Articles (2020)

Overview

The new Outdoor Research Zealot rain jacket is aimed squarely at the growing ultralight market, packing no frills storm protection into a simple package and weighing in at just over 7 ounces (7.2 ounces, 204 g Backpacking Light measured weight). The Zealot has a minimalist design; one pocket, one hood adjustment, elastic cuffs, and hem drawcord. A water resistant two-way full zipper adds a measure of breathability and ease of use. The waterproof/breathable shell fabric is 15 denier Gore-Tex PacLite. The Zealot performs nearly as well as heavier rainshells, with little sacrifice in performance due to the simple feature set. It has limited storage space relative to a full-featured rainshell, and the water resistant zipper is more difficult to operate than others I have used. The Zealot jacket does not contain new technology, but Outdoor Research made good trade-offs to produce a fully functional waterproof/breathable jacket and keep it under 8 ounces.

Specifications

What’s Good

• Full zip waterproof/breathable shell weighing only 7.2 ounces (204 g)
• Double separating zipper provides good breathability control
• Low bulk Gore-Tex PacLite fabric with Gore taped seams provides good storm protection
• Roomy enough to fit over layers

What’s Not So Good

• Water resistant zipper is difficult to operate
• Single rear hood adjustment provides limited control

Performance

I tested the Outdoor Research Zealot on late winter trips in the southern Arizona mountains. I stayed dry in light and heavy rain while hiking, resting, or performing basic camp chores. The water resistant zipper performed well and the hood stayed in place while cinched down in wind driven rain. The lack of control on the hood brim exposed my face and forehead to more weather than a full-featured hood with multiple adjustments does. I tested breathability and comfort in my standard fashion; wearing the jacket on a 1,200 vertical foot, 2 mile climb into the Saguaro Wilderness with temperatures in the 50s °F. This test puts most shells squarely in the discomfort zone. While I was certainly warm and moist by the time I finished this climb, the Zealot performed as well as other, heavier rainshells I’ve used. The zipper is critical to maintaining some comfort under these conditions. I experimented with the two-way zipper and found its versatility useful when wearing the jacket with different pack configurations (waistbelt, no waistbelt, sternum strap). The elastic cuffs held in more moisture and heat than adjustable cuffs that can be opened wide. I found the small hood volume to be just fine in normal use. With a high volume climbing helmet (Black Diamond Halfdome) the hood was too small to use comfortably. A lower volume helmet might fit under the hood more effectively. The lack of storage space in the Outdoor Research Zealot is the most significant weight/performance trade-off. The chest pocket has a vertical zipper and is large enough to hold your keys, or an energy bar or two, but not much else. The chest pocket’s vertical zipper makes it easy to access while wearing a pack under most conditions, but use of a sternum strap blocks entry. I will gladly sacrifice the convenience of more pockets to get a functional shell at just over 7 ounces. According to Todd Walton at Outdoor Research, the design goal was to create a hardshell so light that there would be "no reason not to take it." At this they have succeeded.

The Zealot is well constructed with good overall fit. The tail is slightly dropped and the sleeves are articulated to keep the jacket from rising when arms are lifted to shoulder height. The hem drawcord has a single toggle lock on the left side and adjusts easily and tightly. The hood has a moderate brim stiffener and a single drawcord adjustment in the rear. The hood adjustment cinches the hood around your ears, providing better protection from wind and rain. The hood adjustment does not provide any control over the brim of the hood, making it a little less storm resistant than more full featured hoods.

The Outdoor Research Zealot hood cinches up well around your ears, but its single adjustment provides no control over the brim.

What’s Unique

Outdoor Research has used lightweight fabric and pared down the features to reduce the weight to near 7 ounces in a waterproof/breathable shell, while retaining the most functional feature – a full zipper. By including a double separating zipper they have added extra usability and breathability control for very little extra weight; a good trade-off in my opinion. The 15 denier Gore-Tex PacLite fabric is significantly less bulky than most other waterproof/breathable materials and has Gore seam tape which adds little bulk to the seams – features I appreciate when wearing the jacket or packing it. The PacLite fabric features a Gore-Tex membrane with abrasion resistant dots designed to protect and enhance the life of the membrane. This abrasion resistance allows PacLite shells to eliminate the full liner layer common to other Gore-Tex fabrics, saving weight and bulk; although Gore states that PacLite shells will be less durable than heavier Gore-Tex shells.

Recommendations for Improvement

My biggest concern with the Outdoor Research Zealot jacket is the difficult operation of the zipper. Water resistant zippers are frequently difficult to move, but the zipper on the Zealot I tested is more difficult to use than most I have experienced. There was no significant improvement after several weeks of use. A smoother zipper would be a welcome improvement.

Overview

The Mini-Trangia and the Liberty Mountain Westwind alcohol stoves are two lightweight configurations of the Trangia family of stoves. Both use the Trangia alcohol burner. The Mini-Trangia includes a cook kit that also serves as a packaging system for the stove. The Westwind is a lighter weight version that includes a three-piece windscreen/pot stand. The Trangia burner is nicely designed and has some useful features. For example, for shorter duration trips, fuel can be stored within the stove itself, which is sealed by a threaded cap. The Trangia burner is on the heavy side compared to other alcohol burners we reviewed, but it is well designed, quality made, and performs well.

Specifications

Usable Features

Design – The Mini-Trangia alcohol stove comes complete with alcohol burner and cook kit. The burner and pot stand nest nicely into a 0.8-liter cookpot that closes with a nonstick fry pan/lid making for a nice contained cook system. The Liberty Mountain Westwind model packages the Trangia alcohol burner with a collapsible pot stand/windscreen only. The Trangia alcohol burner has the capability to store its own fuel when the burner cap is used, which is a nice feature for 1-2 night outings where all the needed fuel can be stored within the stove. The burner cap has a rubber seal providing a leak-proof container. Set up times for the Trangia burner are minimal, especially when the stove is used as the alcohol storage container. Lighting is accomplished by simply igniting the alcohol pool in the middle of the stove and a half minute later the burner starts jetting. The simmer/extinguisher cap has an adjustable ring providing simmer control. The cap is simply rotated to its closed position to extinguish the stove.

Weight – The Trangia alcohol burner is heavy at 3.9 ounces when compared to other alcohol stoves. There are no modifications available to lower the burner’s weight without sacrificing performance.

Flame Control – The only flame control is the simmer/extinguisher cap, which effectively controls the amount of flame.

Pot Support – The Mini-Trangia alcohol stove comes with a 0.8-liter pot that was designed to fit on the included pot stand. A circular section on the pot is stamped out so that the pot nests within the pot stand supports. The Liberty Mountain Westwind alcohol stove has a three-piece pot stand that assembles together in a triangular configuration, and includes cutouts to support the Trangia burner. While both pot stands adequately support large pots, the Westwind has a larger base offering even more stability.

Wind Protection – Some wind protection on both the Mini-Trangia and the Liberty Mountain Westwind is provided by the pot supports. The Mini-Trangia pot stand provides more coverage of the alcohol burner and thus better wind protection.

Ease of Use

Setup – The Mini-Trangia is easy to assemble into cook mode, taking under 10 seconds. It takes about 15 seconds to mate the three pieces of aluminum together to form the Liberty Mountain Westwind pot stand.

Fueling – Fueling the Trangia alcohol burner is a matter of simply placing alcohol into the reservoir in the middle of the burner. If the burner has been used to store the alcohol, that step is eliminated.

Priming and Ignition – The alcohol reservoir remains lit once ignited; we had no trouble with the flame going out. Once the stove warms up, it starts to burn from the jets in less than 30 seconds.

Flame Adjustment – The simmer cap works well to adjust the flame.

Cold Weather Ergonomics – Operating the burner with gloves on is a little tricky. The most difficult part is unscrewing the burner cap from the alcohol burner. This cap is essentially the same as those found on a mason jar.

Cooking Systems – The Mini-Trangia stove comes with a cookpot, pot stand, and windscreen that were designed to work together. The pot bottom has a punched out section that nests within the pot stand. The fry pan lid has a similar recess that forms a good fit on the cookpot when used as a lid. When the stove is packed up, this fry pan lid snaps firmly onto the cookpot containing the pot stand, stove, and pot handle within the cookpot. The Liberty Mountain Westwind has cutouts in the pot stand to support the alcohol burner. Trangia manufactures a wide array of cooking systems that work with the Trangia alcohol burner.

Cooking Performance

Capacity – The Mini-Trangia alcohol stove comes with a 0.8-liter cook pot that is suitable for boiling water for one person. Flames from the alcohol burner spilled around the pot. A larger cook pot would lessen the amount of flame spillage, allowing for more efficient heating.

Versatility – The simmer cap is adjustable by sliding a metal cap over the alcohol burner. When completely shut, the simmer cap acts as an effective extinguisher. Adjusting the simmer cap after it is placed on the alcohol burner is difficult. The rotating metal on the simmer cap does not move easily and actually requires removing the simmer cap, letting the cap cool sufficiently for handling, adjusting the opening on the cap, and then replacing the simmer cap back onto the burner. An in situ adjustment would be desirable. Additionally, the included pot stand on the Mini-Trangia interferes with the simmer cap when it is opened past a certain point. This interference was also true for the Westwind pot stand. Once the simmer cap is set to achieve a desired flame level, the stove can be used for more complex meals beyond the simple task of boiling water.

Wind Effects – Without an additional windscreen, the Trangia alcohol burner is seriously affected by the wind. The pot stands of both the Mini-Trangia and the Liberty Mountain Westwind provide only minimal protection from wind. The burner jets are directly exposed to any wind disturbances, and are not protected by the stove’s design.

Cold Effects – The Trangia burner and fuel were placed in a freezer to simulate cold weather performance. When the burner was removed from the freezer, it lit right away; approximately 45 seconds later, the burner started to burn from the jets. Cold weather did not seem to drastically alter the its performance. This was most likely due to its brass construction. Brass has a relatively high thermal conductivity and quickly heats or cools depending on the thermal environment.

Heating Efficiency

The Mini-Trangia and Liberty Mountain Westwind versions of the Trangia stove have higher boil times in optimal conditions than the average for all the alcohol stoves we reviewed. The Mini-Trangia stove consumed a higher than average amount of fuel to achieve boiling, but the Westwind used significantly less fuel than average. This may be a result of the Mini-Trangia’s flame spread, which disperses flames around the cook pot, causing decreased efficiency. Under windy conditions, the Trangia burner becomes a blowtorch, especially in the Liberty Mountain Westwind where the boil time was faster than in optimal conditions, probably due to the fanning effect. Fuel consumption under windy conditions leaped for both stoves (the highest of all stoves tested) illustrating why good wind protection is necessary for an alcohol stove.

See performance results for all the stoves we tested in Performance Comparison Testing of Lightweight Alcohol Stoves.

Durability

Packability – The Mini-Trangia nests wonderfully into a relatively small package that can be packed away easily. The Liberty Mountain Westwind pot stand has three pieces that can be misplaced easily.

Durability – The alcohol burner is made from a relatively thick gauge of brass, which can be expected to resist use and abuse. The burner is further protected within the cookpot of the Mini-Trangia setup.

Maintenance – The only foreseeable maintenance is unclogging the jet holes.

Value

The Trangia alcohol burner cooks well and is a good value for its durability. The bare-bones model (Liberty Mountain Westwind alcohol stove) is available for $27, and the Mini-Trangia integrated and packable cook system is $39.90. The best feature of the Trangia burner is the ability to store fuel within the stove thereby reducing the need for a fuel bottle on short duration trips.

Recommendations for Improvement

The Trangia burner would be more versatile if the simmer cap is modified so that it can be adjusted while the stove is in use, rather than needing to remove the cap from the stove to adjust it.

Overview

The Brasslite Turbo II-D alcohol stove is a high quality stove with some great features. It has an innovative simmer sleeve that allows you to control the flame and simmer for more than 30 minutes. It also has a sturdy built-in pot stand that works well with pots up to 2 liters. The Brasslite Turbo II-D can easily cook for two or more people. As with any alcohol stove, it is essential that the Turbo II-D be used with a windscreen to minimize inefficiencies caused by wind.

Specifications

Usable Features

Design – As the name implies, the Brasslite Turbo II-D alcohol stove is made of brass in an open flame design (no jets). It includes a built in pot stand, and a sliding simmer sleeve for flame control.

Weight – At 2.6 ounces, including a built in pot stand, the Brasslite Turbo II-D alcohol stove is heavier than a simple soda can stove plus a pot stand. The pot stand could be reduced in weight without significant performance loss.

Flame Control – The innovative simmer sleeve is very effective at flame control.

Pot Support – The pot support is the same diameter as the stove (2.8 inches). It is a mesh design that is strong and moderately stable.

Wind Protection – None included.

Ease of Use

Setup – With the pot stand built into the stove, there is virtually no set up time – just add fuel and light.

Fueling – Lighting the Brasslite Turbo II-D alcohol stove is easy, so long as you have a directed nozzle on your fuel bottle with which to accurately place your fuel. Brasslite has a graduated fuel bottle with a nozzle dispenser available. Fueling the stove from a plastic soda bottle is prone to spillage.

Priming and Ignition – The Brasslite requires priming, especially in cool conditions (below about 55 °F in my experience). The warming pan is easy to use and works well to get the stove burning efficiently.

Flame Adjustment – The Brasslite Turbo II-D alcohol stove has a simmer sleeve that encircles the main cylinder and allows you to control airflow to the flame. This effectively controls the flame height, temperature, and fuel consumption. The simmer sleeve on our Turbo II-D test sample got sticky and hard to slide with time. I solved this by keeping the stove and sleeve clean and free of dirt. It is best to adjust the simmer sleeve using a tent stake instead of your hands, as the sleeve and stove get very hot.

Cold Weather Ergonomics – Cold weather use is easy; there are no moving parts besides the simmer sleeve. Cooking with gloves on is no problem.

Cooking Performance

As with all alcohol stoves, a windscreen is mandatory for effective use of the Brasslite Turbo II-D alcohol stove. I forgot a windscreen on a weeklong trip along the Continental Divide Trail and I struggled to get the stove to cook efficiently. With a well-designed windscreen, however, the Turbo II-D is a good performer.

Capacity – My standard pot, even for solo trips, is an Evernew 1.5 L pot. The Brasslite Turbo II-D alcohol stove easily handles this size pot and could certainly be used as a two-person stove. Brasslite recommends the Turbo II-D for pots up to 2 liters.

Versatility – Most of my meals are of the “boil and stir” variety, but I have tested the Brasslite Turbo II-D alcohol stove with meals that require simmering – pasta, rice and others. The simmer feature is effective at controlling the flame, but you must be careful not to tip the pot while adjusting the simmer sleeve. Either remove the pot, or make sure you are holding onto it while rotating the simmer sleeve. More complicated cooking such as frying eggs or cooking fish might be successful once you have experience with this stove. Brasslite claims that the Turbo II-D can simmer up to 30 minutes. I was able to adjust the simmer sleeve to simmer for 34 minutes on one load of fuel.

