Backside Line
The Enlightened Gear Copperfield is an ultralight layer designed for minimalist hikers who worth weight financial savings above all else. At a mere 2.3 ounces, it’s one of many lightest windbreakers obtainable, making it good for thru-hikers, path runners, and fastpackers. Its 10-denier nylon material gives some degree of wind resistance however doesn’t maintain up within the highest winds like a heavier jacket. The Copperfield packs down extremely small, becoming simply into the palm of your hand or a hip belt pocket, so it’s all the time inside attain. Good for die-hard ultralight hikers, the Copperfield makes our checklist of finest windbreakers.
The Copperfield excels in minimalism, however its ultralight building comes with trade-offs. The material is skinny and fewer sturdy than different windbreakers, making it extra prone to abrasions and tears in rugged terrain. It additionally forgoes options like hand pockets, adjustable cuffs, or a helmet-compatible hood, limiting its versatility for some customers. Moreover, the Copperfield gives good wind resistance for its weight, but it surely doesn’t carry out as nicely in sustained excessive winds or chilly situations as heavier choices.
When you prioritize a featherweight design and don’t thoughts sacrificing sturdiness and options for packability and ease, the Enlightened Gear Copperfield is a implausible selection for ultralight adventurers seeking to shave each ounce. Although it might be too technical for many, the Copperfield will discover a residence with the dedicated ultralight hiker.
How We Examined
Over two months, we wore the Copperfield jacket on hikes and runs in addition to backcountry and cross-country ski journeys to discipline take a look at its efficiency in a number of situations. Our assessments consisted of real-world publicity to the wind and components. We additionally used a blow drier to check wind resistance and likewise accomplished a one-hour run whereas deliberately overdressed to check its breathability and moisture administration.
Fast Specs
Enlightened Gear Copperfield Wind Shirt
Ultralight Windbreaker for Die Arduous Gram Counters
CleverHiker Ranking:
4.1/5.0
Value:
$120
Weight:
2.3 oz
Professionals
- Packable
- Extraordinarily light-weight
- Cinches in hood and waist
- Breathable
Wind & Climate Resistance
The Enlightened Gear Copperfield is marketed as a wind shirt. Though it has the complete zip and hood of a jacket, it resists wind and climate like a shirt. The ten-denier material is among the many thinnest we examined. Feather mild, it doesn’t block wind in addition to we want above treeline or on gusty days. Testing its wind resistance with a blow dryer, we detected the slightest little bit of wind penetration by way of the fabric. Being ultrathin, it wets by way of immediately. When you’re somebody in search of a light-weight jacket over a bombproof one, then the Copperfield is the proper selection.
Breathability
Denier is the measurement of the thickness of the fabric utilized in a jacket. With a 10-denier face material, the Copperfield is the thinnest jacket in our lineup. This skinny materials lends itself to being breathable however not in addition to we had hoped. When testing this jacket whereas deliberately overdressed to check its breathability, we had been shocked to search out beading perspiration contained in the jacket. That moisture took longer to cross by way of the fabric and evaporate than others we examined. Regardless that it’s vastly extra breathable than a hardshell, the Copperfield can really feel clammy at excessive exertion ranges.
Weight & Packability
The Copperfield is the lightest jacket in our lineup at a mind-blowing 2.3 ounces. This amazingly light-weight jacket is so mild that it’s hardly noticeable – whether or not within the pack or on the physique. We cherished with the ability to pack this away and neglect about it till we wanted it. It simply smashes into the palm of your hand, all the way down to the dimensions of a tangerine. Nevertheless, with out a stuff pocket, it shortly springs again and expands in quantity. We discovered ourselves wishing for a stuff pocket, regardless of the minor weight penalty, to make this jacket extra manageable.
Consolation & Match
The Copperfield is without doubt one of the largest becoming jackets we examined. Marketed as deliberately a half-size massive to permit for layering, it felt extra much like a full-size massive. We propose sizing down if selecting to put on this jacket with out layers beneath. It runs lengthy within the torso and dishevelled by way of the arms and physique. We had been grateful for the elastic hem cinch to tighten up the additional materials.
Ought to You Purchase the Enlightened Gear Copperfield?
When you’re a die-hard gram counter after the lightest jacket, then the Copperfield is the one for you. At a paltry 2.3 ounces, it’s laborious to get a lot lighter. That is the jacket to decide on for a thru-hike or ultra-distance run the place each gram counts. Nevertheless, it might be too technical for many different makes use of, and its trash bag look received’t work for some folks, both. Additionally, this materials doesn’t block excessive winds or moisture as a lot as we hoped. That being mentioned, it earns a spot in our lineup for the dedicated ultralight fans who demand nothing however the lightest of their package.
What Different Windbreaker Ought to You Think about?
Head to our gear information, to see the complete lineup of finest windbreakers.
Montbell Tachyon Evaluate: One other ultralight jacket, the Tachyon gives extra options like zipped hand pockets and an inner stuff pocket.
Patagonia Airshed Professional Evaluate: A particularly breathable jacket extra akin to a shirt, the Airshed Professional is barely heavier than the Copperfield however with extra breathability within the arms and hood.
Patagonia Houdini Evaluate: If the ultra-thin and glossy materials of the Copperfield isn’t your model, the Houdini is trim and easy with many colorways to suit totally different tastes.
