The Montbell Down Balaclava is insulated with 800 fill energy down and can be utilized to enhance an insulated jacket or as part of a backpacking quilt sleep system. Weighing 3.1 oz (87 grams) it’s a extremely adjustable piece of headgear with two rear quantity adjusters, two elastic cords to regulate the dimensions of the face opening, and three snaps that shut over the face and neck. Not like a fleece balaclava, it extends nicely beneath the neck to cowl your higher chest and neck, offering seamless integration with hoodless jackets and quilt draft collars.
Specs at a Look
- Weight 3.1 oz (87 g)
- Fill weight: 1.1 oz (30 g)
- Insulation: 800 fill energy down
- Development: Sewn-through
- Cloth: 10-denier rip-stop nylon
There are two primary methods to make use of the Montbell Down Balaclava. The primary is to enhance a hoodless jacket and the second is to enhance your sleep insulation system, corresponding to a sleeping bag or backpacking quilt. Each of these situations are facilitated by the balaclava’s neck which covers the complete neck in addition to the highest of your shoulders and chest. This ensures a decent seal between the neck of a jacket or the draft collar of an ultralight backpacking quilt. It might additionally act like a draft collar when you’ve got a quilt that doesn’t have one to forestall warmth loss round your neck.
I want carrying a hoodless insulated jacket in three-season climate as a result of it layers higher with a light-weight rain jacket than a hooded insulated jacket. There are occasions although once I do want I had extra head heat and a garment just like the Montbell Down Balaclava might serve that perform. I additionally like the additional down within the neck space and higher shoulder areas as a result of it’s even higher insulated than among the hooded down jackets I exploit. There’s a whole lot of blood flowing close to the pores and skin of your neck and retaining it well-insulated is without doubt one of the keys to staying heat. I usually carry an insulated Polar Buff for simply this function.
The Montbell Down Balaclava can also be nicely fitted to sleeping insulation with a down quilt as a result of it’s so adjustable, with a number of methods to regulate the inside quantity and protection it gives. I’ve a small head, so this is a matter that I’m conscious about. However do you actually need a down hood when sleeping with a quilt? Firms like Enlightened Gear and Therm-a-Relaxation base the temperature scores they assign their quilts on that assumption (see Backpacking Quilt Temperature Rankings). In addition they assume that you just’ll be carrying lengthy underwear and sleeping on a pad that has an R-value of no less than 5. So when you’ve been chilly in a quilt, that will clarify why.
There are two methods to regulate the inside quantity of the balaclava, each on its rear. The primary is a velcro tab that controls the place of the panel over your brow with the Montbell emblem stenciled on it. You may elevate or decrease it relying on how a lot visibility or brow insulation you need. There’s additionally an elastic wire which you can lock in place with a wire lock. It controls the dimensions of the hood’s crown, simply above the ears, so you may forestall drafts from blowing into the hood’s sides. There are additionally two elastic cords on both aspect of the face opening. These allow you to management the dimensions of the opening and the way a lot cheek protection you need.
Comparable Insulated Hoods
Suggestion
The Montbell Down Balaclava is a extremely adjustable down hood that can be utilized with a hoodless jacket or a backpacking quilt. It’s amazingly heat and suitable with all head sizes and hairdos. Whereas it may be used to enhance a hoodless jacket, it does really feel just a little awkward to put on when you’re lively and mountain climbing arduous. I want carrying a down hat or fleece balaclava in these circumstance. However my favourite means to make use of the Montbell Down Balaclava is with a backpacking quilt as a result of it boosts my heat and received’t come off at night time if I trash round. I particularly like the best way that the lengthy, wraparound neck and higher chest insulation complement the quilts and hoodless sleeping baggage I personal. In case you’re pulling collectively an ultralight, quilt-based sleep system, I can strongly advocate utilizing the Montbell Down Balaclava for that function. It’s additionally moderately priced, well-constructed, and available.
Disclosure: Montbell donateda pattern garment for this evaluate
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