It's certainly safe to say it's at least as warm. Here's the results. Instead they're a handy place to temporarily store stuff you might lose to the undergrowth if placed on the ground (lens caps, batteries, lighters are good examples). Instead we're left with guesses from reviewers like me and unbacked claims from marketing departments untethered by scientific tests and data. The roll-top was then folded over until it wouldn't fold any more, sealed and then left to sit for 15 minutes. Anytime there is an opening in the jacket, there is the possibility for moisture and cold to seep in. Ever since the old Mountain Equipment Compressor (2014) made way for its ill-conceived successor, we've been looking for its replacement in the sub 400g insulated jacket category. In their free time, they enjoy mountain biking, building out their Sprinter van, and adventuring with their new puppy, Shadow. So, for days that it is unneeded, simply leave it behind. My suspicion is that it's a fraction warmer. Making use of 3M's Polarloft Featherless fill, the Superflux is Mountain Equipment's first foray into this style of insulation, and I think it's something of a success. No issues here, they are robust and function well. Well done Mountain Equipment for not following the herd over the "under-the-helmet" cliff. Between sustainable sourcing, durability, and nice-to-have features, one of these options is sure to fit the bill. What the Rampart loses in terms of weight and compressibility it more than makes up for in terms of value. If you’re spending money on a jacket, you will want it to last. The Rampart lives up to its name and provides meaningful additional fortification to get you through those nasty periods when conditions begin to overwhelm your (soft and hard shell) active wear. These three pockets work together to keep your valuables safe and your fingers toasty warm. The Rampart is warm enough to take the edge of short stops in severely cold (tested at -25℃ windchill) conditions. Finally, someone's got it right! In addition, they’ve chosen to include 2-way YKK® moulded front zippers. Only by-product down from the meat and egg industry is used in every single Mountain Equipment jacket. For down fill weight, the more down and feathers included, the higher the given weight will be. Most of the time, this is what I wore around camp in the 2020 winter kit test. You have entered an incorrect email address! Fill power is our final part of gauging the quality of down. Remember to think through what you want most out of a jacket. Everything on the jacket is executed to Mountain Equipment's usual high standards and there are no signs of cost cutting whatsoever (i.e. The Rampart's Helium 30 face fabric and YKK vislon zipper. Out of that desire, they have fully stitched through every part of the jacket, reinforcing every connection. Layering perfectly under a shell in the most challenging conditions but providing a warm and windproof layer when worn alone, the Rampart Hooded Women's Jacket is an essential mountain piece. For this Mountain Equipment jacket, the large size has 296 grams of pure down. So ME's Compressor jacket is in action most of the year and only rested over the wintery sides of Spring and Autumn when the Keela Smock takes over. The pricing is about the same as the Mountain Equipment Lightline Jacket as well. Related Article: Best Winter Jackets for Men Who Travel. Delving further in, Mountain Equipment supports living wages, reasonable working hours, safe and healthy working conditions, and the prevention of child labour through their leadership status. It’s almost a given that you’ll want zippers and pockets that can sustain long hikes and years of use. That heavier jacket, weighing in at around 320g, is Mountain Equipment's Echo Hooded Jacket - the subject of this review. How effective is that when compared to Primaloft Gold? e.g. The Mountain Equipment Rampart Hooded Jacket is Scramble's top pick in the lightweight (sub 400g) insulated jacket category. Weight, down to feather ratio, and fill power are all used to measure down quality and quantity. dubious performance claims for their proprietary insulation, or, To weigh less than 400g (since we're carrying it much of the time), To be warm enough: 60g (or more) of high quality synthetic insulation (Primaloft Gold or equivalent) provides a meaningful amount of warmth - 50g or less of core insulation in our opinion is not sufficient to provide a significant effect, To be highly wind resistant (i.e. So, think and research well before choosing your down jacket, as there are plenty of solid contenders. With other jackets of this down quality, you would expect to pay well above five hundred dollars. There are sacrifices but there are also gains - we'll note both as we go through the review and we'll use the old (2014) Compressor as our benchmark. Kit Tests: Winter, Summer In such conditions I would apply some minor tightening just to keep the hood in place. When the back volume adjuster is fully employed, the hood syncs perfectly with your head but more of your face gets exposed (pictured below #2). This jacket is really pleasant to wear thanks to its fluffy loft and high Next up is the down to feather ratio. The Rampart has 80g/sm of Mountain Equipment's Polarloft Micro insulation. This jacket also has bonded, horizontal baffles to keep the down in, a common issue with down jackets. if we feel we would need to sell an item at 40% off (i.e. Unlike the 2014 Compressor, the Rampart has no external zipped chest pocket, instead it has a simple non-zipped inner pocket (pictured below #1). It has a microporous Polyurethane counting on it. The features that remain are all executed extremely well. Catch a Free Bus Ride to Your Next Job Interview, Best Deodorant For Men Options: Top 10 Revealed. The Eddie Bauer Downlight Stormdown jacket is a slightly less expensive option. If you’ve said yes to any or all of the above, Mountain Equipment is ready to meet your needs. Thanks to all Mountain Equipment is doing, they are helping save the world, one worker and duck at a time. Their construction rivals Mountain Equipments as well. After working closely with them for four years, they have achieved a monitoring percentage of ninety one percent. So, warmth and long lasting products are the focal point of Mountain Equipment product development. Many jacket's have been assessed prior to this review, most have: What we want from this type of jacket hasn't changed, so let's just recap: So, what we want from a lightweight insulated jacket is: Mountain Equipment's Rampart is the closest thing to the old Compressor we've come across. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. So, with a lower price point and equally as good features, Eddie Bauer’s Downlight Stormdown jacket is a great alternative to Mountain Equipment.