Insulated Jackets
Product 2024
Woman, Man
We appreciated the qualities of this Kathmandu Heli R insulation jacket. Priced reasonably at 160 euros for this type of product, it nevertheless offers undeniable qualities.
Firstly, there’s the filling made from recycled materials, a synthetic insulation. This material is not sensitive to moisture, unlike natural down, such as Primaloft or Coreloft. Natural down dries very slowly and becomes heavier. This is not the case with this Kathmandu Heli R jacket. The insulating power of this jacket is good, even very good. The insulation is evenly distributed to the limits of each compartment, so there is little heat loss.
In contact with the skin, honestly, this Kathmandu Heli R jacket doesn’t give any indication that it doesn’t contain down. The whole thing is very soft and lightweight. Speaking of weight, down still has a slight advantage in terms of grams, but the jacket performs almost as well, weighing in at 300 grams in size M.
There’s nothing to complain about regarding the finishing touches, the quality of the zippers that slide super smoothly, the very effective waist tightening, the protective hood with its elastic rim… The wrist cuffs are very comfortable, allowing good visibility of hand movements (important in mountaineering, climbing…).
However, what about the resistance of the outer fabric? There’s no Pertex to limit snags and tears. So, be cautious with ski edges during portages and with bushes.
The fit is quite close to the body under the arms; consider sizing up if you have a solid physique!
The quality-to-price ratio favors this Kathmandu jacket. Warm, well-constructed, comfortable, not very sensitive to moisture, it’s a great deal that earns the Hot Deal award from Test4outside.
We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:
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