Polartec alpha or other active insulation – suggestions

My wife is looking for a new jacket to replace a polartec alpha jacket she has worn out.

It’s a Lowe alpine sample hooded jacket, with polartec alpha 120g (I think) and a pertex microlight outer.

She gets cold easily and wears this for most of the day when out in the hills.

She has another polartec alpha 60g she uses in warmer weather and a multitude of down/synthetic jackets for when she stops or for colder temps.

I can’t find much around that fits the bill.

Wind resistance, insulated, Breathable, hood and handwarmer pockets.

I’ve got a marmot alpha 60 which would be too light and a montane alpha direct that would probably be too warm as the pertex quantum seems a bit more windproof than the microlight.

Any use?
Norrona jacket

Mrs_oab lives in her Montane Hydrogen Direct – Alpha and Pertex.
I’ve a friend with a nice looking Scott version to.

Outdoor Research used to have a jacket called the Ascendant, which still crops up new on eBay occasionally. Hooded, pockets, but only 95g weight Apha. I think the old Rab Alpha Direct was 120g Alpha.

The problem with Alpha is that it’s a very loose structured fleece and with use / washing, sheds fibres like a moulting Pomeranian, so it doesn’t last long with regular/heavy use and contributes to the microplastic pollution problem.

It might be worth looking at lighter versions of Primaloft Active-type synthetics – Alpkit’s Katabatic for example, Arc’teryx Atom series stuff, Rab Xenair etc. They use wind-resistant rather than windproof fabrics for better breathability and the insulation supposedly helpd with vapour transfer too. Not as outright good at handling moisture as Alpha, but not bad at low to moderate intensity stuff. For active stuff, another option is Rab’s VapourRise and similar kit.

I like Alpha, but I don’t like the way it wears.

Mountain Equipment Switch? I live in the gilet (Polartec Alpha) for about 6 months of the year, but I’ve also got the Switch Pro jacket which is incredibly warm, but well vented when active.

Alpkit Jura?  It’s their version of a Buffalo or Montane Extreme but with a lighter pile fleece lining.  I bought one for my wife at Christmas and she absolutely loves it.  Easy to vent too.

I mainly came here out of curiosity, but I wonder would one of those hybrid insulated jackets do the same job?

I have a Madison one for winter biking and it’s really good for keeping warm but still being breathable.

I mainly came here out of curiosity, but I wonder would one of those hybrid insulated jackets do the same job?

I have a Madison one for winter biking and it’s really good for keeping warm but still being breathable.

Varies a lot depending on the outer fabric, eg Arteryx do three almost identical jackets: Nuclei FL, Atom and Proton, but the breathability / windproofing varies massively between them: Nuclei being a super light belay jacket (doesn’t breath, 100% windproof) and Proton being the other extreme. Having tried all three, I ended up with the Nuclei as it just works better for me, only put it on when I’ve finished slogging up a hill and want to keep the wind off. Do the slogging up bit in a T-shirt…

I like Alpha, but I don’t like the way it wears.

Interesting.

We’re 8 weeks in to a warranty return with Mountain Equipment for an Alpha fleece I bought mrs_oab for her birthday in January. She only wore it for 3 weeks before the collar just developed a huge bald area…

Yet she wears her Montane Hydrogen most weeks, including work, and has done for two years…

Montane Prism. Love mine really great for when you’re active easy to vent and has big pockets for warming hands.

Cheers all, will have a look at these suggestions.

She always carries a montane prism which she wears over the alpha when stopping or getting a bit chilly in spring/Autumn and a rab photon for the same purposes in winter.

The hydrogen direct would probably be perfect if it came with a microlight outer rather than quantum. The arc’teryx stuff is a bit too spendy I’d imagine.

The arc’teryx stuff is a bit too spendy I’d imagine.

They have an outlet section on their site that sometimes comes up trumps, but also regularly clear out end-of-season stuff on Sport Pursuit at around half price. But yeah, at full price it’s at the expensive end of the scale.

The arc’teryx stuff is a bit too spendy I’d imagine.

Yep, genuinely premium product, but also premium price.

However, I buy most stuff in Sales or from https://www.sportpursuit.com/, which often has Arteryx stuff half price.

Think my Nuclei FL was half price in Ellis Brigham IIRC….

I love Polartec Alpha and also pretty much live in a Montane Hydrogen, wear wise it’s fine at ~3years old, I also have a Montane Extreme but that’s too hot.

Buffalo have a lighter Hydrogen equivalent but I can’t remember what it’s called.

my wife has a 10 year old Rab vapour rise, which che wears year round, with various warmth base layers. loves it.

my wife has a 10 year old Rab vapour rise

My most worn jacket when out on the hills.

I bought a new one from Needle Sports last time I was in the Lakes as my original one is getting very thing after being washed so many times and was letting in a bit too much wind.

just a quick heads up for anyone on a budget.
i bought one of these a month ago.
i ride everyday regardless of the weather, and this with a base layer has been awesome.
wore it walking round amsterdam for 3 days in continuous rain…….perfect.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/men-s-windproof-jacket-softshell-merino-warm-mt900/_/R-p-302018?mc=8551789&utm_term=8551789-2774551&&iv_=__iv_p_1_g_68677112531_c_316426164695_w_aud-909640337251:pla-382545755223_n_g_d_c_v__l__t__r_x_pla_y_15177021_f_online_o_8551789-2774551_z_GB_i_en_j_382545755223_s__e__h_9046322_ii__vi__&gclid=CjwKCAjw0N6hBhAUEiwAXab-TV-jITkJFtGyZEMloDwugQdSqWaIxCNVOlDOkkyBHosadiztlG6LjRoCCQ4QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

i bought one of these a month ago.

Looks like a VapourRise clone!

That looks like what I want ton. Thanks for the tip..

Looks like a VapourRise clone!

it does, and so far has been spot on.