|
Integral Designs PLQ Jacket
Initial Report November 5, 2005
Tester Information:
Name: Jason Boyle
Age: 28
Gender: Male
Height: 5' 6"/ 1.68 m
Weight: 170 lb/ 77 kg
Email address: c4jc@hotmail.com
City, State, Country: Snoqualmie, Washington, U.S.
Backpacking Background:
I have been camping and backpacking for about 17 years. My introduction to the outdoors started with the BSA and has continued as an adult. I have hiked mostly in the Southeastern and Northeastern United States. I am generally a lightweight hiker, but will carry extras to keep me comfortable. I have just moved to the Pacific Northwest and have been exploring the new area and learning new places to backpack and camp.
Product Information:
Manufacturer: Integral Designs
Model: PLQ Jacket
Year of Manufacture: 2005
Size: received large, available small through extra large
Color: Black
URL:www.integraldesigns.com
Listed weight: 11 oz (312 g) for a medium
Measured weight: 11 oz (312 g)
**Disclaimer: the closest my scale will measure is in whole ounces**
Listed Dimensions for a large: 47" chest, 45" waist, 32" sleeve, 25" front length, 29" back length
MSRP: 200 USD
Country of Manufacture: Canada
Expected Field Conditions:
Rain, Rain, and more Rain. The average precipitation for November is 8+ inches (20+ cm) and the average rainfall increases from there over the next couple of months. Most of my hiking takes place in the foothills of the Cascades in places such as Tiger Mountain State Park, Cougar Mountain State Park, and the Mt. Baker - Snoqualmie National Forest. Average temperatures for the late fall to early winter range from highs in the 60's F to lows in the 30's F (18 C - 1 C) Elevation may vary from sea level to 14,000 ft (4267 m) although a winter summit attempt of Mt Rainer is highly unlikely.
Product Description:
The PLQ jacket is a lightweight insulated jacket with minimalist features. The shell is made of a 20 denier ultra light weight microfiber (Pertex) with 3oz Primaloft Sport fill. The sleeves have reinforced thumb loops, and there is a 12" (30 cm) front vent zipper. Inside of the vent zipper there is a small zippered security pocket.
Initial Impressions/Use:
The jacket arrived undamaged packed in a clear bag inside of the box. This doesn't seem to be how it would be displayed in a retail store. Also included in the box were an Integral Designs product guide and an extra small stuff stack (5"x 8"/12 x 20cm) to store the jacket in when not in use.
The material feels silky and slick and is nice against the skin. I thought the thumb loops would feel awkward, but they felt natural the first time that I slipped them on. The jacket is wearable with or without the thumb loops.
Sweet!!! Those were the first words out of my mouth when I first saw the jacket. I tried it on and it fit well. It has an athletic cut with room for a few thin base layers but not much else underneath. Since winter is descending on us here in the Pacific Northwest, I put on the jacket for my evening walk with the dogs. The jacket did a good job of blocking the wind, but was a little warm for the 50 F (10 C) outside temperature.
I then wore the jacket on a blustery late afternoon/early evening hike to the top of Rattlesnake Mountain (3480 feet/1061 m). The wind was blowing fairly hard and temperatures were about 50 F (10 C) at the start of the hike. For the first two miles climbing 1100 feet (335 m), I only wore a t-shirt, but once I reached the ledge and more open forest I added the PLQ jacket. While I continued to climb the remaining 1600 feet (488 m) the jacket was fairly warm and the 12" ventilation zipper did not provide much ventilation even though I was mostly exposed to the wind. Descending from the mountain in darkness, I was thankful for the warmth that it provided.
Improvements:
The only improvement that I can think of at the moment would be offering the jacket in multiple colors.
Testing Plan:
I will look for the following characteristics in this jacket over the next four months:
My answers are in parenthesis and italics.
Fit:
- How well does the jacket fit? (The jacket fits well. It has an athletic cut that fits snugly with room for a couple of base layers underneath.)
- Is the sleeve length proportional to the jacket size? (Yes, and the thumb loops fit naturally. I am able to "hug" myself even with the thumb loops on and only feel a slight tug from the thumb loops against my hand. If the jacket sleeves were too short I would not be able to "hug" myself.)
- Since there is not any sizing information on the ID website all the sizing information; chest, sleeve length, body length, and neck size will be provided. (See product information at the top.)
- ID says this jacket can be used as a layer or as outerwear, but can I realistically wear anything under the jacket? (A couple of small base layers, for example, a t-shirt and a long sleeve t shirt.)
- Do I need to wear anything under the jacket?
- Is the 12" (30.5 cm) venting zipper adequate for venting the jacket during high intensity periods?
Durable:
- I don't normally baby my gear, so it is important for my gear to be durable.
- How durable is the ultra light 20 denier fabric?
- Do I need to be concerned during off trail hiking?
Warmth:
- What temperatures is the jacket most comfortable in? Yes I know this is subjective to the wearer, but it is still important information!
- Does the Primaloft insulation provide wind resistance?
- Does the Primaloft insulation provide protection and warmth if it is wet as is likely to happen in my part of the world, like ID says it will?
Style:
- Living here in the trendy Pacific Northwest is this jacket stylish enough to wear on a rainy day diaper run to Target or while out at dinner in downtown Seattle?
Thanks to BackpackGearTest and Integral Designs for the opportunity to participate in this test.
Read more reviews of Integral Designs gear
Read more gear reviews by Jason Boyle
| 