Best way to shed heat…

Conventional thinking says that a full zip front, and large pit zips are the standard for rain jacket ventilation.

However, I really like the zipper configuration of the pertex and pile smocks made by Buffalo and others:

Neck zipper plus two side zips that go all the way down to the hem. You can zip them upward from the bottom, which lets in an enormous amount of air flow throughout the front of the garment. This configuration seems more versatile than a full front zipper when wearing a hip belt, because the hip belt can be worn under the front flap.

Not that common, but two way zips are awesome

Thanks Ryan…not a product that I have had experience with.

Googling like crazy to find pictures of what I can imagine is a terrific way to shed the heat.  Can’t seem to find pictures on the Buffalo or Montane sites.  Trying to understand how far the zipper would extend up from the hem in a system like this.  All the way to above the pit to shed the pit heat as well I’m assuming?

Adam – check out the Outdoor Research Foray II Jacket. It’s a full front zip rain jacket but also has the pit zips go all the way down to the hem.

IMHO with Alpha Direct you don’t need zippers.  Just be sure you don’t have a shell over it and you will spill heat. When I am wearing mine in cool weather and no wind I can feel the difference from standing still and walking fast (e.g. I feel the “breeze” I create walking 3mph.) The faster I move the cooler I get up to a zone 2 jog.

What I love about alpha direct is how little warmth in retains when uncovered vs keeping me warm with a good shell. Varying the venting my shell I get a huge range of comfort.

On the Buffalo smock I have the side zip goes from just under the armpit (where the sleeve meets the jacket) all the way down the side. It’s a double zip, so one zip at the bottom and another at the top.

Yeah, I am with Mark, AD doesn’t retain much heat unless you have a shell over it.