Reviews by User: Jake Burkey (4)

I was considering the Patagonia Micro-Puff pants, but decided to try these instead because they are much lighter and cut trimmer so can be used as a mid-layer. I just returned from a week-long climbing trip in freezing temps, and these pants performed unbelievably well, packing small and light to fit in my summit pack, layering well under shell pants as well as layering over pants when needed at a cold belay. The cut of the legs is long enough to fit my 33-inch inseam length, yet trim-fitting. The waistband is comfortable and low-profile. The side zips are very low-profile, and the whole package is very attractive - the photos on the web just don't do justice to how good these pants look. Plus, these pants are very warm and breath very well even without using the side zips for ventilation. These pants have my highest recommendation, particularly if you do lightweight backpacking or alpine climbing, where the weight-to-performance ratio is of highest importance.

I was originally considering the Patagonia Puff Jacket or Pullover as an insulating mid-layer under the trim-fitting Mountain Hardwear softshell that I just bought. But, the Patagonia pieces are cut large to layer over other garments and are relatively heavy (more than twice the weight of this piece). I just returned from a week of climbing long trad routes in the canyons of the Red Rocks during an extreme cold spell during which daytime high temps ranged from the 30s at the beginning of the week to the 40s later in the week. I had the Thermawrap jacket and pants with me during the entire time. They pack small enough to fit into my minimalist Platypus hydration pack, and provided a very impressive amount of warmth, keeping me comfortable after the sun set and the wind picked up, bringing temps below freezing. The jacket breathes well also, and I stayed dry even when working out hard on the approaches. The jacket looks good around town as well. Overall, it's just a great piece of gear.

The synchro jacket has a nice trim fit, with the arms cut to prevent lift when reaching above the head, making it a great jacket for climbing. The conduit laminate breathes well, and the fabric is light and flexible. There are some areas that need improvement, however. The fleece cuffs don't seal out cold air, and even worse, act as sponges in wet weather, wicking rain into the arms of the jacket. The zippers are very hard to pull, requiring two hands to operate. Also, one of the drawcord keepers on the waist of my jacket will not hold the drawcord tight, allowing it to slip out so that the waist is always loose. I intend to replace that part myself, but it shouldn't be happening on a jacket this costly. It's worth considering the Mammut softshells as an alternative to this one.

The conduit laminate seems to breathe very well, and the fabric has a good feel - flexible, lightweight, yet durable. Also, the non-elastic waist is a nice feature. But, the cut of the pants is too short for me, and the waist is large for the size. Also, the crampon patch at the ankle is very stiff, fitting poorly under gaiters. The crotch is not gusseted and the knees are not articulated. I'm not sure what Mountain Hardwear had in mind when they designed these pants, but they are better suited for wearing to the mall than to the mountains.