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Ibex Shak Hoody
Initial Report - November 22, 2005
Tester Information:
Name: Jason Boyle
Age: 28
Gender: Male
Height: 5' 6"/ 1.68 m
Weight: 170 lb/ 77 kg
Chest: 42"/ 107 cm
Neck: 16"/ 41 cm
Sleeve: 28"/ 71 cm (from the middle of my chest to my wrist)
Email address: c4jc "at" hotmail "dot" com
City, State, Country: Snoqualmie, WA, 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: Ibex
Model: Shak Hoody
Size: Large
Color: New Olive (received), Cerulean Blue, Black
Year of Manufacture: 2005
URL:www.ibex.com
Listed weight: 20 oz (567 g)
Measured weight: 18 oz (510 g)
**Disclaimer: the closest my scale will measure is in whole ounces**
Listed Dimensions: Chest 42-44" (107-112 cm), Neck 16.5-17" (42-43 cm), Sleeves 35-36" (89-91 cm)
Measured Dimensions: Chest 43" (109 cm), Sleeves 35" (89 cm)
Fabric Content: 100% Shak Wool (Merino)
MSRP: $140 US
Country of Manufacture: USA of imported fabrics
Product Description:
This is a hard item to describe. Ibex lists the item as a shirt, but recommends using it as a midlayer/outerlayer. I would describe it more like a sweatshirt. Regardless the Shak Hoody is a dense knit hooded pullover with a ventilation zipper, a small zippered chest pocket and thumb loops.
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Recommended uses from the Ibex Website:
- Climbing/Mountaineering
- Alpine/Nordic Skiing
- Ski Touring
- Snowshoeing
- Everyday
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Shak Hoody
Initial Impressions/Use:
The product arrived packed in a clear plastic bag, with hang tags attached. I tore open the bag and put the Shak Hoody on and headed out to the mountains for a weekend (okay we stayed in a bed and breakfast, but we were in the mountains)!
I really like the green color of the hoody, it is very friendly on the eyes! I was concerned about how the wool would feel but it is very comfortable, soft and not itchy at all. It is also a bit stretchy, which I did not expect wool to be. Overall the pullover fits well, although the sleeves are a bit long. They are 35" (89 cm) long and my arms are only 28" (71 cm) long. However, the thumb loops help mitigate the problem because they keep the sleeves in place instead of hanging over my hands excessively.
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The ventilation and pocket zipper are both made by YKK, and have a little rubber piece for the pull. The zipper pull is very small and I think I will have trouble using them with gloves on. More testing will determine if my initial thoughts are correct.
The Shak Hoody seems to be well constructed. Most of the seams are well sewn with no pulls. The thumb loop is reinforced with a bar stitch in addition to the normal stitching connecting the edging to the sleeve.
I have not used the hood yet, but will do so before the next report.
The care instructions are fairly simple. Machine wash gentle in cold water with a mild detergent. Do not bleach and they recommend lying flat to dry.
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Improvements:
None at the moment.
Expected Field Conditions:
The average precipitation in November, December, January and February for the Seattle area is 9+ inches per month (23 cm) and will take all forms, rain, snow, and sleet. The average temperatures for the early winter range from highs in the 50's F to lows in the 30's F (10 C - 1 C). Most of my outdoor adventures take place in the Mount Baker and Snoqualmie National Forest. Elevation may vary from sea level to 14,000 ft (4267 m), although Mt Rainier will probably not be on the agenda this winter. My normal outdoor routine consists of at least two day hikes a month, and no less than 2 nights of backpacking a month. I also alpine ski, and will be trekking up to Snoqualmie Pass to ski and will use the Hooded Shak as a layer in my skiing ensemble.
Test Plan:
If selected I will look for the following characteristics in the Ibex Hooded Shak:
(My answers are in parenthesis and italics)
Fit:
How well does the shirt fit?
Ibex recommends using the Shak as a mid layer; so how easy is it to wear something underneath it or over it?
Will I feel like the Michelin Man if I am wearing an outer layer over the Shak?
How easy is the chest pocket to open?
Is there extra padding in the pocket to keep stuff from bouncing on my chest?
How does the shirt feel as a baselayer?
Is it itchy like other wool products?
How comfortable is the hood to wear?
Is it head conforming or will I look like the emperor from the Star Wars series?
How do the thumb loops fit?
Are the sleeves proportional to the rest of the shirt?
Can I adequately vent the shirt with the half length zip?
Durable:
How durable is the Shak wool?
Do I need to be concerned during off trail hiking?
Does the fabric wear more underneath my backpack straps?
What temperature range is it best used in?
How durable are the thumb loops?
Are they reinforced?
Style:
Living here in the trendy Pacific Northwest is this shirt stylish enough to wear on a rainy day diaper run to Target or while out at dinner in downtown Seattle?
Thanks to BackpackGearTest and IBEX for allowing me to participate in this test.
Read more reviews of Ibex gear
Read more gear reviews by Jason Boyle
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