Wind Effects – As mentioned earlier, a windscreen is mandatory in anything but the calmest conditions. Frequently, a less than full wraparound windscreen is adequate, but for simplicity I find it best to use a full windscreen all the time. Without it, the Brasslite Turbo II-D alcohol stove will cook much less efficiently, and may not complete your meal before you run out of fuel. In our wind effects tests the Turbo II-D was more susceptible to wind than most of the other stoves.

Cold Effects – I put the Brasslite Turbo II-D alcohol stove and fuel in a refrigerator until they were chilled, then brought it out and it cooked just fine – as long as I used the preheat pan. My experience in the field was similar – the Turbo II-D ignited very quickly but the preheat pan was helpful below 55 °F.

Heating Efficiency

The Turbo II-D takes longer to bring 2 cups of water to a boil and is less fuel-efficient than most other stoves we tested. Wind more than doubled fuel use as shown in our test results.

See performance results for all the stoves we tested in Performance Comparison Testing of Lightweight Alcohol Stoves.

Durability

Packability – The Brasslite Turbo II-D packs easily, and includes a built in pot stand.

Durability – I used the Brasslite Turbo II-D alcohol stove heavily over the course of the summer, and it has held up extremely well because of its high quality brass construction.

Maintenance – Clean beneath the simmer sleeve to keep the sleeve moving smoothly.

Value

The Brasslite Turbo II-D alcohol stove is well made and the built-in pot stand is strong and sturdy. The simmer sleeve is a simple and effective feature that allows this stove to extend to more complicated cooking better than most other alcohol stoves. But, our tests showed the Turbo II-D to be less fuel efficient and slower at bringing water to a boil than many of the other stoves we tested. It has good features and construction, but at $40 is more expensive than most alcohol stoves.

Tips and Tricks

The most important tip with this stove is to use a well-designed windscreen to maximize fuel efficiency. Try your windscreen at home to make sure it protects the stove from wind and allows adequate airflow to the flame.

Recommendations for Improvement

The Brasslite Turbo II-D alcohol stove is a much sturdier stove than most other alcohol stoves. It could be constructed a bit lighter without sacrificing quality. The most beneficial changes would be improvements in overall efficiency. It is possible that the open flame design contributes to wind susceptibility and lower fuel efficiency.

Overview

The Brookside Crafts alcohol stove kit, sold exclusively on eBay under the seller name Tomsbus, is a gem of a stove at a fantastic price. For less than $18, you get an efficient soda can-style stove that boils water well, an effective simmer ring for simmering, an integrated windscreen/pot support that can easily handle pots up to 4 inches wide (such as an MSR titanium Kettle), a nicely made stainless steel cup, and a fuel bottle that is shaped to fit inside the cup (along with all the other items). Besides that, the stove is no ordinary pop-can stove – it is reinforced with heavier gauge aluminum on the inside, is beautifully constructed, and is quite durable.

Specifications

Usable Features

The Brookside Crafts alcohol stove is a double wall aluminum alcohol stove made from soda cans, like many similar make-your-own designs available on the Internet. Available only on eBay, the alcohol burner can be purchased separately or in a variety of well thought-out integrated stove kits. Ours included a combination windscreen/pot support, fuel bottle, simmer ring, and 0.53-liter stainless-steel cup. The whole kit works nicely together and fits inside the provided cup.

The burner is beautifully manufactured with fire-resistant aluminum tape around the outside and an inner wall made of 0.012 gauge aluminum sheet. This burner is very strong, well built, and shows no signs of its soda can ancestry. It has 16 jets around the top.

The windscreen/pot support is a great design, quite similar to the Outdoor Equipment Supplier stove’s support. It consists of a wide cylinder made of sheet aluminum flashing. Two steel pegs are inserted through four holes in the flashing to provide a pot support. This creates a very stable platform that is tight enough to block wind effectively. The windscreen is 4.5 inches wide, just wide enough for a mid-size kettle. Larger pots, such as 2-liter models, must sit on top of the windscreen. This configuration did not work well in tests. Another method of support is needed for larger pots.

The flame pattern is even and spreads across the bottom of the pot. There is a little flame spillage up the sides of the included stainless-steel cup but none when using a kettle.

At 3.1 ounces the 0.53-liter steel cup is no ultralight but is a nice inclusion in a set that costs less than $18. It is functional, well built with nice rounded corners, and is quite durable, not showing any of the discoloration of titanium after repeated use. It doesn’t include a lid but a small piece of aluminum foil works just fine.

Ease of Use

This is a very easy stove to operate. Simply set up the windscreen/pot support, pour the alcohol into the burner (measured in the lid of the provided fuel bottle), light, and place your pot on the supports. Because this stove is slightly shorter than many similar stoves, it is easier to light the fuel in the bottom of the burner. In around 90 seconds, the jets flame up and the stove is going full blast. When the fuel runs out, the Brookside stops quickly and is cool enough to accept more fuel in about 30 to 40 seconds, if needed.

When testing this stove with gloves on, it was still very easy to set up and operate. It was a consistent performer in all conditions.

Alcohol stoves aren’t known for their simmering ability, instead offering simple on/off performance. With the included simmer ring, however, the Brookside provides good simmering performance. Two rivets attached to the side of the simmer ring (shaped from the top of an old-style beer can) make placing the ring on an operating burner quite simple. With the ring on, the stove’s heat output is decreased considerably to allow for simmering, although further adjustment is difficult.

Cooking Performance

Cooking with this stove is straightforward and simple. It boils water well and can also simmer reasonably well. In simmer mode, the heat output is not only lower, but the flame is smaller and more directed as well; you’ll want to be careful to move the pot around when simmering.

All soda can stoves similar to this require warm-up periods before the jets are ignited. At just over a minute for warm-up, the Brookside Crafts alcohol stove was right in the average range compared to similar stoves; my AntiGravityGear Tin Man burner routinely warmed up faster, but only by 10 seconds or so.

Wind can greatly reduce performance for all alcohol stoves. In the Backpacking Light lab tests, most of the stoves consumed twice as much fuel under windy conditions. In the lab, the Brookside Crafts stove took about 60% longer to boil water in windy conditions. In the field I found that the stove boiled water faster when using an MSR Ti Kettle because it butted right against the side of the windscreen, helping to block wind from entering from the top.

The Brookside Crafts stove lights easily even in the wind and once lit it shows no tendency to blow out. The stove base does not get too hot and cools quickly after burning out. However, the steel pot supports stay hot long after cooking is done. Be careful to move the pot support using its aluminum sides, which cool much more quickly than the cross supports.

Heating Efficiency

The Brookside Crafts alcohol stove was among the fastest boilers in our lab tests at 5 minutes 38 seconds for 1 pint of water. Under calm conditions, fuel efficiency was in the average range when compared to other stoves we tested.

In windy conditions, the short windscreen allowed wind to enter through the top, increasing its boil time to 9 minutes 50 seconds and increasing its fuel consumption by 131%. As mentioned above, this performance can be improved by using a pot that fits tightly in the windscreen. Using a higher windscreen also helped to decrease boil times in windy conditions.

See performance results for all the stoves we tested in Performance Comparison Testing of Lightweight Alcohol Stoves.

Durability

The Brookside Crafts is one of the toughest alcohol stoves I’ve seen. While other soda can burners I’ve used are dented and show obvious wear, this burner is nearly indestructible through normal use. It still looks just like the day I got it, despite many nights on the trail and my tendency to be very hard on gear.

The windscreen/pot support looks a bit worse for wear after several weeks in the field. This is mainly due to the cross supports being overheated and causing the aluminum sides to bend and deform. However, this only occurred after intense testing in my kitchen. No similar problems occurred in the field, and the windscreen bent back into place quite easily. I could not get the cross supports to bend due to heat; they are quite durable. Overall, the windscreen proved quite durable (far more than my normal aluminum foil setups) and is my current favorite for use with soda can stoves.

Value

The Brookside Crafts alcohol stove performs well, is super-durable, has a good windscreen/pot support, and includes a nicely made steel cup; at less than $18 on eBay, this is an excellent value. Further, the manufacturer offers a money back guarantee and has 100% positive feedback after over 150 sales on eBay, making it even more worth the effort to take a look at this stove.

Tips and Tricks

Beware: the cross supports stay hot long after the rest of the stove has cooled. Be careful to not block the bottom vents when setting the windscreen up in the dirt – the vents are needed for good stove performance. The steel cup is well made but doesn’t include a lid – pack some aluminum foil to decrease boil times.

Recommendations for Improvement

The Brookside Crafts alcohol stove is well designed and a good performer. I offer the following suggestions for further improvements:

• The windscreen could be made more effective with a slight increase in height. A height increase of 1 inch (while keeping the pot supports the same height above the burner) would make a noticeable difference in wind performance.
• Offer a titanium cup and titanium cross-supports for weight fanatics.
• Make available a kit option with a larger capacity cook pot and lid that is optimized for the stove.

Overview

The AntiGravityGear Mama’s Kitchen Deluxe Set alcohol stove is a complete cook set, with components designed to work effectively with one another. The system includes 3-cup and 2-quart cookpots, two appropriately sized pot cozies, pot gripper, Tin Man alcohol burner, windscreen, bowl/measuring cup, soap, and pot scrubber. The only items missing from this set are alcohol fuel and a bottle to put it in. The burner is lightweight (0.4 ounce for the burner/pot stand) and super easy to prime and use. I liked the pot cozies, which extended fuel supplies by allowing food to continue to cook long after removing the pot from the stove. My only complaint – the pot stand is the top of the burner and only 2.0 inches in diameter. This is unstable, particularly for larger pots, and reduces efficient heating to the center of the pot.

Specifications

Usable Features

Design – The AntiGravityGear Mama’s Kitchen alcohol stove Deluxe Set is similar to other cook sets with the exception of the Tin Man alcohol burner and the included pot cozies. The Tin Man burner is made from the bottoms of soda cans, is very compact, and fits easily in most cookpots. The burner has an inner chamber that is filled through a small slit in the inner chamber wall when fuel is added to the open cavity in the top of the burner. A cookpot effectively seals the burner’s top opening, so it performs as a closed jet burner rather than an open jet burner. During priming, the alcohol is heated to boiling and pressure builds up in the inner chamber. This pressure forces alcohol vapor out of the side flame ports and it burns as it emerges.

The pot cozies are designed to tightly fit the AntiGravityGear cookpots. They are made from a material that resembles bubble wrap covered in Mylar and are extremely lightweight and excellent at retaining heat. They are neither compressible nor foldable, and when used become the largest packed volume of the set, with everything else nested inside.

Weight – The Tin Man burner/pot stand combination is the lightest burner and pot stand in our review suite at 0.4 ounces. The 2-quart (6.0 ounces) and 3-cup (4.0 ounces) aluminum pots included with the Mama’s Kitchen Deluxe Set are lightweight, on a par with some titanium pots in fact, and much less expensive. The pots do not have integrated handles however, and require a pot clamp. The provided pot clamp weighs 1.3 ounces and is heavier than the MSR LiteLifter ( 1.0 ounce) and home made pot clamps. Fuel savings may cancel out the weight of the pot cozies (1.0 and 1.3 ounces) depending on your cooking style and trip length. See our performance review of the cozies here.

Flame Control – There are no mechanisms to control the flame on the Tin Man burner. If the food is getting too hot, either open up the windscreen to cool things off with wind, or remove the pot from the stove.

Pot Support – The Tin Man alcohol burner serves double duty as both burner and pot support. At only 2 inches wide, the support is not very stable and instability increases with pot diameter. The burner has the flame jets located on the side to prevent the pot from snuffing out the flame. With good site selection and care, even a 3-quart pot can be balanced upon the stove. However, we would like to see a more stable platform.

Wind Protection – A stiff aluminum windscreen is included with the AntiGravityGear Mama’s Kitchen alcohol stove Deluxe Set. Measuring 2.5 inches high, the windscreen can be slightly rolled up to fit in either the 3-cup or 2-quart pot. The windscreen does a good job of blocking wind. It does not have vent cut outs and sticks can be used under the edges of the windscreen to increase airflow when wind is minimal.

Ease of Use

Setup – The cook set is very easy to set up. There are no fuel lines or canisters to connect. Simply set the burner on the ground, add fuel, and it’s ready to light. The pot sits directly on top of the burner, and placing the windscreen around the pot completes the task.

Fueling – Filling the burner is easy – just pour fuel into the large center cavity. The large opening also makes it possible to use wider mouth fuel bottles like plastic soda bottles (alcohol stove fuel does not react with plastic).

Priming and Ignition – The Tin Man burner does not require external priming. All too often alcohol stoves require priming fuel to be poured around the outside of the stove, a process that consumes extra fuel and can be hazardous. Nearly all of my near mishaps with cooking in the backcountry have occurred with alcohol stoves that required priming. After filling the large center cavity of the Tin Man, a single match is usually enough to ignite it. As the alcohol begins to boil, alcohol vapor is forced out of the side ports where it is burned.

Flame Adjustment – The Tin Man burner lacks any means to adjust the flame. Essentially there are two settings: off and full output. In windy weather, opening the windscreen may reduce heat output to some extent, but this cannot be relied upon.

Cold Weather Ergonomics – With no moving parts, the AntiGravityGear Mama’s Kitchen Deluxe Set is fairly easy to use while wearing winter gloves. The large cavity of the burner is easy to fill and spillage is minimal. Burning alcohol is nearly invisible in daylight, so special care is needed to check to see if the stove is still burning so that bulky winter wear is not melted or caught on fire.

Cooking Systems – The Mama’s Kitchen Deluxe Set comes as a complete cooking system with a windscreen, pot gripper, Tin Man burner, insulated cup, pot scrubby, soap, two pots (3-cup and 2-quart), and pot cozies.

Cooking Performance

Capacity – The Tin Man burner produces enough heat for one or two backpackers. I tested the Tin Man at elevations from 8,000 feet to above 11,000 feet and temperatures from below freezing to 90 °F. Under all conditions, the stove ignited and cooked with negligible change in performance.

Versatility – Due to the lack of adjustability of the Tin Man stove, it does not score well in terms of versatility. This stove is excellent at boiling water but lacks the control needed for culinary tasks such as baking and simmering.

Wind Effects – The AntiGravityGear Mama’s Kitchen Deluxe Set has good wind resistance because of its solid sided windscreen. I used the cook set in winds approaching 30 mph with no major problems.

