Climbing is one of the most popular and of course the most difficult sports in the world. Using suitable and reliable clothing is one of the most important tips for success in climbing. Perhaps getting to know the types of mountaineering jackets can be a big step in choosing the right mountaineering clothing for climbers.
The reason for the importance of a mountaineering jacket
Choosing a jacket among the types of mountaineering jackets is considered very important. At high altitudes, you don’t know what will happen due to the unpredictability of the conditions, so it is better to be equipped and ready to step into the field and as a result, choose the best climbing jacket among its varieties.
Points to follow when wearing a jacket
Having a checklist of the features of a suitable jacket cannot be a wrong and far-fetched thing. Think that you are standing on the top of several thousand-meter peaks and you are vulnerable because you don’t have a suitable jacket; So be sure to pay attention to the checklist we prepared here about the types of mountaineering jackets.
Choose the right size
This is very important in several ways. The jacket should not be too wide and big, nor too tight or small, because in both cases, either the jacket will not be good insulation for you, or it will take away your freedom of movement and action. Wear a mountaineering jacket with utmost care.
Appropriate height and size
Professional mountaineering jackets are always the right length. Types of mountaineering jackets should not be too long or too short.
The location of jacket pockets
Maybe this point is not visible, but the best mountaineering jackets always have pockets in convenient and practical positions, and for example, there is no pocket in a part of the jacket that cannot be reached under any circumstances. This item is very carefully observed in all types of professional mountaineering jackets.
big hat
As a climber, you must know that having a helmet is important for climbers. Since we have to use safety equipment such as a helmet in difficult conditions and it may rain or snow at the same time, it becomes necessary to use a hat and a jacket; So the hood of the jacket should be big enough to cover even the helmet.
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Waterproof and windproof
The shared experience of rainy or snowy weather with heavy winds that all mountaineers are familiar with. In this case, you should not only use a double-layer jacket that is resistant to water and wind, but other covering materials should also be waterproof.
breathability
The suitable material of all kinds of mountaineering jackets will help you with its breathability. It is very important and necessary to be able to save you from heavy rains and even extreme heat in any situation by making the airflow between your body and the outside space.
Types of mountaineering jackets in terms of insulation
One of the categories of mountaineering jackets is their insulation type.
Light insulation
This type of mountaineering jacket has a middle layer with proper breathability. Jackets with light insulation cover the body in the best way. In the best case, you can wear this model of a jacket over a thin dress or a dress made of wool. Light jackets are soft and have excellent insulation and are suitable for those climbers who climb in freezing and windy weather conditions; Because they are made of breathable fabrics with high elasticity to prevent body heat.
Simple and ordinary insulation
This model of mountaineering jacket is a soft and warm jacket with a normal layer. while other jackets warm the body with light and soft insulation; But when they get wet, they are unusable and you can only use them in dry weather; But jackets with normal and simple insulation can be used even when completely wet and are used like very expensive jackets. Usually, a jacket with normal insulation is a more suitable choice for the first choice for jacket. When the weather is rainy and unpleasant, having a jacket with normal insulation is very convenient. This type of mountaineering jacket is very light, it compresses and folds well to fit in a backpack, and it is also waterproof.
The resistant and hard layer
A climbing jacket is an undeniable part of every climber’s climbing equipment. This type of mountaineering jacket has a waterproof and windproof outer layer that covers you to stay dry in harsh weather such as rainy weather with the wind blowing in the desert and mountains. These jackets are made of a very durable and breathable hard layer. Most of these jacket models have waterproof fabric, and after that waterproof layer, they also have a windproof coating, which causes the water to dry from the surface of the jacket as quickly as possible. Also, this layer makes the jacket waterproof. This type of jacket should be kept clean at all times, because dirt and dust will destroy the DWR coating, so after each use, wash it regularly with special detergents to maintain the jacket’s waterproofness. to be
Goretex climbing jacket
Good quality along with features such as waterproof and windproof is all that climbers want. In today’s world, many fabrics have these characteristics and features, but Goretex fabric has a general and special reputation among manufacturers and professional mountaineers. There are three categories in the field of gore tex fabric with the names Goretex, Goretex Pro, and Goretex Active.
Goretex
A versatile fabric that can be used in any situation. This fabric is suitable for the production of womens and mens hiking and mountaineering jackets. The heaviness and less breathability of this fabric can be the only weak point of this model.
Goretex Pro
The most advanced Goretex fabric has all the features of the above model along with breathability and lightness. Also, this fabric is not suitable for all kinds of mountaineering jackets, it is also suitable for hiking jackets and other aerobic sports.
Goretex Active
The Gore-Tex Active model fabric is very soft and light, and it also has excellent breathability; But still, it doesn’t match the other two models, Gore-Tex and Gore-Tex Pro, against wind and rain, and other elements. Gore-Tex Active fabric is designed and produced for all types of mountaineering jackets and other activities such as many aerobic sports such as running, cycling, hiking, and cross-country skiing.
