There’s still time for warm jackets!
Although we are in mid March, if the past week has been anything to go by, there is plenty of winter left in this season. Snow in Scotland and the Lake district, flash flooding in the dales and high winds across many part of the country. When it’s 12°C and with windchill it feels like 3°C, you are short of options other than ditching the lighter layers and cracking out some winter warmth.
I’ve been wearing the Adidas Terrex Climaheat since December and it’s a jacket I’ve been using in a variety of conditions. It’s warmer than a mid layer insulated jacket, yet not full on expedition, which puts it in territory where few sit. In many ways, its pretty darn useful, partly due to the armpit vents/ducts/sweat relievers. But more of those later.
I know what you are thinking, man that log is huge, you must be a giant. Perspective. I’m 5ft 7″ and this is a size small, I’m weighing in at around 70kg and I’m more torso than legs, if that aids sizing yourself up. The Climaheat sits a little lower than others in the market (who tend to build jackets around climbing harnesses) so, it keeps your posterior warmer and has great coverage overall.
IF you want to hear me ramble on about the pockets, hood and get out by a hail storm, check out the video below. I also find myself modelling the armpit venting in a manner I really can’t explain…. just watch with a whisky in hand. Take my word. Oh and a final point, it really did get that dark, that quickly. 10 minutes later there were hailstones the size of peas mutating to maltesers, carpet bombing the little courtyard to the rear of the house I was stood in before. Lucky break!
The Climaheat has been to a fair few places with me; Aviemore for a week at the end of January when the mercury dipped below minus 10°C at night, the Pyllon XP2 in the Lake District, ISPO Awards judging back in December in a frigid Munich and all over the UK.
The jacket has a pretty unique baffling design, which is more efficient and in my opinion looks sweet. Great to see something other than the standard hoops wrapping around your midriff and adding some character. Why must duvet jackets look like the Michelin Man?
The Climaheat fill, 90% goose down, 10% feather padding kept me warm and despite getting stuffed into all manner of bags, is retaining loft without fault over the last 4-5 months. This combined with the Pertex Quantam GL outer keeps things light and airy in feel. There have a been a few feathers migrating through the baffle stitches, but no more than other down jackets. When you bear in mind the increased baffles count, it could be argued I should have experienced more. Nifty design work.
Pockets are a plenty, zips are chunky, pullers with a lot to grab for gloved hands and kept digits warm in the worst weather I could subject them too. 
The obliques/side of the jacket has less insulation and smaller baffles, which aid keeping the overall profile of the jacket down, once again cutting down the Michelin Man look. As should be apparent there is a slight drop tail and as I mentioned earlier, it keeps your arse toasty. Stealth pockets, did you notice them?? Those zippers are closed….
Insulated jacket hoods, what can be done to prevent you looking like you’re back at Scout camp in a sleeping bag, refusing to leave a micron of slack at the head opening, in an attempt to prevent heat from escaping? Despite the looks they bring, they work and Adidas Terrex has one of the best. The high collar, side coverage and temple really keep skin exposure to a minimum. Combined with the adjustable fit (the band around the head, elasticated with rear toggle) it maps your movement and stays secure in high winds.
Lycra baffles are something of a Adidas Terrex tradition, being the 3rd down jacket I have had the opportunity to try, all three have featured wrist and collar lycra baffles that lock in heat and do a surprisingly good job at keeping the cold out. Better still, they are pretty stealth. There are a number of jackets I wouldn’t mind having these added to, they are light, flexible and have no real drawbacks.
Stuff me! No seriously, get stuffing. Inside the right of the jacket is the “Pack it” pouch, a stuff sac that allows you to store your jacket rapidly and theres no need to remember your stuff sac, or in my case, wonder where the hell it has been misplaced in the house. Being integrated keeps it close to hand and in my opinion, more likely to be used. When I flew out to ISPO, I used it on the plane, so as not to have it randomly stuffed in the overhead locker, getting crushed by random luggage. Stuff it down and under the seat in front.
Now, the elephant in the room. Ok, its only the elephant if you read my review of it’s older sibling last time around or even now….. hint hint. The under arm stretch fleece, was, in my opinion a little too effective and although at the time a great idea (which more and more insulated jackets are using), the execution wasn’t quite right. Fortunately, this isn’t a goldilocks tale of needing a third instalment, as the Climaheat incorporates panels that are less exposed and consequently, allow less air in. On a properly gusty day you can still feel they are there, but, importantly, there is much less ingress of cold air. If things get really gnarly, putting your arms down, rather than waving them around like a chinook solves the vast majority of the breathability on offer. Conversely, these vent/stretch panels are superb for keeping your pits from turning into Niagara falls when you exert yourself or the temperature rides, and they also help prevent the jacket from riding up.
And that is it really of for me, the Terrex Climaheat is what I wanted the Agravic to be. It’s a refined version, incorporating new tech, updating the design and taking lessons from it’s predecessor. Could I ask for any changes or improvements? Maybe a slight peak on the hood for when the sun comes out and more compact for adventures where you need to stow it away regularly? I’m having to pull at straws. The fit is spot on for my body type – dare I call myself athletic? The styling is modern, the colour perfect. Zips, pockets and hood do what they are supposed to. I’ve been opting for the Climaheat throughout this winter and until things get better, will continue to, its a trustworthy wingman.
Jacket provided by All Conditions Media | All thoughts my own, this is not a paid advertisement or sponsored.
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James Mackeddie 