Cold Effects – I field-tested the stove at temperatures below freezing by placing the burner and fuel in a freezer overnight. There was no difficulty lighting the burner, but it did take longer to get the alcohol up to the boiling point

Heating Efficiency

Under our controlled and consistent testing conditions, the AntiGravityGear Mama’s Kitchen Deluxe Set Tin Man alcohol stove did not perform as well as other alcohol stoves. Boil times were longer because we had to wait for the burner to reach operating temperature before we could place a pot on top – otherwise the pot would snuff out the burner – and because the pot sits directly on top of the burner and that portion of the pot bottom does not get direct heat from the flame.

See performance results for all the stoves we tested in Performance Comparison Testing of Lightweight Alcohol Stoves.

Durability

Packability – Made from aluminum soda cans, the AntiGravityGear Tin Man burner and windscreen pack well into the smallest of cookpots. There are relatively few parts for this alcohol stove, reducing the chance of leaving a key component behind. The 3-cup and 2-quart pots nest perfectly inside one another with the cozy on the smaller pot. And, everything fits inside the larger two-quart pot cozy.

Durability – Although the design of the Tin Man burner is very strong, it is obvious the aluminum used in soda cans is rather flimsy. Dings and dents may occur, but real damage to the usability will require a severe impact such as stepping on the stove while in camp. Keep it stowed in the pot or in another safe location when not in use and it should last for many years. One concern is the pot cozies, which could suffer damage from other items in the pack. They cannot be folded and stowed inside the pot and are best stowed around the pot. So, care must be taken to ensure the cook set is stowed in the pack against other soft items.

Maintenance – Due to the clean burning attributes of alcohol fuel, it is unlikely any maintenance will be necessary for the AntiGravityGear Tin Man burner. Wiping out the interior with a rag occasionally is about all that is required. The best means to lengthen its life is to avoid dropping debris into the center chamber. Since debris easily sticks to the wet bottom of a cookpot, this may prove difficult to do in actual field conditions. A simple wipe from a bandana is the trick. As mentioned above, the pot cozy is susceptible to damage due to the very light materials used in its construction. A small piece of repair tape is included with the set to fix any minor leaks. If it gets shredded, a replacement can be purchased for a reasonable price (starting at $8.00).

Value

The AntiGravityGear Mama’s Kitchen Deluxe alcohol stove Set costs $55.95, not bad if you need the whole set. A solo titanium pot, the Tin Man stove, windscreen, and appropriately sized pot cozy costs about the same. Since carrying a single pot is the norm for ultralight backpacking, we consider this set a good, not great value. AntiGravityGear offers many other options including other cook sets, individual pots, cozies, Tin Man burners, and other cooking accessories. For the solo ultralight backpacker, the 3-cup Solo Deluxe Set is a great value at $31.50 (non-stick pot, 8.6 ounces total weight). We also find their very useful pot cozies an excellent value when purchased either with the set or alone.

Tips and Tricks

The most useful tip for using the AntiGravityGear Mama’s Kitchen Deluxe Set is to replace the included windscreen with one of your own design. I recommend that you make a different windscreen for each cookpot so it fits with a minimal amount of gap at the top (about 1/2 inch), and extends an inch or so up the side of the pot. Air intakes are needed along the bottom to maximize the stove’s efficiency. A very light and foldable windscreen can be fashioned out of an oven liner by cutting two strips and connecting them together with a simple fold.

Recommendations for Improvement

The Tin Man burner design eliminates the need for a pot stand but it is very unstable. I recommend improving the pot support and stability either by increasing the diameter of the stove or including another option for supporting the pot. Of these two suggestions, I would prefer the latter. Adding a lightweight pot stand would raise the pot above the stove and allow the flame to directly heat the bottom of the pot, improving stability and cooking performance at the same time.

Overview

At 6.5 ounces (186 g, as verified on our scales) the Patagonia Specter pullover is one of the lightest woven fabric waterproof/breathable shells we’ve tested. The only same-category shell we’re aware of that may be a shade lighter is the Montane 180 Smock (manufacturer specification is 6.3 ounces, 180 g).

Unlike some lightweight rain jackets that barely fit over a thin fleece layer, the Specter offers a generous fit and layers easily over a moderate loft synthetic fill jacket (we tested a size M shell over a size M Patagonia Micro Puff insulated pullover) with a little room to spare. Unfortunately, its short hem requires the use of rain pants for full torso/trunk protection in real rain.

Considering its light weight, the Patagonia Specter offers more-than-spartan features that include a large dual drawcord hood, drawcord hem, articulated sleeves, a webbing stiffened zipper storm flap, and a kangaroo pocket.

Most unique about the Specter is a new seam construction technique, an ultrasonic welded seam manufacturing technology exclusive to Patagonia.

Patagonia also offers the similarly constructed 9+ ounce Specter Jacket (not reviewed, but with a full front zip and core-venting side/handwarmer pockets) and 6+ ounce Grade VI Pants (not reviewed) to complement the two shells.

The Specter belongs to a rapidly emerging category of sub-8-ounce shells. These garments are designed to provide complete waterproof/breathable weather protection at the weight and packed volume of our old emergency gear like a vinyl jacket/poncho, emergency blanket, or a water resistant windshirt. The philosophy is that there should be no reason to leave rainwear at home. By this measure (weight) alone the Specter is a success: it provides good weather protection and reasonable breathability for minimal weight and bulk. In summary, it is the lightest and most compact rain jacket we’ve used.

Specifications

What’s Good

• Lightweight: The Specter is one of the lightest waterproof/breathable shells we’ve tested. Lighter than last year’s model (our measured weights) by 2.5 ounces.
• Generous fit: The Specter will layer over a lightweight synthetic fill jacket like a Patagonia Micro Puff in the same size.
• Hood: Dual adjustment hood accommodates a low volume climbing helmet.
• Breathability: Waterproof/breathable fabric provides good breathability for its weight, unlike many other PU-coated ultralight waterproof fabrics.
• The Zipper: The Specter has one of the smoothest operating water resistant zippers we’ve used.
• Seam Technology: New welded seams have a lower profile, reduce weight, resist soil absorption, and minimize abrasive seam wear.

What’s Not So Good

• Kangaroo pocket: Wearing a pack hip belt blocks access and reduces ventilation.
• Ventilation: No pit zips or other core venting system further hampers ventilation of the half-zip pullover design.

Performance

Storm protection is a strong feature of the Patagonia Specter. Of special note is its large and dual adjustment hood that will seal around anything from a low volume helmet to a bare head, and when fully opened, provides a cavernous reprieve from a downpour while keeping the head area ventilated.

The Specter’s shell fabric is one of Patagonia’s most breathable 2.5 layer polyurethane membranes (their Stretch Element’s fabric takes top honors). The shell fabric breathed creditably when we hiked uphill at a brisk pace in 40 °F temperatures. What most limited the pullover’s overall comfort and moisture transport performance was its lack of ventilation options. With no pit zips, core vents, a vented kangaroo pocket that is blocked by a hip belt, and only a half-length, 14-inch front zipper, we overheated in this jacket at exertion levels that were lower than the breathability thresholds for most jackets and pullovers that offer core venting options. Of course, this is a tradeoff of the minimalist pullover design and is not particularly unique to the Specter specifically. With a pullover, which by nature is usually minimalist, you save weight, but limit your options to vent excess heat and moisture. If you need more ventilation options, consider the Specter Jacket (which offers a full zipper and large core vents built into the front pockets).

The 2.5 layer polyurethane membrane in the Patagonia Specter has a highly hydrophilic textured inner layer that is said to swell and become more textured as the inside of the garment gets damp (under the presumption that an increase in texturing improves moisture transport across the membrane by increasing the surface area for moisture transfer). In the field, wearing only a wool T-shirt, we found the inner surface of the Specter to be less clammy than some of the 2.5 layer PU garments we’ve worn, but can’t validate the membrane technology claims based on observation – the differences are not dramatic, if even noticeable.

The Specter has the smoothest operating water resistant zipper we’ve used. For a change, the slider moves easily with one hand, a refreshing change from most waterproof zippers on the market. The zipper is backed by a stiffened storm flap that never interfered with the zipper’s operation.

What’s Unique

The vast majority of seams on the Specter use a new construction technique by which seams are ultrasonically welded and backed by a narrow composite mesh reinforced seam tape – Patagonia calls this their Composite Seam System™ (CSS) technology, with the specific claims:

• Lighter weight
• More compressible
• More waterproof
• More supple
• More aesthetically pleasing
• More durable (more resistant to abrasion)

Addressing these claims in turn, the meaningful differences in weight, compressibility, waterproofness, and suppleness are not noticeable in the field, although technically, they appear to be valid.

Folding a seam upon itself and visually inspecting it relative to traditionally sewn garments, it is clear that the seams are more supple and compressible, but when wearing or packing the Specter, these features are not particularly noticeable. Narrower (7 mm), thinner seam tape, and a butt-joined sonic weld (as opposed to a felled sewn seam) are primarily responsible for this. A worthy note: The Specter does compress into a ball about four inches in diameter. Considering that the old Specter (which used a heavier fabric weight) compressed to a ball about 5 inches in diameter, and a similarly designed Pertex Quantum/Microlight garment compressed to a ball about 3 inches in diameter, the 2005 Specter certainly provides an industry benchmark for waterproof shell compressibility.

Without an exact replica of the 2005 Specter sewn traditionally for comparison, it’s impossible to understand the extent to which the new seam technology decreases weight. Patagonia claims a decrease in weight of 27% in their Spring 2005 catalog. However, some simple back-of-the-napkin calculations that consider garment seam length, tape width, and thread weight indicate that the differences are not quite that dramatic and probably result in a weight savings in the range of 5% or less of the garment weight on the Specter (potentially higher weight savings can be gained for heavier, more complex garments). The 2005 Specter is indeed lighter than the 2004 version (by 2.5 oz), but most of the weight savings comes from a lighter shell fabric – 1.9 oz/yd² this year vs. last year’s 2.5 oz/yd² fabric and a slight redesign.

As for waterproofness of the new technology, we feel that the new construction technique makes little difference on a new garment relative to traditionally-taped seams. However, depending on the ability of Patagonia’s welded seams to remain durable over long term use, these seams should maintain waterproofness longer than sewn seams, since they are completely sealed during welding and taping, with no potential leak spots resulting from needle holes.

We’ve had no durability problems (with respect to failure of waterproofness, abrasion, or tearing) with the seams on the Specter to date but it’s still too early to assess the strength and long-term durability of this new construction technique. It will take a couple of years of field use and feedback from the market to make a fair assessment of the durability of this construction technique.

A thin composite mesh between the seam tape and the fabric weld adds strength to the seam, since the weld by itself is not strong enough to resist seam tearing on its own (Patagonia has a patent pending on this construction technique).

Patagonia suggests that this construction technique is an improvement over traditional laminated seams (a construction technique gaining popularity in garments by Mountain Hardwear, Arc’Teryx, and others) because it does not expose tape to outer fabric surfaces and suffer seam failure due to “tape-edge abrasion,” whereby a glued felled seam, or an outer-face-taped seam, results in either one or two tape or fabric edges exposed to abrasion. While tape-edge abrasion has been noted as a point of failure for waterproof garments, the incidence is low relative to other modes of failure, including most predominantly, abrasion of the exterior fabric face itself, abrasion of the interior coating in high wear areas, and incidental pinholes (a mode of failure important in ultralight fabrics). Tape-edge failure is not expected to be a significant mode of failure for most ultralight backpackers, but this may be a selling point for the very small fraction of users that spend their time shimmying their way up granite chimneys in the rain.

According to Randy Harward at Patagonia, except for some very special cases (concentrated loads in a very small area), the Specter’s welded seams are stronger than the fabric.

Note: a sewn seam is still stronger than Patagonia’s welded and taped seam. But Randy points out that you only need a seam that is slightly stronger than the fabric itself so that seam strength does not limit the overall tearing resistance of the garment. Beyond that, Randy claims, seam strength is not a limiting factor in garment design. However, depending on garment design, seams can bear disproportionately high stress concentrations in response to active movement while wearing a pack, notably, in the shoulders and back. To Patagonia’s credit, fit and mobility are not a problem with the Specter, and we don’t expect these seams to fail in the field as a result of tearing.

We think one of the more realistic, and meaningful benefits of this seam technology (also a benefit of glue laminated felled seams) as compared to sewn seams is that there is less material to absorb water (which may improve drying time as well). One mode of failure in the waterproofness of traditional shells is the soaking through of seams and resulting wicking to the interior of the garment. We don’t expect this to be a mode of failure in the Specter.

While writing this review, we debated with each other at great length about the real benefits of this technology. Certainly, Patagonia’s claims appear to be incremental at best with performance advantages that may not be noticeable in the field for most users (with the exception of aesthetics). Eventually, we did some industry digging to investigate real benefits to the manufacturer for construction techniques like this, and discovered an important consideration: in the long term, these seam construction techniques will be cheaper for the manufacturer. Garments using them can be constructed quicker and require less skill to operate the machines effectively. An increased capital investment is required up front, but long term cost savings will eventually drive the market to use welded and laminated seam construction techniques. The real question, however, remains: will we as consumers enjoy the fruits of this technology with lower priced garments? In the short term, this is doubtful: new technologies such as this always demand a price premium. Even in the long term, it’s unlikely that companies like Arc’Teryx or Patagonia will drop prices to compete with mid-market manufacturers for fear of brand quality dilution. So, instead, the consumer can expect to enjoy the fruits of this and similar technologies as manufacturers adopt the machinery and it begins to appear in a wider variety of garments from more brands.

Recommendations for Improvement

The kangaroo pocket is not compatible with a pack hipbelt, which blocks it for both storage and ventilation (see photo above). We’d prefer a more readily accessible napoleon-style pocket on the shell.

The Patagonia Specter Pullover is great for brief showers but if I planned on wearing a rainshell for long periods, ventilation would be a serious concern – Patagonia’s claim (from their Website) that the zipper is “deep for ventilating” doesn’t rise to the standard of other manufacturers (especially those in the UK, who are known for creating very functional smocks/pullovers) and is in reality only a 14-inch half zipper (size M). And so, if you are expecting to wear a rain shell in sustained wet conditions, consider the 9-ounce Specter Jacket or similar design with better ventilation.

And a reality check: From a technical design and engineering standpoint, we think that Patagonia’s new seam construction techniques are superb, and have no reason to invalidate any of the claims they make about them. But in the field, don’t expect the seams to create meaningful increases in garment performance for you. Where this technology could really shine is in long term durability and waterproofness – but it will be a few years before we understand the impact of this technology during sustained field use.

Overview

Out of 17 stoves we tested, the Clikstand was one of the four best performers in terms of boil time, fuel efficiency, and ease of cooking. The four-piece pot stand/burner holder is easy to assemble, and as the name suggests, the center section simply clicks into place. The components are made of stainless steel, and weigh a little more than aluminum stove setups, but are far more durable and long lasting. An elegantly made aluminum windscreen fits on three small extensions from the pot stand to protect the flame/pot interface. The stove is sold with a Trangia burner, which works very well with the Clikstand, but the Trangia burner is heavy at 3.9 ounces. To offset the weight of the pot stand/burner holder, I recommend using an aluminum alcohol burner, which would save around 3.5 ounces. Overall, I was very impressed by the Clikstand’s design, durability, and ease of use.

