Kor Strata Insulated Hoodie - Mens - 2018 Review
Of the basic outdoor clothing layers, the insulating layer seems to have had the almost advocacy and caused the most debate between outdoor athletes. Different activities crave dissimilar characteristics from the insulating layers that we wear. Skiers need heavy insulation with a durable material and backpackers want the warmest insulation for the least size and weight, but what does the best insulating layer look like for a climber? With potent competition such as the Arc'terx Atom LT Hoody, Patagonia Nano Air, and the Rab Xenon-10, where does the Mountain Hardware Kor Strata hooded jacket fit this role?
The Good
The Kor Strata gets its insulation from PrimaLoft Gold Agile. This fabric is a synthetic insulation that maintains its insulation properties even when information technology is wet, different downward insulation. In addition, information technology is comprised of 45% recycled materials. By all accounts PrimaLoft is a warmer insulation than Arc'terx's Coreloft insulation and Patagonia'southward FullRange insulation and used in the Atom LT and Nano Air, respectively.
This jacket definitely retains the heat that you generate while moving and also blocks out the current of air. Fifty-fifty on The Longest Approach in Vermont I was not sweating in this jacket. That arroyo was virtually 3 miles, and over 1,000 feet of elevation gain with 30 degree temperatures and v-10 mph air current.
Because of the way this jacket fits, information technology does not obstruct climbing either. The material does stretch for total range of motility, and the armpits are given plenty textile so that the jacket isn't pulled up the trunk if you raise your arms. I am 5'7″ tall and weigh 150 lbs. The Medium fit me perfectly.
With a weight of xiv.1 oz, the Kor Strata is one of the lightest insulated jackets due to its simplistic design. The sleeves and hood are are non-adjustable with just an elastic cuff. The hood is big enough to barely fit over a helmet without obstructing the wearer's view. The waistband is adjustable with a draw at the left hip. This helps to protect from the air current.
There are 2 hand warmer pockets with zippers and one large chest pocket with a attachment on the outside. This chest pocket is the simply pocket accessible with the jacket tucked into the harness. The pocket is a little fleck bigger that the 2 chest pockets on the Nano Air (maybe that'southward why they included two chest pockets). I like that this pocket is accessed from the outside of the jacket, dissimilar the Arc'terx Atom LT and the Rab Xenon-Ten whose chest pockets are accessed from the inside. That means that you need to open open 2 zippers to go into the chest pocket as well equally unzip your jacket halfway. The Kor Strata's pockets are simple and useful.
The outer shell is rip-stop nylon, which is durable plenty to withstand some scraping against rock (different the Patagonia Micro Puff) only is too matte and unassuming (unlike the Rab Xenon-X).
The jacket tin can too be stuffed and stored into its own pocket. The Arc'terx Cantlet LT Hoody and Patagonia Nano Air do not take this cocky storing feature, while the Rab Xenon-X does. This is a useful characteristic for organizing or saving space in your pack.
The Bad
The primary component that nosotros didn't like nearly this jacket was the hood. The Kor Strada does come in a version without a hood, withal I prefer having something to cover my helmet to protect against the wind and continue me but a little bit warmer when organizing gear on the ground or on a belay ledge. For the almost part the hood performed well. With a helmet on, the hood fits perfectly, and does not obstruct sight or hinder head motion. However, when not wearing a helmet the hood is too big and covers the eyes. A quick and uncomplicated adjustment like the ane for the waistband would make this hood easier to wear and make the jacket a scrap more versatile.
Another issue is the zipper looks wavy when zipped up and had looked this way brand new. This does non touch on the part of the jacket, but is a detail that may bother some people.
The Verdict
Mountain Hardwear's Kor Strata Hoody is a an active insulation layer that keeps you lot warm without overheating. Although it looks similar to other jackets, aspects such as the insulation, crush material, pocket locations, and self storage all add up to make this a great active layer especially for climbers. If you tin can overlook some pocket-sized flaws, this is one of the nigh versatile and useful agile layers on the market.
North East Climbing
Posted in Clothes
Source: https://northeastclimbing.com/2018/11/26/mountain-hardwear-kor-strata-review/
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