Full jackets
The use of bird feathers and their use in human appliances has been common and of course popular for centuries. Among professional climbers, the best brands of down jackets are very popular because the down creates high breathability between your body and the outside space by creating small holes in the depth of each layer. One of the most popular types of this model is the down jacket.
The difference between a down jacket or a climbing jacket with synthetic fibers
As you know, natural feathers are much warmer than synthetic fibers, and that’s why feathered climbing jackets are more popular than jackets with synthetic fibers.
weak points
Maybe having some serious weaknesses can make even professional climbers regret or dissuade them from buying this model among all kinds of mountaineering jackets. The expensiveness of this type of fiber, the loss of its fluffy material when it gets wet due to rain, or the existence of problems such as the loss of a large amount of down due to tearing of only a small part of the jacket, are among the most important reasons for these decisions.
The best brand of mountaineering jackets
It is not possible to determine the best brand of mountaineering jacket, because every brand in the world produces several models of mountain, climbing, and rock climbing jackets, and it is possible to choose several models from each brand for different purposes. Maybe introducing a few brands can work for you.
The North Face brand
The northern front is the translation of the name of this brand from English to Farsi. The North Face brand has been supporting professional climbers all over the world for many years by producing climbing equipment. Continuity in the production of mountaineering equipment such as tents, ropes, backpacks, clothes, and of course all kinds of mountaineering jackets is something that the North Face brand has been doing for years.
Types of north face mountaineering jackets
This brand is engaged in the production of various jackets for mountaineering. Products such as the north face Goretex jacket, the north face light jacket, and the north face two-piece jacket are among the most popular models of this brand. We also have men’s and women’s North Face jackets in two categories.
The north face full jacket
All types of this model are being produced in the production lines of the North Face brand. The Retro Himalayan Jacket model is one of the most popular models in the North Face heavy jacket category. The long collar of this jacket prevents the cold from entering, and adjustable pockets and a waterproof top are the most important features of this model mountaineering jacket.
Gaya brand
An Iranian brand located in the city of Tabriz, which is engaged in the production and distribution of climbing equipment. All kinds of Kaya mountaineering jackets from this brand are very popular among domestic climbers due to their quality, which is very close to the products of world-leading brands.
Burka model from Gaya Goretex jacket
According to the detailed explanation we gave about the Goretex material, you must now know how high quality this model of Kaya mountaineering jacket can be. This model is a type of Qaya brand mountaineering jacket suitable for winter climbs and adverse weather. The numerous and many pockets of this jacket have made it popular so local manufacturers have made pockets even for GPS.
Engine brand
One of the most well-known Iranian brands in the field of mountain climbing equipment and tools, which initially produced bags and backpacks. Products such as gaiters, glasses, batons, tents, and all kinds of mountaineering jackets are under construction in the production lines of the Anise brand.
Anise Goretex jacket
One of the most popular types of mountaineering jackets of the Enise brand is the same model, the Goretex jacket. This model is single-layer and does not fall into the category of double-layer jackets. The waterproof property and proper breathability are the most prominent features of this model. Of course, this model can be a good option for climbers who are looking for a windbreaker due to its very good wind resistance.
Polar jackets for men and women
The polar cover is not only for jackets and may be used in other types of clothing as well. One of the most important features of the polar middle layer in the jacket is the ability to dry quickly, high durability, and non-absorption of moisture even body sweat. Polar fabric is very popular among the manufacturers of mountaineering clothing, especially the manufacturers of all kinds of mountaineering jackets, and for this reason, many brands have started producing jackets using this type of covering.
Types of double-layer mountaineering jackets
Types of double-layer mountaineering jackets are very efficient due to having a separate waterproof layer and a multi-part layer that does not absorb moisture and breathability. Snow Hawk’s two-piece jacket, Salamon’s two-piece jacket, and Jack Wolfskin’s two-piece jacket are among the most important jackets with a reliable brand in the two-piece category.
The reason for the importance of choosing a climbing jacket
Suppose you are choosing a jacket among various types of mountaineering jackets and you don’t know which model is suitable. Considering that the jacket is placed in the category of outdoor products, you should decide according to the conditions of the region where you want to climb; It’s as if you want to decide on a simple outing, which naturally, according to habit, first pulls the curtain aside and analyzes the air outside, and then decides what to wear.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many types of hiking jackets are there?
Types of mountaineering jackets are divided into many categories. The type of insulation, multi-layered clothing, or even the type of fibers used in the inside of the jacket has diversified these categories.
What are the well-known brands of climbing jackets?
Iranian and foreign brands are very active in producing all kinds of mountaineering jackets. Ghaya and Aniseh as two Iranian brands are being produced alongside foreign brands such as North Face, Kechua, Snowhawk, and several other reputable brands.