Specifications

Usable Features

Design – The Clikstand’s design is a marvel to behold. It consists of three sections of stamped thin gauge stainless steel that connect together precisely, plus a center section that clicks into place. The center section supports a Trangia burner. Other alcohol burners can also be used. The setup will burn Esbit fuel tabs as well by placing the fuel tab on the bottom side of the up-side-down stove. Three ledges on the outside of the pot stand support the windscreen. Air enters from the bottom and exits around the cook pot.

Weight – The stainless steel pot stand/burner holder (3.3 ounces), and Trangia burner (3.9 ounces) are on the heavy side, but the windscreen is light aluminum (1.2 ounces). The Clikstand’s excellent durability offsets its extra weight. A lightweight aluminum stove can be substituted for the Trangia burner to save some weight.

Flame Control – Slide the Trangia’s adjustable simmer ring to lower the flame by restricting combustion air, or close the simmer ring to extinguish the flame. It also has a cap to seal alcohol in the stove after it has cooled.

Pot Support – There are three projections from the pot support that contact a cook pot. Each has three teeth to grip the pot. The distance from the top of the burner to the bottom of the pot is 1.3 inches. The pot support is very sturdy and will accommodate any pot up to 5.25 inches in diameter in conjunction with the Clikstand windscreen.

Wind Protection – The Clikstand uses an aluminum windscreen 6 inches in diameter and 2.5 inches high. It covers the lower 1.25 inches of the pot and protects the critical stove to pot gap. The windscreen is beautifully made and rolls up into a 3-inch tube.

Ease of Use

Setup – Setting up the stove involves assembling the four parts of the Clikstand, fueling the Trangia burner and placing it in the stand, lighting the burner, and setting the windscreen in place. Time required is about 1-2 minutes. The Clikstand is easy to assemble and disassemble.

Fueling – The open jet stove is very easy to fuel – just pour alcohol into the open cavity.

Priming and Ignition – No priming is needed, simply light a match and hold it over the stove. It lights with a “puff” and stays lit. Warm up time depends on air and fuel temperature.

Flame Adjustment – The Trangia simmer ring is easy to use. It consists of a cap with a slide to adjust the amount of combustion air. For simmering, simply set the slide partially open and drop it on the top of the burner. To extinguish the flame, close the slide completely and drop the cap on the burner.

Cold Weather Ergonomics – Assembling the Clikstand with gloves on is no problem.

Cooking Systems – The Clikstand S-1 was provided for review as a cooking system (sans pot). It is exceptionally well designed, is easy to assemble, and cooks efficiently. This stove was one of the best performers in our lab tests, in terms of boil time and fuel efficiency. It was also quite wind resistant.

Options – The components are sold separately or as a package.

Cooking Performance

I took the Clikstand on backpacking trips in the Southern Colorado Rockies and camped among snowdrifts in mid-June. Daytime temperatures were in the 50’s °F and nighttime temperatures dropped into the 30’s °F.

Capacity – The Clikstand will accommodate cook pots up to 5.25 inches in diameter. The Evernew 0.9-liter titanium pot and the MSR 1-liter titanium pot work well for solo cooking with the Clikstand. For two people a taller 1.5 to 2-liter pot less than 5.25 inches in diameter is needed, such as half of a Mirro aluminum double boiler. The stove can accommodate a wider cook pot by substituting a wider windscreen for the Clikstand windscreen. The Clikstand’s Trangia burner has plenty of capacity to cook for one to four people.

Versatility – The Trangia burner has a very nice adjustable simmer ring that allows the user to adjust the flame to any desired level, with some practice. I used the Clikstand stove to melt snow, boil water, make macaroni, and boil fish. It performed all tasks well. However it is a bit impractical to expect an alcohol stove to melt snow and boil the resultant water; it simply takes too much time and fuel.

Wind Effects – I tested the Clikstand under windy conditions in lab tests and in the field. It was one of the more wind resistant alcohol stoves we tested but still required twice as much fuel to boil 1 pint of water under windy as compared to calm conditions. The Trangia burner has plenty of capacity to hold the extra fuel needed for windy conditions. The use of extra wind protection in addition to the stove’s windscreen is desirable in order to conserve fuel and increase efficiency.

Cold Effects – With morning temperatures in the high 30’s °F, I found that warming the alcohol filled stove in my hands was all that was needed to get it to light. Once lit, the stove took about 30-60 seconds longer to heat up to cooking temperature, but that was the only difference I noted.

Heating Efficiency

The Clikstand was one of the four best performing stoves, on the basis of consistent good results, in the Backpacking Light lab tests. It is interesting to note that the Trangia burner performed much better in the Clikstand than it did in the Mini-Trangia setup or Liberty Mountain Westwind setup.

See performance results for all the stoves we tested in Performance Comparison Testing of Lightweight Alcohol Stoves.

Durability

Packability – The stove components (pot support/burner holder, burner, windscreen) will fit inside an Evernew 0.9-liter cookpot.

Durability – The Clikstand setup is the most durable of all the stoves tested. The stainless steel Clikstand and brass Trangia burner will last a long time under normal backpacking conditions.

Maintenance – None required. With proper care, it should provide many years of service.

Value

The Clikstand is exceptionally well designed and well built, and extracts remarkable performance out of a Trangia burner. At $51.95 for the complete set, the Clikstand costs more than most aluminum stove setups, but it is built to last. The price is comparable to the cost of a canister stove or the Brasslite Turbo II-D, and you get a complete system (sans pot). The Clikstand is a very good value considering its great design, high quality, good performance, and durability.

Tips and Tricks

Although the Trangia burner has good design and features, it is heavy (3.9 ounces). To offset the 3.3-ounce weight of the Clikstand, a lightweight aluminum stove weighing around 0.4 ounce could be used, yielding a weight savings of 3.5 ounces. According to the Clikstand website, an aluminum cat food can works just as well as the Trangia burner, and is basically free. The bottom side of the cat food can (or other alcohol burner) can be used to burn Esbit fuel tabs with the Clikstand setup.

The Clikstand stove can easily cook for several people, but its windscreen limits pot diameter to 5.25 inches. A wider windscreen can be made from aluminum roof flashing or an aluminum bake pan. It is best to tailor the windscreen to the pot, allowing a quarter to half-inch gap around the pot, and cutting air intake holes at the bottom of the windscreen.

Recommendations for Improvement

The Clikstand S-1 is an excellent product. Some suggestions to make it a better system are:

• Offer a lightweight aluminum alcohol burner as an option.
• Include a simmer ring and snuffer ring with the aluminum stove.
• Offer the system with a lightweight pot and tight fitting lid (one that the other components fit into).
• Offer lightweight 8 fluid ounce and 16 fluid ounce fuel bottles that measure the amount of fuel dispensed.

Overview

The Hike N’ Light alcohol stove is simple and boils a small amount of water quickly. There are no adjustments, it’s either on or off, and burn time is controlled by how much fuel is added prior to ignition. The clips that hold the stove together and form the pot stand extend under the stove and make this stove very wobbly. It worked OK with small/light pots, but when heating a 1.5-liter pot of water, the pot fell off the stove! With its large burner and large jets, this stove produces a mini-bonfire without a windscreen. With some practice, a windscreen can be used to control combustion air and damper it down. Overall, this stove is suitable for solo use, but lacks the stability needed to handle larger/heavier pots.

Specifications

Usable Features

Design – The Hike N’ Light alcohol burner is a 4-inch tin with holes in the lid. The two halves of the tin are held together with steel clips that form the pot stand. The burner sits on a 5-inch base that serves as a pre-heating tray. Once the bottom of the burner is filled with fuel, the lid is replaced and the three clips are installed to create the pot support. The assembled stove is placed on the base and 2 tablespoons of fuel are added to the base and ignited. This heats the stove’s fuel reservoir and vaporizes the fuel, which flows out of the stove’s nine jets under pressure and burns as it exits.

Weight – This stove is heavy by alcohol stove standards. Total weight is 4.0 ounces. It is definitely a minimalist stove and the only way to make it lighter would be to use a smaller tin or lighter metals.

Flame Control – None provided. Once pre-heated and ignited, this stove burns until all of the fuel is consumed.

Pot Support – The pot support consists of three steel clips. Unfortunately, the design of these clips does not produce a stable pot stand. A small 0.75-liter pot was noticeably tipsy on this stove. When I tried a larger 1.5-liter pot it was so unstable that it fell off the pot stand while heating. I could not find a way to eliminate the stove’s tendency to wobble. The stove was always wobbly and every pot wiggled on the pot stand. This stove is definitely suitable for small pots only.

Wind Protection – I followed the Hike N’ Light instructions, which say to “wrap the stove and pot with a windscreen (not included) to minimize heat loss. Leave a small opening near the bottom of the foil for fresh air inlet.” I constructed a simple aluminum foil windscreen and used it as per the stove’s instructions.

Ease of Use

Setup – Setup time is a little longer than other alcohol stoves we reviewed. I did not like the process of removing the lid of the burner to pour alcohol inside, and then assembling the clips before the burner could be ignited. The clips do not attach smoothly and require some fiddling to get them arranged properly.

Fueling – It is more cumbersome to fuel this stove compared to an open jet alcohol stove. The burner’s lid must be removed, the base filled with alcohol, then the pot support clips installed.

Priming and Ignition – Typical of closed jet stoves, the Hike N’ Light requires priming – a lot of it. The instructions say to place 2 tablespoons of fuel in the priming pan. That’s a lot of priming fuel; other stoves can boil a cup of water with that amount of fuel. I found the stove easy to prime in calm conditions, but susceptible to snuffing out in windy conditions.

Flame Adjustment – Stove burn time is regulated by the amount of fuel added prior to ignition. Without a windscreen, this stove produces a small bonfire, making it hazardous to reach a cookpot. I found that a windscreen (see photo) provides a way to limit combustion air and control the flame for more efficient cooking. Raise the windscreen to increase combustion air, and lower it (as shown) to reduce combustion air.

Cold Weather Ergonomics – The clips were hard to assemble under cold conditions while wearing gloves.

Cooking Systems – A windscreen (not included) is mandatory. While I made one of aluminum foil for testing purposes, a better windscreen for longer-term use could be made or purchased.

Cooking Performance

Capacity – The instability of the pot supports limits the capacity of this stove. The stove adequately heated 1 pint of water to boiling in a small titanium pot. It will heat larger volumes, but instability becomes a major issue with heavier pots. A larger pot containing 1.5 quarts of water was too heavy for this stove and tipped off the stand while heating.

If all you need to do is boil 2 cups of water, this stove will do the job. I would not recommend it for two or more people or for the more extreme conditions found in mountain environments. A windscreen is absolutely essential to obtain decent performance from the Hike N’ Light stove.

Versatility – I found the Hike N’ Light to burn too hot without a windscreen to restrict combustion air. With a little practice, a windscreen can be raised or lowered to provide some flame control. The configuration in the photo (minimal air intake) produces a low flame level. That said, I found it difficult to control the flame level enough to do anything but boil water. When attempting to simmer something as simple as macaroni, I had to hold the pot above the stove when the flame was hot.

Wind Effects – The stove is very susceptible to windy conditions; use of a good windscreen with this stove is mandatory.

Cold Effects – The stove’s efficiently was reduced under cold conditions.

Heating Efficiency

The manufacturer claims the most efficient fuel for the Hike N’ Light alcohol stove is methanol. We used Kleen Strip S-L-X denatured alcohol – which is about half ethanol and half methanol – so our fuel usage was consistent among all the stoves we tested. The manufacturer claims you can boil 2 cups of water in 4 minutes with 1 ounce of fuel. We verified that claim in our lab tests (see table below). The Hike N’ Light boil times were the fastest of all the stoves we tested. Our boil times were longer in the field; to get water at 55 °F to boiling required 5 minutes 29 seconds on average. Fuel consumption (including priming fuel) for the Hike N’ Light was the highest of all the stoves we tested under optimal conditions, and among the highest under windy conditions.

See performance results for all the stoves we tested in Performance Comparison Testing of Lightweight Alcohol Stoves.

Durability

Packability – This stove collapses down to a small neat package. The pot stand clips can be stored inside the stove, which nests in its base. The base is 5 inches in diameter and easily nests inside a small pot that is just larger in diameter than that.

Durability – The stove is simple and fairly durable. Hard knocks on rocks might dent the stove, making it hard to open and keep airtight.

Maintenance – The only maintenance needed is to wipe the stove periodically to remove carbon. The manufacturer claims the stove is disposable and recyclable.

Value

In spite of its low cost ($14.99), the Hike N’ Light alcohol stove is a poor value because of it cumbersome fueling process, poor pot stability, excessive flame size, and high fuel consumption.

Tips and Tricks

A pot about 5.5 inches in diameter and about 2.5 to 3 inches deep with a lid would maximize this stove’s efficiency and permit nesting the stove inside.

Recommendations for Improvement

I would suggest that the manufacturer improve the clip system that forms the pot supports for the Hike N’ Light. I played with these clips a lot but was never satisfied with how they attached. Perhaps some indents on the stove to guide the clips and a better clip design would solve the problem.

Also, this stove needs a better provision for flame control. Without a windscreen, it produces a mini-bonfire that threatens to burn hands or clothing. With a windscreen, some measure of flame control is possible, although the output is still erratic.

Overview

The OutdoorEquipmentSupplier Ultralight Backpacking alcohol stove is an inexpensive, light stove that is easy to use. The burners are made from beverage cans. It is about as simple to use as a stove gets – pour in a measured amount of fuel and light. Yet it was one of the more effective stoves tested, particularly in windy conditions. It has a very stable and effective combination windscreen/pot support. The pot comes with two burners: a normal burner with 24 jets and a simmering burner with 12 jets.

Specifications

Usable Features

The OutdoorEquipmentSupplier Ultralight Backpacking alcohol stove has a double wall aluminum alcohol burner made from beverage cans. Similar make-your-own designs are available on the Internet. The combined windscreen/pot support consists of a cylinder made of sheet aluminum flashing with two aluminum nails inserted through four holes in the flashing to create a pot support. This provides a very stable, wide platform that proved almost impossible to knock over. It is wide and sturdy enough to support pots up to 6 inches in diameter.

The windscreen coils nicely around the inside of a cup or pot for packing. It does not go far up the side of the pot (only 3/4 inch), yet it provides good wind protection for the stove. This was demonstrated in the Backpacking Light lab tests, where there was little difference in the stove’s performance between still air and windy conditions.

