When selecting new technical clothes, I ask the following questions: can I take this climbing, biking and camping? Once these deductions have been made, then I move onto style. Like anyone, I consider price, too. Finally, if applicable, I regard the environment. Example, if I like two jackets equally and one is made of recycled material and one is not, why not purchase the first one?
REI‘s Revelcloud Jacket, $139, meets all the above criteria. The shell is constructed with 100% recycled polyester (made by Pertex, called Quantum) and it’s insulated with equal parts recycled and non-recycled polyester (made by PrimaLoft). It’s durable, water repellent and blocks wind up to 50mph. It compresses down to the size of NERF football.
Over the last few days, I’ve been putting the Revelcloud to the test. I ran in the snow in sub-freezing conditions and also took on long bike ride during a 50 degree, windy day. This is not a winter coat — it’s ideal for spring and fall conditions — it’s nearly as thick as the average New Yorker magazine.
During the ride, the Revelcloud did an excellent job blocking the wind and I never got too hot. I’m an Ipod addict and found the chest pocket with built in headphones notch a nice touch.
The nylon is soft enough that it doesn’t need a fleece lining like other jackets in my closet. Polyester is more compressible than fleece. For ultra-light, overnight climbs I can only take what fits into a day pack, thus finding layers that have the ideal balance of weight, warmth and compressibility are most desired.
The Revelcloud has a streamlined, desirable look. The pockets aren’t bulky and the sleeves don’t droop over my hands like a puppy’s brow.
I have only one complaint — the accompanying stuff sack that comes with the Revelcloud doesn’t come connected to the jacket. I girth hitched the stuff sack to one of the two side pockets, but then when I stuffed the jacket into the sack it wasn’t able to cinch entirely closed. Experience has proven that I’ll likely misplace the paper-thin stuff sack if I don’t keep it connected to the jacket.
The Revelcloud is handsome while being equally functional and compressible. It is also environmentally friendly. Look for it at an REI store this spring.
