are also no stains or odors that I can say are permanently part of the Integral
Designs Dolomitti Jacket. Even being worn near camp fires and during meals did not
contribute any new permanent decorations to this jacket. Once again it stood up to
my standard abuse and has faired very well. I still fear burning embers from the
fire landing on the jacket, but strangely enough this hasn't happed yet.
I was also worried that the jacket would pick up odors when worn over my synthetic shirts
in the evenings in camp. Amazingly enough, it has never picked up any of my
'natural' odors despite being worn over some very gamey shirts during the testing
period.
The Integral Designs Dolomitti Jacket was also finally worn in the rain. With Texas
having a very wet spring, I was able to wear the jacket in all sorts of rainy weather.
The outer shell caused water to bead up and eventually run off, this included the
Taslan patches on the shoulders. It didn't matter how hard it was raining, the
jacket never got soaked on the outside and the rain never penetrated through to the fill
material.
Wearing under a pack:
As I reported earlier, a waist belt is a must for wearing a pack with this jacket.
When I used a pack without a waist belt, it slipped around too much for my comfort.
I also discovered that wearing a long sleeve shirt is not a good idea. With a pack
on, I heated up far to fast with a long sleeve shirt under the Integral Designs Dolomitti
Jacket. I had the most success when I wore a short sleeve synthetic shirt
under the jacket. This kept me from heating up too quickly and allowed me to wear it
for longer periods with a pack.
Sleeping:
The Integral Designs Dolomitti Jacket has revolutionized sleeping for me. Until
Integral Designs suggested using using the jacket over a sleeping bag, I had never even
considered such a thing. Now I wouldn't consider sleeping without it. No more
being bound up in a claustrophobic sleeping bag. Just zip the hood on the Integral
Designs Dolomitti Jacket, crawl in my bag, pull it up to my chest, zip the jacket over the
bag and off to sleep. This system is incredibly comfortable and allows me a great
range of motion while I am sleeping. Not only does the hood keep my head warm, but
the jacket allows me use my warmer weather sleeping bags in much lower temperatures.
Final Impression:
Changing from one piece of gear to another is a very difficult decision for me. Once
I find something that is comfortable and reliable, I don't usually switch to something
else. Even while testing the Integral Designs Dolomitti Jacket I kept telling myself
that this product couldn't replace my trusty fleece. It just wasn't durable enough.
So far that has been proven wrong. The Integral Designs Dolomitti Jacket is durable,
even for a gear abuser such as myself.
Next on my list was the excuse that is "too bulky." Once again I
discovered that I can stuff the it down to a size that is smaller than my fleece and it
still retains its loft.
Once I saw that it repelled water very well, I knew the fleece was probably on the way
out. Not only does it not get wet when rained on (that means no rain shell necessary
in camp), but it has made sleeping much more comfortable for me. Looks like the
Integral Designs Dolomitti Jacket is going in the pack permanently.
One last comment that I want to add here is the fact that many times people have asked
about the jacket. When I tell them about it, the usual response usually revolved around
the fact that they thought it was a very nice looking jacket.
I think it is very important that hiking/camping gear can look good. It doesn't have to be
blatantly "outdoor gear" and I think from the comments of others (and my own
opinion), the Integral Designs Dolomitti Jacket fits the bill. It is a full
functioned piece of gear that looks great on the trail and around town. Not only
does it look good, but it does the job as well.
I would definitely recommend the Integral Designs Dolomitti Jacket as a great addition to
anyone's cold weather gear. It combines a good wieght, great looks, and full
functionality in a compact package.
Read more reviews of Integral Designs gear
Read more gear reviews by Thomas Vickers
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