The flame pattern is even and spreads across the bottom of the pot. There is a little flame spillage up the sides of a pot using the 24-jet burner, and considerably less with the simmer 12-jet burner.

Ease of Use

Setting up the stove and windscreen is straightforward even in cold conditions and I had no problem doing so with mitts on. The OutdoorEquipmentSupplier stove is a simple stove to use, even by alcohol stove standards. Measure the alcohol, pour it into the large central well, and light. No special priming is required. Lighting the burner is easier than on many other alcohol stoves. The jets light in a little under 2 minutes. When the fuel is used up, the burner stops suddenly with no lingering flame. After 30 seconds cooling, more fuel can be poured in and lit, if desired.

The OutdoorEquipmentSupplier stove comes with a small plastic fuel bottle with a pour spout. Fuel measurement is important when using alcohol stoves to prevent waste and I’d recommend marking the supplied bottle for volume measurements.

There is no simmering adjustment. The manufacturer supplies a second stove with fewer jets for simmering. We found in testing that there is not much difference in performance between the two stoves and that simmering is difficult. A simple simmer ring would probably be more effective for simmering, rather than supplying a second stove with fewer jets. It would also reduce the overall weight. For many users a pot cozy would be a better alternative to simmering.

Cooking Performance

Cooking with this stove is straightforward. It boils water well. The lack of a simmer control means that the pot needs to be lifted on and off the flame for complex cooking. However, using the simmer burner was a good tactic for frying onions and bacon.

In strong winds, the OutdoorEquipmentSupplier stove lights easily and, once lit, it shows no tendency to blow out. I was able to bring water to a boil in high winds with the OutdoorEquipmentSupplier stove; of course I had to wait a bit – it’s an alcohol stove after all!

The stove base does not get too hot making it unlikely that underlying surfaces will catch on fire. However, the nails used for pot support stay hot long after the rest of the stove has cooled.

Heating Efficiency

While the OutdoorEquipmentSupplier Ultralight Backpacking alcohol stove’s boil time was in the middle of the pack in optimum conditions (6 minutes 35 seconds for 1 pint of water), its good windscreen made it a solid performer in the wind (7 minutes 09 seconds boil time). Fuel efficiency was good in still conditions, but many of the other stoves we tested were a little better. However, it was right up with the best stoves for fuel efficiency in windy conditions. Interestingly, there was no significant fuel efficiency difference between the 12 and 24 jet models. Playing around with larger air holes in the windscreen and raising the pot support seemed to reduce boil times and suggests that the windscreen could possibly be optimized for better performance.

Durability

No stove maintenance is required. The stove is light, yet durable. The aluminum nails used for the pot support bend from the stove’s heat. My solution was to replace them with titanium skewer pegs. The only failure to the cook system occurred when I pushed down too hard on the pot supports while stirring a full pot, resulting in the bent aluminum joint between the windscreen sections pulling apart. Bending the joints back into shape occasionally is necessary to prevent this.

Value

The stove performs well, has a good windscreen/pot support, and a great price.

Tips and Tricks

• Beware: the nails stay hot long after the rest of the stove has cooled.
• Warming the fuel and stove near your body improves lighting in cold conditions.

Recommendations For Improvement

The OutdoorEquipmentSupplier Ultralight Backpacking alcohol stove is well designed and a good performer. We offer the following suggestions for further improvements:

• The aluminum nail pot supports bend from the heat of the stove; replace them with steel or titanium rods.
• In our lab tests, we did not measure much difference in performance between the 24-jet and 12-jet stoves. I suggest providing just one stove with a simmer ring.
• Provide a graduated plastic fuel bottle that allows precise measurement of fuel.
• Provide a lightweight heat reflector to go under the burner.
• Make available a cookpot with lid that is optimized for the stove, and is sized so the stove easily nests inside.

Overview

Isis makes outdoor clothing for women. Their Maia convertible pants are constructed of a wonderful stretchy, lightweight nylon that is non-binding and allows a more flattering fit than typical 100% nylon pants. The pants have details that make me smile – a purple belt, red stars tacking down the corners of the pockets, and gold stars inside the zipper – without losing their functionality for hiking and backpacking. One overlooked detail: the scratchy fabric tail of the pant-to-short conversion zippers are sewn outside the protective cloth flap and occasionally chaff my legs.

In Brief

• Stretchy fabric and low slung waist for a flattering fit and great mobility
• Fabric dries quickly
• Converts between pants and shorts easily, no need to remove shoes
• Inside of leg at conversion zippers can be scratchy
• Colorful, mood-enhancing details

Specifications

Features and Fit

The first thing I noticed about the Isis Maia pants was the fabric. I normally wear 100% nylon pants for warm weather hiking and aim for a baggy fit to avoid any binding when I raise my knees to scramble over obstacles or trek up a steep hill. The Maia pants are constructed of lightweight nylon with 5% spandex woven in. The result is comfortable, non-binding hiking pants with a closer, more flattering fit than my normal baggy attire.

Isis uses small, #3 YKK zippers for conversion from pants to shorts. Tiny colored tabs with the Isis logo help match the correct pant leg to shorts leg; a thoughtful touch that speeds up conversion back to pants.

The pants have a low-slung waist, with the waistband riding just below my navel, a style that fits me better than higher-waisted pants. Although the Isis sizing chart indicates that I am between a size 14 and 16, the size 12 fit just right (I normally wear pants in size 12 or 14). The inseam is 31 inches as claimed, plenty of length for most backpackers but 1 inch too short for my long legs.

The pants have a webbing belt that runs through a fabric casing. The casing ends a few inches short of the zipper and allows the belt buckle to ride up above the pant waistband. The belt tends to twist inside its fabric casing during washing, but can be laid flat again with a few minutes of attention. The belt buckle quickly flips open with a flick of a finger, another nice touch.

Performance

I wore the Maia pants for many desert hikes in temperatures up to 95 °F (converted to shorts), in rain, bushwhacking through thorny vegetation, and with long underwear underneath for a 20 °F overnighter and hike through snow.

The fabric used in the pants is fairly lightweight which helps the pants dry quickly. The 95 percent nylon, 5 percent lycra material is tough. My test pants survived a bushwhack through thorn covered bushes to reach cliff side Sinagua ruins with some snags, but no rips or tears. My legs did not fare as well, both were scratched and bleeding in many spots.

When in the field, the conversion is easy from pants-to-shorts or shorts-to-pants. The small conversion zippers held up fine during my four months of testing. A flap of cloth inside the pants keeps the zipper itself from rubbing against skin, but the scratchy tail end of the zipper material is outside the flap and was occasionally annoying when I wore the full-length pants. I did not notice this after I snipped the tail end of the zipper casing off, or when I wore the pants converted to shorts.

I can pull the pants legs off over my hiking shoes with care. The 2005 version of the Maia pants has leg zippers to facilitate this.

The two front slash pockets are low enough that I can access the pockets under the narrow hipbelt of my fanny pack, but when backpacking I need to slide the wider hipbelt of my pack up a bit to access the pockets. The pockets are mesh and deep enough to be useful; my titanium skewer stakes stayed put while I made my way around my tarp bending and squatting while staking it out.

Value

The Isis Maia convertible pants retail at the high end of women’s convertible pants. The stretchy material is functional and very comfortable and bumps their value up; the scratchy zipper fabric on the inside of the legs moves their value back down. Result, a good, not great value.

Recommendations for Improvement

Redesign the conversion zippers so that all the finishing touches are covered by the inner flap to keep them away from tender skin.

Place belt loops closer to the zipper to keep the belt buckle from riding above the pant waistband.

Overview

The Osprey Atmos 25 is a small volume, internal frame backpack. At 2 pounds 3 ounces production weight (0.99 kg), it is not the lightest pack in its size class but it has plenty of features and performance to make up for the extra weight. By lightweight standards it’s bombproof. Six external pockets and two hydration pockets make packing and then finding gear a simple task. What really sets this pack apart is the Airspeed frame, a trampoline-like, mesh back panel tensioned by a flexible hourglass shaped frame. The frame is stiff enough in the vertical axis to support weight, but has torsional flex to conform to your hips and torso as you move. Osprey combines tubular and rod aluminum to create a spring-loaded frame that suspends the pack away from your back, leaving 1.5 to 3 inches of open space behind the mesh back panel. No more sweaty back. The shoulder straps and hipbelt are perforated as well, making this one of the most breathable packs we’ve used. The space between the mesh back panel and the main packbag is a great place to store your hydration bladder and saves space in the pack for your gear.

Our pre-production pack has a comfortable carrying limit of about 25 pounds and, with a volume of 1,525 cubic inches, it is difficult to load the pack in excess of that. A slight modification to the hipbelt angle would increase the carrying weight of the pack and prevent the lower edge of the hipbelt from digging in to hips with a 25-pound load.

In Brief

• Great size and features for an ultralight long weekend backpack trip. Small volume and good compression make for excellent load control and good balance when hiking.
• The Osprey Airspeed suspension includes a trampoline-like mesh back panel to suspend the pack away from the user’s back creating an ultra-breathable, ultra-comfortable experience. The frame is vertically rigid to support the load but flexes with your hips and torso.
• Six external pockets, two hydration pockets, and the main packbag make compartmental style packing a breeze.
• The back panel hydration pocket eliminates the need to unpack everything to refill the bladder and does not take up main bag or pocket space.
• The two hipbelt pockets are particularly functional and greatly reduce the need to remove the pack to retrieve "essentials" while on the trail.
• The hipbelt angle limits carrying capacity to 25 pounds.
• A bit heavier than some internal frame packs of similar volume.

Specifications

Frame, Suspension, and Pack Load Carrying Performance

Osprey debuted their new Atmos series packs at the fall 2004 Outdoor Retailers show. The most distinguishing feature of the Atmos packs is the lightweight tensioned back panel Airspeed frame (Photo 2). Constructed of tubular and rod aluminum, the Airspeed frame creates a trampoline-like mesh back panel, suspending the pack 1.5 to 3 inches from your back helping to keep your back cool. The tubular frame is both rigid and flexible at the same time. A pivot located centrally in the Airspeed frame allows the upper and lower sections of the frame to twist independently. The frame combined with the flexibility of the mesh back panel allows the pack to conform to an individual’s body shape comfortably. Adventure racers beware – for those with torso lengths on the shorter end of pack size, the top of the frame will likely hit the back of your head while riding a bike.

Osprey continues their design work to keep you cool by perforating both the shoulder straps and hipbelt with 3/16-inch holes. The result is an incredibly airy harness. The shoulder straps also have a sternum strap and load lifters to adjust the fit.

We tested the comfort and carrying capacity in the mountains of northern Arizona and on a coastal California backpacking trip. Overall, we found the frame/harness setup could comfortably carry 25 pounds, limited by the hipbelt. The hipbelt angles downward and concentrates most of the load along the bottom edge causing it to dig into the hips. It would perform better if the hipbelt were at an angle that spread the load equally from the top to the bottom of the belt. Best results are achieved if the pack rides higher than typical so that the hipbelt is high on the hips. The shoulder strap padding in the Atmos series is thin and light and conforms well to match body shape. With a volume of 1,525 cubic inches, it is difficult to load this pack in excess of its carrying capacity.

Usable Features and Ease of Use

Although not the lightest pack in its size class, the heavily featured Atmos 25 will satisfy many who prefer multi-compartment based packing over the one-sack style. The Atmos 25 has a total of six exterior pockets and two interior bladder pockets, in addition to the main pack bag.

Osprey makes water carrying easy with two separate water bladder pockets and two side panel water bottle pockets. The empty space behind the open mesh back panel is zipper accessible from inside the main pack bag to allow the insertion of a hydration bladder. You do not have to completely unpack to access it! Most 2-liter bladders fit well; 3-liter bladders are a little big. The hose runs out through the back panel access zipper and through a hose port at the top back of the pack. The bladder goes unnoticed in terms of size; however, drinking water temperature is affected by body temperature and vise versa. A second bladder pocket on the inside solves this problem but has other problems: the bladder takes up interior pack volume, it is a very tight fit, you have to unpack the main bag to get to it, and it snags on gear as you try to pack the main pocket. We see no reason for the internal hydration pocket.

The two side panel water bottle pockets will hold 1-liter bottles and have mesh drainage panels to allow excess liquid to escape. Unfortunately, these pockets are not accessible while wearing the pack. In addition, the lower side panel compression strap covers these pockets, making it difficult to remove items without loosening the straps. A hydration bladder is more convenient with the Atmos series; the side-panel pockets can be used to keep other essentials handy.

One feature on the Osprey Atmos 25 we really liked were the two zippered, mesh pockets located on either side of the padded hipbelt. One of these pockets is big enough for a small digital camera and mini-notebook, with the second a clear candidate for a bag of GORP or some energy bars. These two pockets, combined with a hydration bladder, greatly reduced the time we spent with the pack off, digging for items needed on the trail.

The large front "shove-it" pocket on our review samples is not as large as we would like. Nevertheless, it was useful for stowing a rain or wind jacket and has a grommet drained bottom. The folks at Osprey have enlarged the pocket for production packs. The release clasp for the shove-it pocket is difficult to work because it is firmly fixed onto the pack; a problem exasperated by a full pack. Above the shove-it pocket, there is a flat, zippered pocket lined with mesh towards the inside the pack. We found this pocket ideally suited for a map and compass, keys (there’s a key clip on the inside) or other items one might need quick access to.

Although the main pack and all pockets have drain holes, some of the fabrics used in our pre-production samples held water. The padding in the shoulder straps and hipbelt retained a lot of water after an all day California monsoon. It took 24 hours for them to dry out.

The Osprey Atmos 25 has two ice axe loops and a convenient means to secure the handles at the top of the pack. A small piece of shock cord, with a specially designed hook on one end and toggle on the other, quickly attaches and tightens the handles to the upper back panel. This arrangement works equally well for unused trekking poles.

Two compression straps on each side panel (total of four) compress the load into a dense, secure load. The upper two fasten with side release buckles for easy access to the main zippered pack bag. Because they quick release, these upper straps can conveniently secure long items extending from the side pockets like tent poles or a fishing rod.

Durability

It is premature to fully assess the durability of the Atmos series packs. Osprey provided pre-production review samples with an understanding that the fabrics to be used in the production packs would be different. After using these packs as built, lighter fabrics are appropriate as the fabrics we tested are virtually bombproof by lightweight standards. Other construction details are as we have come to expect from Osprey. Seam failure is unlikely as every seam is double or triple stitched and high stress seams are bar tacked. These packs are nicely assembled; details that exude the exactness of computer aided design.

Value

If features, packing convenience, and an airy harness are high on your list of necessities, the Osprey Atmos 25 makes for a great value, despite the 25-pound carrying limit. For those who prefer the weight savings of reduced features, the Atmos 25 becomes much less appealing at $139.

