Facts & Figures:
Weight: 380g
Fabrics: Helium 30 outer fabric, PrimaLoft GOLD insulation [60g with 40g arms and side panels]
Weight: 380g
Fabrics: Helium 30 outer fabric, PrimaLoft GOLD insulation [60g with 40g arms and side panels]
Features: Dual hand warmer and one chest pocket, two-way YKK zip, adjustable hood.
Durability: Pretty reasonable, no visible wear over three years of decent use.
Acquired: May 2015
I was looking for a lightweight shoulder-season insulated jacket with a hood for hiking and camping when I picked up the Compressor, since then it's been with me to Poland, Lithuania, Wales, Scotland and all over England, and is probably one of my most used bits of kit.
Fit
The Fit of my Size L is "regular", with plenty of space for layering up underneath. The hem drawcords allow the bottom to be cinched up well, and there's plenty of movement in the arms. The hood is a little loose; the adjustment is velcro based and only adjusts the rear volume, but overall it's adequate.
First Impressions
I've traditionally shied away from down clothing as the UK can be so wet for most of the year. I've normally relied on fleeces and softshells but in the quest for lowering base weight decided to give a syntheitc puffy a go, and I'm happy to say I was very quickly converted!
In Use
The compressor has become my go to jacket for anything where I might get chilly (from belays to snack breaks on hikes to warming up after wild swimming or just sitting around camp in the evenings).
As soon as you put it on you get a hit of warmth, the outer fabric is pretty good (though not 100%) at blocking wind, and the 60gm of Primaloft Gold in the body works very efficiently, especially when making use of the hood and handwarmer pockets at the same time. I love the fact that it warms you up quickly, so its perfect for snack stops etc. but it is generally too warm and not breathable enough to walk in outside of the depths of winter.
The outer is not very weather resistant at all, but when it does gets wet it dries pretty damn quickly (unless it gets literally submerged, then it takes a while) but retains most of its insulation value the whole time.
It compresses down to a pretty small bundle, and is very easy to chuck in your pack and forget its there until you need it.
Conclusions
The low weight, easy pack-ability and instant warmth make this one of my favourite and most relied on bits of outdoor kit. It's kept me comfy from cool spring evenings through to hiking in the snow. It's not enough on it's own to sit around for a whole evening in camp during winter, but when paired with supplementary insulation (vests, fleece etc.) when necessary then I'd say in the UK, for the majority of the year, its pretty much perfect.
The Compressor is no longer being produced, but at the time of writing there are still plenty of online retailers with it in stock for £70-£100.
TL, DR:
Pros:
- Light weight (though not ultralight)
- Very affordable
- Still warm even when soaked through
- Packs down nice and small
Cons:
- Not great weather resistance
- Not suitable for long periods of sitting around in the snow
Recommended Kit?
Definitely, and worth snapping up if you can find it. Although as it is out of circulation now, alternatives by RAB might be the way forward as ME don't carry an equivalent lightweight synthetic with a hood in their current run.
Durability: Pretty reasonable, no visible wear over three years of decent use.
Acquired: May 2015
I was looking for a lightweight shoulder-season insulated jacket with a hood for hiking and camping when I picked up the Compressor, since then it's been with me to Poland, Lithuania, Wales, Scotland and all over England, and is probably one of my most used bits of kit.
Fit
The Fit of my Size L is "regular", with plenty of space for layering up underneath. The hem drawcords allow the bottom to be cinched up well, and there's plenty of movement in the arms. The hood is a little loose; the adjustment is velcro based and only adjusts the rear volume, but overall it's adequate.
First Impressions
I've traditionally shied away from down clothing as the UK can be so wet for most of the year. I've normally relied on fleeces and softshells but in the quest for lowering base weight decided to give a syntheitc puffy a go, and I'm happy to say I was very quickly converted!
In Use
The compressor has become my go to jacket for anything where I might get chilly (from belays to snack breaks on hikes to warming up after wild swimming or just sitting around camp in the evenings).
As soon as you put it on you get a hit of warmth, the outer fabric is pretty good (though not 100%) at blocking wind, and the 60gm of Primaloft Gold in the body works very efficiently, especially when making use of the hood and handwarmer pockets at the same time. I love the fact that it warms you up quickly, so its perfect for snack stops etc. but it is generally too warm and not breathable enough to walk in outside of the depths of winter.
 |
| The Sugarloaf summit, Abergavenny, Feb 2018 |
The outer is not very weather resistant at all, but when it does gets wet it dries pretty damn quickly (unless it gets literally submerged, then it takes a while) but retains most of its insulation value the whole time.
It compresses down to a pretty small bundle, and is very easy to chuck in your pack and forget its there until you need it.
Conclusions
The low weight, easy pack-ability and instant warmth make this one of my favourite and most relied on bits of outdoor kit. It's kept me comfy from cool spring evenings through to hiking in the snow. It's not enough on it's own to sit around for a whole evening in camp during winter, but when paired with supplementary insulation (vests, fleece etc.) when necessary then I'd say in the UK, for the majority of the year, its pretty much perfect.
TL, DR:
Pros:
- Light weight (though not ultralight)
- Very affordable
- Still warm even when soaked through
- Packs down nice and small
Cons:
- Not great weather resistance
- Not suitable for long periods of sitting around in the snow
Recommended Kit?
Definitely, and worth snapping up if you can find it. Although as it is out of circulation now, alternatives by RAB might be the way forward as ME don't carry an equivalent lightweight synthetic with a hood in their current run.
 |
| Jofre Lakes, Canada, 2017 |
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