Description of Mountain Hardwear Compressor PL Jacket - Men's:
Make the Mountain Hardwear Men's Compressor PL Jacket your super-light insulator for high-alpine assaults. It packs down in a small stuff sack and fits in the corner of your pack until you need it as an extra layer. Mountain Hardwear stuffed the Compressor with synthetic PrimaLoft One insulation, which maintains its insulating properties even when wet. Beyond climbing, the Compressor's light weight and packability make it easy to bring on backcountry tours or even as a mid-layer for lift skiing.
Bottom Line: A warm, superlight jacket that shrugs off cold weather.
I'd rate this jacket 6 stars if I could because this thing is absolutely amazing. I am getting ready to thruhike the AT and needed a lightweight and packable layer which was durable and weather resistant. I was planning on using the MontBell UL Thermawrap jacket until I saw this was on sale at my local gear shop. The MontBell is a great jacket and it's warmth to weight ratio is superb, but this jacket is only a little heavier, packs into the same stuff sack that came with the MontBell (approx. 3"x6.5") and can conquer 10 degree gusty days like a CHAM-PI-ON. The MontBell was good only to about 25 degrees with a long sleeve baselayer, the Compressor to 5-10 degrees with the same long sleeve baselayer. Another nicety on this moneymaker is the zip up fleece lined hand pockets on the outside, the zip up chest pocket within the jacket, the adjustable velcro cuffs, the cinching waistband and neck band completely lock in your body heat. My Spring 2009 MontBell UL Thermawrap has two hand pockets on the outside that do keep your hands warm but lack the comfortable fleece and handy zippers that the Compressor has. Also, the Montbell has only those two pockets and no more. When you put these two jackets side by side the hands down absolute winner is the Compressor. It's warmer, has more pockets with zippers to keep your stuff in and secured, packs down to the exact same size (once again, approx. 3"x6.5"), has a higher stitch count that gives the user far more durability and confidence with this jacket. I've tried to find something wrong with this jacket and the closest I can come is that it's heavier than the MontBell, but when you see that it's only 6 oz. heavier and has a lower temperature rating with all the features I've mentioned, the weight doesn't become a negative factor for this jacket. I'm in love...
I've had this jacket for almost a year now and I would highly recommend it. The pros are as follows... very light and very warm, can compress down to easily fit into a Nalgene bottle, perfect for wearing under a hard or softshell, dissipates moisture fairly well, and blocks the wind pretty good too. The cons are... Not the best for outerwear, offers little protection from precipitation, can tear or snag pretty easy, and it doesn't have a hood. That's about it! As long as you use this jacket properly I think you'll have a warm and loyal friend for a long time!
Fits more like a sweater; if you're in between sizes order the largest. Short waist length, and very lightweight and compressible. Sporty looking. Warmer than it appears.