Recommendations for Improvement

Our recommendations here should not overshadow how great this new pack line is. The Osprey Atmos 25 is an excellent pack as tested. As a bonus, its flexibility conforms nicely to the female physique.

Lighter fabrics are appropriate (Osprey has already done this in the production packs) as well as other changes that would decrease weight without lost usability. We recommend omitting the interior hydration pocket from the design. It is a tight fit for a full bladder and there is considerable loss of interior volume when the pocket is used. In contrast, we found slipping a bladder into the back panel pocket was easier and concentrated the weight close to one’s back.

Make the "shove-it" pocket larger by extending its height up to the zippered back pocket, perhaps down an inch or so, and then either remove the clasp for it or make it more flexible to ease access.

Use materials for the shoulder straps and hipbelt that absorb and retain less water.

The following change is less critical since it is difficult to stuff more than 25 pounds into the Atmos 25 even with a fair amount of water. The hipbelt is uncomfortable with loads above 25 pounds because it distributes more weight to the lower edge than the top edge. The angle at which the hipbelt is attached to the back panel should be closer to perpendicular to lessen this problem. The shoulder straps cause some discomfort at weights above 30 pounds. The placement might be slightly too wide (perhaps 1/2 inch total) causing the shoulder straps to place pressure on the shoulders, rather than draping over the collarbone.

Overview

AntiGravityGear Pot Cozys have found their way into the packs of several staff members at Backpacking Light. Inserting a hot cookpot into a Cozy keeps food warm longer and can extend cooking times without further fuel consumption. We know we like them, but the unanswered question is "how much difference do they make?" To find out, I boiled 0.5 liter of water and measured temperature drop over time in a cookpot with and without a Cozy. I repeated the tests in freezing and room temperature conditions, using my ideal hot tea temperature (132 °F) for comparison. The AntiGravityGear Pot Cozy more than doubled the amount of time water temperature remained above 132 °F under sub-freezing (28 °F) conditions. The Cozy weighs less than 1.5 ounces (40 g) and, depending on your stove and fuel of choice, its weight may be justified by fuel savings and/or added convenience.

In Brief

• At less than 1.5 ounces, the Pot Cozy easily earns its keep
• Using a Pot Cozy doubles heat retention time in sub-freezing conditions
• Costs $15.00 or less, depending on size of cookpot
• Sized to fit most lightweight cookpots on the market
• Custom sizes are also available
• The insulating material is somewhat fragile and bulky

Specifications

Background

The AntiGravityGear Pot Cozys are made from Reflectix insulation, consisting of two bubble wrap layers sandwiched between layers of aluminum foil bonded to polyethylene. This material is designed to insulate heating ducts and hot water heaters, and its light weight renders it ideal for insulating cookpots for the lightweight backpacker. The aluminum reflective material makes the insulation more durable, heat resistant, and insulating than bubble wrap alone.

While it’s true the Cozy keeps food warm longer, I carry mine to allow me to carry less fuel. After cooking for a shortened period of time, the cookpot is removed from the stove and placed inside the Cozy. The Cozy lid is then placed on top of the pot’s lid, and the edges of the Cozy are folded inward to seal the top. Food continues to cook at the higher temperatures maintained inside the Cozy. It is important to understand that the pot must be removed from the stove and placed in the Cozy – never place the Cozy on the stove; it melts!

In practice, it is difficult to determine how much fuel is saved with a Cozy, because cooking time depends on several variables: the quantity and type of food, cooking temperature, ambient temperature, wind speed, and water temperature. I always leave behind more than enough fuel weight (alcohol) to justify carrying the Cozy, and have fuel remaining at the end of the trip.

Performance Review

For this review, a 1.3-liter EverNew titanium cookpot was paired with an appropriately sized AntiGravityGear Pot Cozy. The cookpot was filled with 0.5 liter of water (approximately 2 cups). After bringing the water to boiling (201 °F at 7,200 feet elevation), the pot was removed from the stove and temperature was recorded every 10 minutes under four conditions:

• at room temperature without the Pot Cozy,
• at room temperature with the Pot Cozy,
• in the freezer without the Pot Cozy, and
• in the freezer with the Pot Cozy.

Temperature was measured using a digital kitchen thermometer with a remote sensor fit into the pour groove of the EverNew pot, allowing the lid to close securely. Room temperature varied throughout the study from 75 °F to 80 °F, while freezer temperature was constant at 28 °F.

For our discussion, we could select any temperature as a base line to compare results between the different tests. Ideally, this would be a real world temperature; like the minimum temperature to cook pasta, a typical backcountry staple. Cooking professionals seem to agree, however, that pasta is best cooked at a rolling boil, and a minimum pasta cooking temperature cannot be found in culinary literature. I settled instead on using my ideal hot tea temperature of 132 °F as a base line to compare heat retention performance.

The graph below shows temperature along the Y-axis and time along the X-axis. As expected, water cooled fastest in the uninsulated pot under freezing conditions; temperature stayed above 132 °F for less than 20 minutes. Using the Cozy under freezing conditions, the temperature remained above 132 °F for approximately 45 minutes. At room temperature, the uninsulated pot stayed above 132 °F for approximately 55 minutes, and the insulated pot kept water above 132 °F for 90 minutes.

Implications for Use

The Pot Cozy improved heat retention 2.3 times under freezing conditions and 1.6 times at room temperature. The insulated pot performed nearly as well under freezing conditions as an uninsulated pot at room temperature, allowing the winter backpacker to mimic three-season cooking. These results will likely differ somewhat from field conditions where wind and other factors come into play. The type and amount of food cooked and the type of cookpot (titanium, aluminum, stainless) will make a difference in how well heat is retained. Nevertheless, these results clearly show that a Pot Cozy extends cooking time and heat retention thus saving fuel.

Weight savings from fuel will depend on the type of fuel and stove efficiency. Certainly, those who prefer the extremely low end-of-trip weight of an alcohol or fuel tablet stove will benefit greatly from fuel reductions earlier in the trip. Fuel savings from a few dinners may offset the Pot Cozy weight. Esbit tablets cost about 50 cents each, so a Pot Cozy will eventually pay for itself if used long enough. With canister stoves, where there is less control over the amount of fuel carried, it may not be feasible to reap the benefit of reduced fuel consumption. The benefits of a Cozy used in conjunction with a white gas stove will be more noticeable in terms of the convenience of not having to simmer and being able to melt snow while your dinner is cooking.

Overview

The Isis Vivian is a lightweight waterproof/breathable jacket with excellent ventilation. It’s not the lightest jacket on the market, but it caters to a female market looking for better fit and on-trail fashion without a huge weight penalty. At 11.5 ounces (326 g, size 10) it weighs only slightly more than the comparable Sierra Designs DT Tech (11.2 ounces) and the Marmot Dart jacket (10 ounces), but significantly more than the Patagonia Women’s Specter jacket (8.3 ounces).

I like this jacket. It has a comfortable stretch nylon ripstop fabric with outer Entrant DT10K coating and inner “half” layer of polyurethane that allows a freedom of movement that other jackets, especially those sized for men, cannot replicate. Since it is designed from the ground up for women, it fits. The arms are the right length, the shoulders are the right proportion, and the mesh hand pockets are at the right angle. No small bonus; it is a fabulous color and looks great on me!

In Brief

• Nice women’s fit
• Great ventilation
• Reasonably breathable fabric
• Three ounces heavier than the lightest women’s jackets
• Not approaching the weight of men’s ultralight rain shells (6+ ounces)

Specifications

Features and Fit

Two roomy zippered, mesh hand pockets – each over half the length of the jacket – rest at your lower torso providing ample space for food, gloves, and hats. A non-waterproof #5 YKK zipper with both inner and outer storm flaps seals out the elements and is a nice change as most manufacturers are moving towards harder to slide water-resistant zips. The hood on the Vivian is one of the best features of the jacket. It has a large brim that stands on its own, keeping well away from the face. A rear Velcro hood adjustment (glow-in-the-dark) keeps the hood from falling forward. I found the hood fit quite comfortably over a wool hat without any adjustment. There’s a dual-draw cord at the base of the hood that uses a friction cord lock (rubber) to adjust the opening.

The bottom hem is adjustable with two single-handed cord locks to seal out drafts. There are 13-inch zippers from the armpit down the length of the sleeve for ventilation. The material of the jacket is a 2.5 layer waterproof/breathable fabric, where the half layer is a textured inner surface.

The fit of the Vivian is well suited to the female body. The dimensions of the bodice are well proportioned, the arm length is correct and the length of the jacket is just right (unlike other female jackets which sometimes fall just above the waist leaving a gap between rain jacket and pants). Stretch 2.5 oz/yd² nylon fabric lets the jacket extend with your movements, allowing for a trimmer and more flattering fit and making the jacket easier to move in than other rain jackets I’ve used.

Storm Resistance

I tested the Vivian in two hurricanes this fall. It was subjected to blinding rains and 50 mph winds. It kept me dry. More impressive was its ability to breathe throughout both storms keeping me reasonably dry inside while hiking at a brisk pace.

The zipper treatments were the main features that kept me dry. The front zipper and both of the front pockets have double storm flaps. The snap closures batten down the outer storm flap for the front zipper extremely well. The snaps are a welcome relief from the fleece and wool snagging Velcro found on other rain jackets.

Breathability and Ventilation

Adjustable Velcro cuffs, a draw cord hem, 13-inch underarm zippers and two big mesh hand-pockets all allow plenty of ventilation opportunities. This extra ventilation wisks moisture away from your body. A full zip in front that can be alternated with the snap closures provides adequate ventilation options in drier weather. And a not-too-snug hood, keeps your head cool while hoofing it in sloppier conditions

Value

At $160, the Vivian is not a great deal but it is in the range of other jackets in its league (the non Gore-Tex league). Comparable women’s jackets include the Sierra Designs DT Tech (11.2 ounce) at $99.95, the Red Ledge Thunderlight (16 ounce) at $70, the Cloudveil Women’s Drizzle (14 ounce) $235, the Moonstone Storm Jacket (14 ounce) $130, and the Marmot Dart Women’s Waterproof jacket (10 ounce) $125. But these jackets do not have the color, style and attractive fit of the Vivian.

Recommendations for Improvement

I have a few recommendations for improving the Vivian but they are slight. First, the zipper is 4 inches short of the bottom hem. Extending the front zipper to the bottom of the front hem would provide more storm resistance. Second, the sleeve zips are not pit zips. Other women’s jackets replicate the arm zip idea and it is neither as useful nor as functional as true pit zips. Putting the zippers back where they belong, directly under one’s arm would improve ventilation on this jacket. Finally, for more stylish town wear, a way to roll up the hood and stow it when not in use would be nice.

Overview

Even with its huge, helmet compatible hood and generous sizing, the DAS Parka is arguably the warmest jacket for its weight. At 24 ounces (680 g) the DAS still retains just about every feature one would want in a cold weather synthetic parka. It has excellent breathability – in my opinion a key feature to staying warm. I did my coldest field testing of the DAS on an October ascent of Mt. Rainer. Even when I was damp and sweaty from climbing I dried out quickly when I threw the DAS parka over me. This was crucial to staying warm on the mountain. While clearly designed for alpine climbing, it works equally well for backcountry skiing, snowshoeing and other cold climate endeavors. It is the winter parka of choice for a number of our staff.

In Brief

• The lightest synthetic jacket suitable for temperatures well below freezing
• Highly breathable inner and outer shells readily pass moisture so you quickly dry out at belays and rest stops
• Fully featured for alpine climbing
• Generous size to fit over everything
• Huge helmet compatible hood with dual drawcord adjustment
• Large number of pockets – three external, and two internal storage

Specifications

Warmth

At 1.3 inches of single layer loft (5.3 oz/yd² Polarguard 3D insulation), the DAS parka is arguably the warmest production jacket reviewed. It is certainly the warmest jacket for its weight. I did my coldest field testing of the DAS on an October ascent of Mt. Rainer. By October it’s close to winter conditions on Rainier. Mid-day summit conditions were 15 °F with 60 mph winds, gusting higher. You need a helluva jacket to stay warm in that environment. The DAS kept me warm enough at rest stops and belays. Another advantage of the DAS parka is its highly breathable shell that allows the rapid transfer of sweat and moisture from your damp clothing so you can take advantage of rest stops and belays to dry out as much as possible. Even when I was damp and sweaty from climbing I dried out quickly when I threw the DAS parka over me. This was crucial to my staying warm on the mountain.

I also used the DAS parka as part of my sleeping system. Rainier can be a wet place, and climbing a wet and sweaty activity. I chose a completely synthetic setup with the DAS parka, Mountain Hardware Polarguard pants and a North Face Cat’s Meow sleeping bag. The DAS parka and bag combination kept me comfortably warm even on the coldest and windiest nights around 0 °F (in a two-person mountaineering tent). I routinely went to bed with wet clothing and some extra wet socks and glove liners in my jacket. By morning everything was dry. Both my clothing and sleeping bag insulation stayed dry and loft did not deteriorate during the multi-day-climb.

The parka has a generously sized insulated hood that fits easily over a full-sized climbing helmet. The front aperture drawcord and horizontal volume control drawcord let you cinch the hood down to fit a bare head just as easily. The high collar made a good seal around my neck and lower face. The front zipper is backed by a webbing stiffened draft flap, and the handwarmer pockets are insulated on the outside by the 5.3 oz/yd² Polarguard insulation of the jacket’s torso. The uninsulated inner liner of the pockets does let some cool air in unless you have the hem drawcord cinched.

Storm resistance

The DAS has a light and very breathable outer shell fabric of 1.5 oz/yd² 30 denier high-tenacity ripstop polyester with a Deluge DWR finish. While it is not waterproof, it is water resistant enough to weather light and/or intermittent rain and snow. As an outer garment I found that the DAS kept me sufficiently warm and dry in everything but constant rain. The polyester shell with its excellent DWR absorbed little water and dried quickly.

Most people layer their parka on top of their other layers unless conditions are dreadful and then a waterproof/breathable shell goes on top. Again a key feature of the DAS is its highly breathable inner and outer shells that readily pass internal moisture through the garment so that you can dry out at belays and rest stops. For most activities and conditions this is much more important to your warmth than the weather resistance of the insulated jacket’s shell. If you are in very wet weather at near freezing levels, you may want to carry a light waterproof shell to layer over the parka or consider one of the two more waterproof parkas in our review suite, the Arc’Teryx Fission Belay Parka or the Mountain Equipment Co-op Magma Jacket.

Usability

At 1.5 pounds, the DAS was one of the lightest jackets tested; yet it has most features one would want on an alpine climbing jacket. It has a generous fit that layers over most anything you’re wearing. The medium length hem comes down to just cover my crotch and butt. The modified Y-Joint sleeves provide good articulation and freedom of movement and the hem does not lift while raising your arms. It has plenty of pockets – two insulated handwarmer pockets, a zippered chest pocket, and two capacious inside mesh pockets for drying gloves. It has a two-way front zipper that works well for your harness and belaying. The zipper pulls on the jacket are first rate and very easy to use with gloves. The simple elastic cuffs are just right, neither too tight nor too loose. They form a good seal but fit easily over the wrist and light gloves.

