Initial Report Keela Rock Jacket
Date: November 17,
2005
Tester: Rosaleen Sullivan
Age: 55 years
Gender: Female
Height: 5’ 9’’ (1.75 m)
Weight: 180 lb ( 82 kg)
E-mail: rosaleen43 (at) msn (dot) com
Home: Eastern Massachusetts, USA
Tester Background/Style
I’ve been backpacking off and on for about 20 years. My normal
gear includes a hammock, down bag and jacket, hiking poles, and an alcohol or
fuel tablet stove, gear subject to revision for each trip. I also enjoy making
gear, and often nudge myself out of a design daydream on the trail. Preferred
trips last 3 days, but I have backpacked 10 days straight. While most of my
journeys are within New England, I’ve hiked the length
of the Smokeys
National Park, the Grand
Canyon, and other trails far from home.
Manufacturer: Keela International Ltd.
URL: http://www.keela.co.uk/
Year of Manufacture: 2005
MSRP: £120
Product Specifications
Product Information from the website
Product Name: ROCK
JACKET SDP
Size Range:
XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL
Color choices: Light Grey/Dark Grey, Platinum/Black, Bluestone/Grey
Fabric: Innovative Lite Ripstop
Lining: ADS laminate
NEW FOR SPRING 2005 Lightweight SDP jacket.
High specification without the weight!
Itegral wired peak
hood with volume adjustment
4 Dual entry front pockets
Internal O/S Map pocket
Underam zip
ventilation
Double stormflap
with Velcro closure
Scooped drop back
Chin guard
Velcro adjustable cuffs
One handed draw puller movement
Product weight: None given by
manufacturer
Measured weight of
test jacket: 1.75 lb (792g)
Product Description
The Keela Rock Jacket that I am testing is a
men’s size large platinum and black version. The jacket arrived as I was
packing to leave on a 3-day weekend trip, so I quickly determined that it fit,
and then tossed it on top of my gear pile. I wore the jacket for most of
the weekend, cutting off the hang tags after arriving at the group
campsite. I am still exploring and discovering features of this
jacket. From the website description, I expected a wire brimmed hood, but
not THREE adjustment options, one at each side and at the hood’s peak. I
may have missed the on-seam zippered pockets inside the storm flaps for a good
while, had I not read the website description. I think the
unobtrusiveness of the pockets is a mark of the jacket’s precision design and
quality construction. I was surprised to find a double row of
elastic shock cord along the bottom hem instead of just one. I have not
formed an opinion of this, yet. It may allow the mesh lining to be
cinched close to the body while reserving cinching the outer layer for colder conditions.
This could increase the bellows effect Keela claims.
There are two more zippered outside pockets, protected by storm flaps,
and an underarm vent on each side. In the picture, above, I have my right hand
positioned so that my thumb is in the bottom of the upper pocket, and most of
my hand is in the lower pocket. All flaps have hook and loop
closures. The chin flap and jacket bottom are secured by metal
snaps. Another feature of this jacket is a smooth-to-the-touch mesh
lining. The manufacturer claims that a bellows effect of the free-hanging
lining working with the vented jacket should allow perspiration vapors to
escape, keeping the wearer comfortable through a range of activities. As
I understand their literature, the Dual Protection System refers to the
jacket’s ability to protect the wearer dry from the inside while providing
non-bulky insulation. According to the sewn in label, the outer layer is
made of polyurethane coated ripstop nylon and the
inner mesh is polyester. I don’t see the “ADS Laminate” mentioned in the
website for the lining. Perhaps the
label’s polyurethane coating is what the site is calling “ADS Laminate.”
Care instructions: hand wash with pure soap, drip dry, and cool iron.
Experiences thus far
I wore this jacket for most of my hiking/camping weekend. Usually I
get in some serious hiking on long weekends, but this past weekend turned into
more of a social opportunity with some hiking. It worked out well for me
as I had some physical issues that would have interfered with 20 or so miles
(~32 km) of hiking. The campground was close to sea level, and the
highest point of the 5 mile (~ 8 km) hike was about 1400 ft (~ 430 m).
While hiking, I had the jacket in my daypack, anticipating that I’d need it
while cooking lunch. We broke for lunch in a sunny area on top of a
mountain, so I didn’t need the jacket, but I did pull it back on as soon as we
returned to the near sea level campground. I wore the jacket in comfort
all the time in camp except while I slept, over a fleece jacket, down liner
jacket, or both. I was able to notice an immediate change for the better
in comfort level when I donned the jacket. Overnight temperatures
were in the mid 20’s F (~-4 C). The daytime hours in camp were somewhat
warmer, but the frost lingered on my hammock tarp and I needed to wear gloves
nearly all of the time, so by personal comfort and observed evidence, I think
it stayed quite cool under the trees. The jacket was comfortable, with
the sleeve and body lengths ample for me. I do prefer that cold weather
jackets cover to the top of my thighs rather than stopping at my waist.
This Keela Rock covers my preferences.
Test Plan
I plan to wear the Keela Rock Jacket during
a series of day hikes in eastern Massachusetts, for every day wear, and for
backpacking. The jacket arrived just in time for the first of two
national holidays that will allow me three-day weekends. For the first
one, I was in the Delaware Water Gap area (Pennsylvania/New Jersey
borders). For the second weekend (Thanksgiving in the USA), I anticipate
hiking one of the many long distance trails in New England. Weather and
gas price predictions will influence this and further trail choices. In
most of eastern Massachusetts, we are on a coastal plain with rolling hills and
some rocky areas. In fall to early winter, we can anticipate temperatures
to vary widely, with some summer-like days following days with snow squalls. I
should be able to get testing time in over a variety of conditions in the four
month period.
Things to Look for or Test
Does the jacket keep me comfortable over a
range of conditions and activities?
Do insulation layers fit under the jacket
comfortably and still allow ventilation?
Ease and comfort of the hood
adjustment over different layers?
Accessibility of various
pocket contents while jacket is worn, with/without
gloves or mittens or wearing pack?
Effectiveness and ease of use
of pit zips?
Range of motion while wearing jacket/over
layers?
Effectiveness/awkwardness of storm flaps?
Comfort of “chin guard?”
Does the jacket shed wind, rain, and snow?
Any signs of wear aver the test period?
Any problems with fasteners or
stiffeners?
Any problems with cleaning, if required?
Likes
So far the Keela
Rock Jacket appears to be a well-constructed, nearly “bomb-proof” jacket.
Dislikes
None, so far.
Thanks for reading my report,
Rosaleen Sullivan
