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The Montbell Down Balaclava is insulated with 800 fill energy down and can be utilized to reinforce 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 manage the scale of the face opening, and three snaps that shut over the face and neck. In contrast to a fleece balaclava, it extends effectively 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
- Building: Sewn-through
- Cloth: 10-denier rip-stop nylon
There are two fundamental methods to make use of the Montbell Down Balaclava. The primary is to reinforce a hoodless jacket and the second is to reinforce your sleep insulation system, reminiscent of a sleeping bag or backpacking quilt. Each of these eventualities are facilitated by the balaclava’s neck which covers your entire 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 could actually additionally act like a draft collar when you’ve got a quilt that doesn’t have one to stop warmth loss round your neck.
I choose sporting 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 may 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 take advantage of. There’s lots of blood flowing close to the pores and skin of your neck and holding it well-insulated is likely one of the keys to staying heat. I typically carry an insulated Polar Buff for simply this objective.
The Montbell Down Balaclava can be effectively suited 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 supplies. I’ve a small head, so this is a matter that I’m aware of. However do you actually need a down hood when sleeping with a quilt? Firms like Enlightened Tools and Therm-a-Relaxation base the temperature scores they assign their quilts on that assumption (see Backpacking Quilt Temperature Scores). In addition they assume that you simply’ll be sporting lengthy underwear and sleeping on a pad that has an R-value of a minimum of 5. So for those who’ve been chilly in a quilt, which 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 brand 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 that you could lock in place with a wire lock. It controls the scale of the hood’s crown, simply above the ears, so you possibly can stop 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 scale of the opening and the way a lot cheek protection you need.
Comparable Insulated Hoods
Advice
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 appropriate with all head sizes and hairdos. Whereas it may be used to reinforce a hoodless jacket, it does really feel a bit of awkward to put on for those who’re energetic and mountain climbing arduous. I choose sporting 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 way in which that the lengthy, wraparound neck and higher chest insulation complement the quilts and hoodless sleeping luggage I personal. For those who’re pulling collectively an ultralight, quilt-based sleep system, I can strongly suggest utilizing the Montbell Down Balaclava for that objective. It’s additionally moderately priced, well-constructed, and available.
Disclosure: Montbell donateda pattern garment for this evaluate
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