Value

The DAS Parka is a standout performer. It is light and warm while retaining just about every feature needed in a cold weather synthetic parka, including excellent breathability. While clearly designed for alpine climbing, it works equally well for backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, and other cold climate endeavors. It is a very good value at $259.

Recommendations for Improvement

The DAS design is pretty much dialed in. I think that the shell fabric is the right choice. I wouldn’t want a more waterproof but less breathable fabric. I would like to see the DAS use the slightly higher performing Polarguard Delta insulation; the choice could be made to shave a bit of weight or add a bit more warmth to the jacket and remain at the same weight.

Other than that, a backpacking version – where fabric durability is not as big an issue as for alpine climbing – could include a sub-1-ounce liner fabric to reduce the weight a bit. An alpine climbing version might benefit from some exterior reinforcements in high wear areas. Both versions would be a little more luxurious with a slight amount of inner insulation for the handwarmer pockets, although if it’s cold enough to wear the DAS you’ll likely have warm hand wear on.

Overview

The Integral Designs Dolomitti jacket is a lightweight 1.5-pound cold weather synthetic parka. It works well when belaying in the cold, hanging around camp, or spending a freezing night in a bivouac. While it can be layered under a roomy shell, its water-resistant and windproof Pertex shell and roomy cut make throwing it on outside of a shell a good, and convenient, option. The Dolomitti has many usable features including reinforced shoulders, elbows, and pocket covers, one-handed drawcords, generous pockets, and a warm, zip-off hood that can accommodate a climbing helmet or cinch down to a small breathing hole. This jacket is perfect for cold, humid environments and is well constructed.

In Brief

• Highly breathable Pertex shell with DWR sheds light rain, sleet, and snow, though it is not waterproof
• Over 1 inch of single-layer loft from Primaloft Sport insulation
• Removable, insulated hood
• Reinforced shoulders, elbows, and pocket covers
• Generous pockets
• High quality construction

Specifications

Warmth

The Dolomitti jacket kept me warm throughout my testing. When stationary in sub-freezing temperatures, I remained warm and comfortable, especially with the hood sealed. When wearing damp base layers in this same situation, the jacket quickly warmed me and helped to dry the inner layer. When hiking uphill with a 20-pound pack, in the same weather conditions, the jacket quickly became too warm. This is definitely not a jacket for aerobic activities but it does an excellent job keeping you warm when your heart rate is down.

One night I slept under a tarp wearing the Dolomitti in a severely underrated, 40 °F bag. There was a slight breeze and no precipitation with temperatures starting at 32 ° F and dropping to 25 °F through the night. To replicate a bivy situation, I wore only base and lightweight shell layers in addition to the jacket. Cinching the generous hood to a small opening, I settled in, and despite being a relatively cold sleeper, I slept warm throughout the night and awoke fairly rested. I would trust this combination to pass the night in colder conditions as well.

To regulate temperature, the Dolomitti has a full-length front zipper (with internal zipper wind cover), two single-handed waist drawcords, and a removable zip-off hood. It also features two one-handed hood drawcords that allow the user to cinch the hood down to a tiny opening like a sleeping bag for bivouac situations. The Dolomitti is cut medium-long and covers about half of the butt.

Storm resistance

The Dolomitti provided good weather resistance in the field. Although it is not a waterproof garment, the jacket performed well in precipitation, shedding drizzle and snow quite well. When the rain turned to downpour and slush conditions, the insulation did get wet but still retained the majority of its loft. (In another test at home, however, I found that more than half of the loft is lost when the jacket is completely soaked.) When a break in the weather finally came, the Primaloft insulation had retained less water than a Polarguard 3D insulated jacket and dried out more quickly. When subjected to rain and slush, the inner storm flap kept out the moisture as well as the rest of the jacket, despite the non-waterproof zipper. During times of freezing winds and blowing snow above the treeline, cuffs and hem drawcords sealed the jacket very well. The hood also did a good job in these situations but restricted vision significantly when cinched. When remaining stationary in the cold for long periods of time I stayed quite warm – this jacket was an excellent companion in these winter conditions.

In winter conditions of below freezing temperature with falling snow, I found hiking in moderate conditions of terrain and snow depth with a pack on to be quite comfortable in the Dolomitti. I was surprised at how well the insulation and shell fabrics transported moisture when my exertion level rose and I was sweating hard (e.g., snowshoeing uphill in deep snow). While the jacket was damp at the end of my climb, it had transported most of the moisture. When I stopped moving, the jacket dried fairly quickly. During another test on the same day, I soaked and wrung out a Capilene base layer and then put the Dolomitti over the top and found that after 15 minutes of hiking, the base layer had completely dried.

Usability

The Integral Designs jacket features two zippered external and insulated handwarmer pockets with Taslan-reinforced weather flaps and one large zippered inside pocket that can accommodate a 1-liter water bottle. The jacket has Taslan-reinforced shoulders and elbows and snug-fitting Spandura cuffs. The hood easily fits over a climbing helmet.

The Dolomitti jacket showed minimal wear after two months of hard testing. After several washings and soakings, the durable water-repellent coating had worn significantly but could easily be restored with an aftermarket product such as Revivex. While previous longer-term tests found that the Primaloft insulation lost significant loft over time (up to 25%), I did not experience any loss of insulation on this shorter test. However, durability of Primaloft insulation is a concern. During this test, I had no problem with shell fabric durability – it looks just as new as the day it arrived. The Pertex fabric is not designed for abrasion-resistance, but the Taslan reinforcements are in the right places to add to the life of the jacket. The larger YKK zipper never iced up and I appreciated its size for long-term reliability.

The sleeves of the Dolomitti are long enough for most activities but pull at the cuffs when the hands are raised overhead or arms are crossed and don’t allow hands to be withdrawn inside. The lack of articulation in the cut causes the sleeves to pull slightly at the wrists when bending at the elbows. Raising my hands overhead caused the jacket to pull up at the waist. The hood is cut like a sleeping bag’s and, while quite comfortable and warm when sleeping, doesn’t follow the head when turning. (This improved when wearing a climbing helmet because it created a more secure fit.) That said, when using the jacket for its intended purpose of belay situations, bivouacs, hanging around winter camps, and warming up during cold climbing sections, the jacket’s fit was just fine and allowed for all normal movements without being excessively baggy.

Value

The Dolomitti Jacket is an excellent performer. At just above 1.5 pounds, it gives a lot of synthetic warmth for its weight. It is also durable with well-designed features that make it quite versatile. Coupling these factors along with its moderate price tag makes it an excellent value.

Recommendations for Improvement

While I appreciated its roominess for layering over a shell, it was a bit roomy for my regular build. A more athletic cut in the torso would offer more warmth and still leave room for layering. The hood was very warm and spacious; a Velcro adjustment at the rear would allow adjustment for better visibility when using the jacket on the move.

Overview

The Wild Things EP Jacket fits in well with the lightweight philosophy – use the layering system to maintain comfort, and wear everything you have when it’s cold! Rather than taking a heavy cold weather belay parka, and exchanging it for another garment when the temperature or your exertion level changes, the EP jacket plus one or two mid-weight insulation pieces creates a versatile and lightweight system to stay warm and comfortable under most cool and cold weather conditions. By itself, the EP is a lightweight cool weather belay jacket with a marvelous Epic shell and water resistant zippers for wind and storm resistance. Worn over other lightweight insulation, the jacket is the centerpiece of a versatile cold weather clothing system.

In Brief

• Versatile, lightweight belay jacket, remarkably warm by itself
• Epic shell and water repellent zippers are highly wind and shower resistant
• Draw cords at hood and hem, plus elastic wrist bindings provide a snug seal
• Two zippered side pockets, plus inside zippered pocket provide good storage
• Good storm protection in a variety of conditions
• Remarkably breathable at low to moderate exertion levels in cool, windy conditions

Specifications

Warmth

The EP jacket is insulated with 1.8 oz/yd² PrimaLoft One which has a single-layer thickness of 0.3 inch and a warmth to weight ratio of 0.84 clo/oz (see Commentary on Sleeping Bag Rating Specifications (2004) (M) for more on the clo unit of measure). PL1 is not as lofty or as durable as Polarguard 3D or Delta but is better in damp/wet situations due to its low water absorbency (confirmed in previous Backpacking Light experiments (M). The insulation is quilted to the jacket’s lining in a parallel wavy pattern spaced about 2 inches apart. Both the shell and lining have a soft hand.

Worn over a base layer, the jacket is warm down to about freezing (stationary in calm air). However, by adding insulation layers under it, the EP Jacket can be the centerpiece of a versatile system to maintain warmth down to much colder levels. The EP has an Epic outer shell that is very good at deflecting wind and sealing in heat, contributing a lot to maintaining warmth. For hiking in cool weather, layers can easily be adjusted to maintain comfort. The front zipper is one-way, so can only be opened from the top for ventilation. The EP worked well over damp clothing in cool/windy conditions to keep me from chilling, but is not lofty enough for really cold weather.

Ways to increase the jacket’s warmth are: 1) wear another insulating layer under it, 2) close the 28.5-inch full front zipper to its fleece chin guard, 3) raise the hood and snug it with two draw cord adjustors on the front, and 4) snug the waist draw cord with two adjustors inside the jacket. To increase ventilation, do the opposite. The cuffs have a simple elastic binding that makes a comfortable seal at the wrists, but does not provide any means to adjust ventilation. Two 6.5-inch zippered side hand warmer pockets are not fleece-lined. The back of the jacket is dropped two inches to increase coverage of the butt area. There are no pit zips or mesh vents.

The jacket’s hood provides excellent head insulation while wearing it in a sleeping bag.

Storm Resistance

I tested the EP Jacket on five backpacking trips in the Colorado Rockies. On the first day of summer I hiked a 12,600-foot ridge in 45 °F temperatures and 40 mph winds with intermittent snow and rain. On a 6-day 76-mile backpack on Colorado’s Continental Divide Trail, the EP Jacket provided daily shelter from wind, cold, and bugs.

The beauty of the EP jacket is its wind and storm resistant insulation, thanks to its Epic shell and water-resistant zippers. It had no trouble shedding wind-driven snow and graupel, or a brief shower. Extended rain eventually soaks through, especially at the seams. With a backpack on, the hipbelt seals the bottom of the jacket nicely. Without a pack, the jacket seals up snugly with all the zippers and draw cords pulled. The hood provided good face protection from cold and wind, and worked best with a billed hat or helmet since it has no bill of its own.

I don’t expect an insulated jacket to be as breathable as a windshirt, but I did find the EP jacket to be remarkably comfortable for hiking in cool/windy conditions. While hiking slowly up a 12,700-foot ridge carrying a 25-pound pack in overcast/windy 50 °F conditions, I stayed comfortable by adjusting the hood and front zipper openings. However, when the sun came out and the wind subsided, I quickly overheated and replaced the EP Jacket with a windshirt. On several occasions I put the jacket on over a damp hiking shirt and windshirt during breaks. It kept me from chilling in a stiff breeze, and my damp underclothing dried out quickly.

Usability

The smooth lining allows the EP to slide on easily over other clothing, including fleece. The side pockets are roomy and handy for storing an assortment of frequently used items. However, the pocket openings are a little too small. They are large enough to enter with light or medium weight gloves on, but not heavy gloves, and they are too tight to insert an 8-ounce fuel canister to warm it up in the morning. Draw cord adjustors on the hood and at the waist can be operated with medium weight gloves on, but are harder to manage with heavy gloves. The inside zippered pocket is useful for secure storage, and is sized to carry a 1-liter water flask.

The sculptured hood works well over a helmet or billed hat, with excellent head turning mobility and vision to the sides. The hood is also comfortable under a climbing helmet. There is no adjustment on the back of the hood, so without a hat or helmet on, it fits loose and significantly blocks vision to the front and sides. [Editor’s note: the 2005 version of the EP has a three-way hood adjustment to address this issue.] One clever feature: the hood has a simple hook and loop tab and loop that allow you to secure the hood down when it’s not in use, so it doesn’t flop over your head when you bend over. According to product information, the jacket packs into its own pocket, but I found all of the pocket openings too small for the task. It is much easier to roll the jacket up into its hood.

This jacket is designed for layering. By itself it provides a lot of warmth without bulk in cool and breezy conditions. It is sized to layer over a base layer and one or more mid-weight insulation layers, giving it lots of versatility. The jacket length in back is 28 inches, sufficient to cover the butt and lower torso area.

The EP Jacket has set-in sleeves. Sleeve length was not quite long enough to withdraw my hands. Although the sleeves are an ample length (34.5 inches) in an arms-down position, sleeve articulation in an arms-up position is only fair. When I lifted my arms above my head or crossed my arms, the sleeves withdrew to about 1 inch above my wrists. Torso articulation is good: when I lifted my arms above my head, the jacket’s lower hem was still about two inches below my waist. Wearing the jacket over a 200-weight fleece jacket, my shoulders bound only slightly when crossing my arms.

Value

The EP Jacket is well made, fits well, and is very storm worthy and versatile. At $185, it is a fair value compared to other belay jackets we reviewed.

Recommendations for Improvement

I would like to see larger pocket openings to accommodate gloved hands and larger items. Also, it would be nice to have a large mesh pocket on the inside in addition to the zippered pocket. To reduce weight, I suggest using a thinner Epic fabric for the shell. Some durability would be lost, but lightweight backpackers are prepared to provide the TLC if manufacturers are prepared to provide lighter gear.

Overview

The Cirrus Hooded Jacket, upgraded for 2005, earns a thumbs up for cold weather warmth, storm resistance, and value. It provides quick insulation over existing clothing (dry or damp) for rapid warmth and chill avoidance. The hood is helmet-compatible, yet adjusts to fit over a winter hat or billed cap equally well. The new shell fabric is lighter and more abrasion and storm resistant than last year’s model, although it eventually wets through with extended exposure. The nicest change is the addition of pit zips, which significantly improves ventilation and temperature regulation. Other changes are: the elimination of the adjustable neoprene/Velcro tabs on the cuffs (in favor of a simple elastic cuff), and moving the secure storage pocket to the inside. The handwarmer side pockets remain at hip level, where entry is restricted by a pack hipbelt. Overall, the Cirrus Hooded Jacket is an excellent value at its comparatively low price of $160.

In Brief

• Attached, helmet-compatible hood with lots of adjustability
• Single-layer loft is 1 inch of Thermolite Micro insulation
• Pit zips for improved temperature regulation
• Lighter shell fabric is wind and water resistant, and more snag resistant
• Overall excellent value for its features, storm worthiness, and warmth
• Needs more storage! Raise the outside pockets to make them accessible while carrying a pack (or add a chest height pocket), and make the inside mesh pockets larger

Specifications

Warmth

The Cirrus Hooded Jacket has the thickest insulation (200 g/m² in the body and 150 g/m² in the sleeves) of the Moonstone Cirrus series and is suitable for cold weather applications. DuPont Thermolite Micro is a thin microfiber insulation claimed to provide maximum warmth at minimum thickness with more durability and compressibility than other thin insulations. Backpacking Light has not tested these claims.

I tested the jacket’s warmth in a variety of conditions: stationary in rain at 40 °F, hiking 3 mph on flat terrain in a snowstorm at 32 °F, hiking 3 mph on flat terrain with the jacket over a wet base layer at 0 °F, stationary at 20 °F with a 25 mph wind, stationary at 13 °F, hiking 2 mph uphill carrying a 20 pound pack at 0 °F, and walking 3 mph in a steady rain at 34 °F. I had no problem staying warm in any of these conditions – quite the opposite. The jacket is very comfortable for flat land activities, but quickly reaches its breathability limit on uphill, high-exertion activities. When I wore the jacket unvented while hiking uphill with a pack, the heat built up steadily to the point where I could not maintain my pace. Opening the pit zips and dropping the hood provided some relief, but not enough.

To sum up: the Cirrus jacket is plenty warm and has adequate breathability for low or intermittent moderate exertion at cooler temperatures, but too much warmth and not enough breathability for sustained moderate or high exertion activities. This is too much jacket for uphill backpacking except for very cold and/or windy conditions.

When I wore the jacket over a breathable Epic windshirt and very damp base layer after some hard sweaty exertion (1,500 feet of elevation gain at 2 mph in 6-12 inches of snow), it prevented chilling during a quick lunch stop at 20 °F, then allowed my under layers to dry on my descent over the next hour. On another occasion I soaked a cotton T-shirt with water and put it on, then donned the jacket and went for a walk on a 0 °F morning, and had no problem staying warm.

This jacket has a relaxed fit to allow layering under it. It easily fits over a fleece jacket, and even fits over a high-loft down jacket or vest with minimal compression. The back of the jacket is dropped 2 inches to give it sufficient length to cover the butt.

The Cirrus Jacket works well to extend the warmth of a light sleeping bag in a bivy sack. I wore the jacket over a heavy base layer in a 30 °F down sleeping bag inside a waterproof/breathable bivy, and slept warm as toast on a 24 °F night with heavy frost.

Storm Resistance

The upgraded 2005 jacket’s shell fabric is 15 x 40 denier nylon ripstop with super DWR, much lighter than its predecessor which had 40 denier mini-ripstop fabric (1.2 oz/yd² compared to 3.1 oz/yd²). The new shell is similar to shells on other lightweight insulated garments – a balance between weight, storm resistance, and durability. With reasonable care, it performs and holds up well, but I would not recommend serious bushwhacking with this jacket.

I tested the Cirrus Hooded Jacket in cold rain, wet snow, and wind over different dry or damp under layers. The jacket’s water resistance is significantly improved with the new shell fabric. It shed rain and wet snow very well for about an hour, but eventually wetted-out, especially on the shoulders and upper back. After an extended walk in steady rain, I weighed the jacket and found that it had gained 12 ounces of moisture. Even when thoroughly wet, the jacket remained warm and dry inside, except for some leakage on the shoulder seam. The hood provided good face protection from cold and wind. The two-way front zipper has a storm flap behind it that kept water from coming through. The bottom hem drawcord helped to seal out drafts.

Usability

The sculpted hood easily adjusts to fit over a helmet, and adjusts just as easily to fit over an insulated or billed hat. With the hood drawcords properly adjusted, head-turning mobility is excellent with or without a helmet, but free head movement is slightly restricted when wearing a helmet and a pack. The sleeves are almost long enough to withdraw the hands. Sleeve and torso articulation with the arms lifted upward are both good, with no binding or exposure of the wrists or waist. When the Cirrus jacket is layered over a mid-weight fleece jacket, torso articulation at the shoulders is very good, and it does not bind when crossing the arms. The jacket’s smooth microfiber lining makes it easy to layer over other clothing, including fleece.

This jacket has simple elastic cuffs that replace the adjustable neoprene/Velcro tabs on the previous model which is an improvement, because the Velcro tabs were very abrasive to the jacket’s shell. However, the elastic band in the new cuffs is a bit tight to stretch over the tops of gloves, and it tends to twist within its enclosure, which is annoying.

There are two 7-inch zippered pockets on the outside with a brushed tricot lining for hand warming. They are large enough to warm an 8-ounce fuel canister. With a pack on, the hipbelt fits squarely over the side pockets, restricting stowage and access. On the inside of the jacket there is one 6-inch zippered security pocket and two stretchy mesh pockets (5 inches wide by 7 inches deep) for carrying snacks and a water bottle (a flat water flask works best). It would be nice if the mesh pockets were much larger so they could stow more items (like winter gloves, balaclava, helmet liner, sunglasses, sunscreen, etc.).

The hood has a flexible bill and two drawcords to adjust the fit over different headwear. A drawcord on the back of the hood is fully extended when the jacket is worn over a helmet, and tightened when the hood is worn without a helmet. The front drawcord snugs the hood to your face for better weather protection and visibility. There is no provision to stow the hood when it is not being used, but tightening its face drawcord helps somewhat to hold it down. The “single-hand adjustable drawcords” at the waist and hood (total of three drawcords with five adjustors) actually require two hands to tighten or loosen, but they work well to seal in the warmth or provide ventilation as needed. The jacket is quite compressible, and fits easily into the provided 7 inch by 10 inch matching stuff sack.

The Cirrus Hooded Jacket works well in concert with the Moonstone Nitro shell, which also has a helmet compatible hood. However, the Nitro Jacket is slightly shorter.

Value

With an MSRP of $160, the Cirrus Hooded Jacket is an excellent value for the features, warmth, and utility it provides. At 1 pound 12.4 ounces (men’s large) this jacket is 4 to 7 ounces heavier than many comparable jackets, but it has more insulation and includes pit zips.

Recommendations for Improvement

With the upgrades made to the 2005 model, the Cirrus Hooded Jacket is now one of the nicest cold weather synthetic insulated jackets on the market. Following are a few additional improvements that would further improve it:

Use Pertex Quantum for the outer shell fabric.

For more accessible outside storage, move the hand warmer pockets above the hipbelt level, or add at least one large zippered pocket at the chest level.

Enlarge the inside mesh pockets to three times their present capacity to make room for gloves, hat, sunglasses, energy bars, water flask, camera, etc, etc.

Overview

The Enclosure Mountain Parka from Cloudveil provides a warm micro-shelter for the stationary backcountry adventurer. The parka has 7.6 oz/yd² PrimaLoft One in the body and 5.9 ox/yd2 PrimaLoft One in the sleeves, making it ideal to wear while belaying an alpine climb, eating lunch before dropping into sweet powder, or hanging out around base camp. The PrimaLoft One synthetic insulation has decent compressibility; the jacket stuffs down to about 300 cubic inches in volume, roughly the size of a volleyball. PrimaLoft One also absorbs much less water than down or other synthetic insulations, maintaining nearly all of its warmth when wet. The hood is well designed and keeps the neck and face areas warm and cozy, with or without a helmet, while maintaining good peripheral vision. The Enclosure is also a nice addition to a lightweight integrated cold weather sleeping system, allowing a much lighter sleeping bag to be used.

In Brief

• Cloudveil Cirrus Plus shell – lightweight and weather resistant
• Warm – 1.4 inches of PrimaLoft One single-layer loft in the torso
• Good fit and extra room for layers
• Lots of pockets – two hand warmer, three internal, and one chest pocket
• Durable and well-constructed – no wear evident from field testing
• At 2 pounds 4 ounces manufacturer’s claimed weight, one of the heavier jackets in this group

Specifications

Warmth

The Enclosure Parka has a healthy amount of PrimaLoft One insulation that kept me very warm sitting out on a cold November evening while I ate dinner – and dried out – after several hours of hiking. Hiking without a pack on flat terrain was tolerable for a short period of time, but the insulation is too thick to wear the parka during any type of activity. I quickly overheated wearing the Enclosure Parka while hiking with a pack, even in 25 °F weather. The combination of Cirrus Plus shell and thick insulation results in relatively poor breathability for this jacket. The hood and front zipper provide full head, neck, and face coverage.

The Enclosure is a nice addition to a cold weather sleeping system. I spent a 20 °F night in the backcountry wearing the Enclosure in a 32 °F rated sleeping bag and bivy sack and stayed warm and slept well the entire night.

Storm resistance

I tested the Enclosure Parka in a variety of early winter conditions in temperatures from the low 20’s °F to the mid 30’s °F. During a near-freezing wet snow/sleet storm, the parka took the chill off when I stopped for lunch and put it on over a base layer dampened by sweat from skinning to the top of a Cascade volcano. The internal draft skirt kept the cold air from creeping above my waist and the hood and chin area protected my face from the wind and cold. The wet snow/sleet eventually defeated the durable water-repellent finish. We suggest using the Enclosure under a waterproof garment during very wet weather. The Enclosure kept me warm even with wet insulation and it dried out quickly when the sleet subsided.

On another backcountry adventure, the durable water-repellent finish did a much better job of repelling the dry graupel falling with temperatures in the low 20’s °F. A waterproof garment was not needed to stay dry in these conditions.

When I wore the Enclosure Parka over a wet base layer and zipped everything up, the base layer dried over time and moisture was not noticeable on the inside of the parka.

Usability

The Enclosure Parka has a full front zipper and a high collar that covers the mouth region when fully zipped. A rollover zipper guard protects the face nicely with a fleece lining. An internal Lycra draft skirt keeps out the cold wind. The cuffs have a wide range of adjustability with Velcro closures. The hood fits snugly with or without a climbing helmet and can be tightened down with an elastic pull cord. The sleek design of the hood allows it to move with you as you rotate your head, maintaining peripheral vision. The sleeve length is just long enough to allow free range of motion without exposing the wrists. The zippered hand warmer pockets are insulated on the outside only and are not fleece lined. Hands can be withdrawn into the sleeves to provide additional warmth. The parka is well designed in the torso region, allowing a full range of motion without the hem riding up the waist or the shoulders binding. It has a trim fit without any coverage of the butt or thigh region. It is easy to put on and take off while wearing a base layer, outer shell, another insulating garment, or any combination of the three, making it very suitable for a belay jacket during a winter multi-pitch climb.

The Enclosure has plenty of pockets: zippered hand warmer pockets, a single Napoleon pocket, an internal security pocket for stashing the oh-so-important route description, and two internal mesh pockets, one divided and one open, for storage with quick and easy access. The Enclosure Parka also has the option of stuffing into its own pocket for easy packing.

Value

The pre-production jacket I tested is well-made and held up well during field testing, showing no significant signs of wear. At $245, the Enclosure is priced comparatively with other jackets in this category. It is a very nice insulating garment for the price.

Recommendations for Improvement

The pre-production version of the Enclosure that I tested weighs less than the stated weight for the production models; even so, it had heavier insulation than most other jackets in this category. I would prefer a less bulky parka. I’d also like to see a DWR finish that sheds water and wet snow better, keeping the insulation dry longer. The hand-warmer pockets could be fleece lined to provide a little extra warmth and comfort.

Overview

The Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) Magma jacket is an excellent value with a Gore Dryloft shell, well-constructed hood, and adjustability features that make it exceptionally storm resistant. It is warm, comfortable, and well constructed, but not oversized as some belay jackets in our review suite are. It has Primaloft One insulation and a removable, insulated hood. With plenty of other features such as four pockets, adjustable drawcords, zipper storm flaps and soft and warm pockets and collar, the Magma has quickly become a favorite of mine.

In Brief

• Gore Dryloft shell is exceptionally storm resistant
• Primaloft One insulation lofts to 1.1 inches single layer
• Removable, insulated hood
• Good fit, long sleeves
• Soft, cozy handwarmer pockets
• Plenty of storage with an external chest and internal storage pocket
• Not cut to fit over shells as a belay jacket

Specifications

Warmth

The Magma is a solid four-season performer with 5 oz/yd² Primaloft One insulation in the torso and sleeves. I measured 1.1 inches of single layer loft, comparable to all but the highest loft jackets in our review suite. I used the Magma on outings in the Catalina and Rincon Mountain ranges of southern Arizona. With temperatures in the 30s °F I was completely warm even when stationary. After hiking uphill only a few hundred yards I quickly became overheated. For downhill or flat hiking, I stayed comfortably cool as long as I kept the jacket partially unzipped. The Magma has several features for helping to control temperature including two easily operated drawcords – one on the hem, and another at the waist.

Storm resistance

The Gore Dryloft shell makes the Magma an exceptional performer in poor weather. The breathable shell is not listed as waterproof by Gore, but is nearly waterproof based on our hose tests. I performed a simple 10-minute hose test, soaking the shell with the full force of a garden hose. At completion, no discernible water had gotten into the insulation. By comparison, the insulation in other water repellent jackets was noticeably wet after this test. The removable hood on the Magma has a large, stiff brim to keep your face protected, and is easily adjustable. The hood fits over a large-volume climbing helmet (Black Diamond Half Dome), but mobility is slightly restricted. The hood cinches down easily to cover your face when weather deteriorates. The cuffs are half elastic, half Velcro, and can be closed down as tight as you like to keep out the spindrift or cold drafts. The main zipper has an internal storm flap.

Usability

I’ve got long arms, so good fit in the sleeves is one of the first things I look for in a cold weather jacket. The Magma does well here, with nice long sleeves that I can easily withdraw my hands into. Overall fit is good, although the cut is shorter than in some other jackets in this category; it does not cover my rear. The Magma is cut to fit over layers, but is not as roomy as some other pure belay jackets. This is beneficial in non-climbing situations, but might be a problem if you tried to slip it over a shell and other layers at a cold weather belay. Articulation is very good; the jacket does not ride up at all when arms are raised to shoulder height. All external zippers have pull strings for easy adjustment while wearing gloves. As mentioned above, the hood is easily removed with a zipper – a feature that I really like as the majority of my cold weather outings are not in full storm conditions. The hand warmer pockets are lined with a soft thin insulating layer that I found very welcome on several occasions.

Value

The MEC Magma jacket is an excellent value at $168 ($205 Canadian). With a Dryloft shell, the Primaloft top of the line insulation, high quality construction, and a removable insulated hood, it gives you a lot for your hard earned dollars.

Recommendations for Improvement

There is little to complain about with the Magma. My jacket came in a bit above the specified weight, so taking just a few ounces off this jacket to improve its performance to weight ratio would shoot it to the top of the line in high loft insulating jackets.