There are synthetic jackets with more insulation that weigh about the same or less. If all-out warmth is your aim, we recommend a different piece. Special Forces, but its benefits are enjoyed in nearly every form of outdoor activity. The design was first conceived for the U.S. It’s warm when you stop and stays cool when you’re on the go. This different fabric weave releases sweat vapor efficiently through the jacket but traps heat in its numerous air pockets when you’re inactive. Polartec Alpha is differentiated from traditional synthetic insulation like PrimaLoft by its low-density design. While my hiking partner was slipping their insulating layer on and off as the terrain and weather changed, I never once thought to remove it. Even when we stopped for lunch, it kept me warm enough that I didn’t need to reach for a shell-a testament to its temperature regulating properties. Our first venture out was a late season hike with conditions varying from 30 degrees and snowing to 50 and sunny.
The Uberlayer certainly made some strong first impressions. The Uberlayer is at home in a wide range of temperatures Having enjoyed Patagonia’s Nano-Air for about a year, which aims for the same goal of breathability and lightweight warmth with its FullRange insulation, we were curious to see how the original active insulation would compare. One of the most intriguing features of the Outdoor Research Uberlayer is the stuff on the inside: Polartec’s Alpha synthetic insulation. Performance Active Insulation: Polartec Alpha To see how the Uberlayer stacks up against the competition, see our comparison table and article on the best synthetic jackets. After extensive testing, below we break down the strengths and weaknesses of the Uberlayer including warmth, water and wind resistance, fit, features, and more. Highly recommended.The Outdoor Research Uberlayer shakes up the high end of the synthetic jacket market, with a relatively steep price tag but impressive breathability and a host of features designed for backcountry skiing, hiking, and climbing use. Being a Yorkshireman I put off the spend for ages, it’s not cheap but the Uberlayer is an outstanding jacket. I don’t know how it works, but it does, and amazingly well. For once, the marketing bumf from OR is totally correct - “Perfect for aerobic climbs and ski tours, this backcountry chameleon provides the warmth of a synthetic puffy one moment and the breathability and quick-dry performance of a fleece the next, all without forcing you to add, remove or adjust your layers.” The Polartec® Alpha insulation is a big step forward and really impressive, I intend to replace my aging Primaloft stuff with it. On a couple of nights when temperatures really dropped the jacket was very comfortable to sleep in too. On resting the additional layer was often frozen as it had caught the moisture escaping outwards through the Uberlayer. If temperatures dropped or the dreaded wind appeared I added an additional layer or two of Primaloft. Whatever the day, the Uberlayer jacket was always there, unnoticeable, doing the job perfectly. Even when working quite hard - 3 weeks of kit, fuel and food weighs a fair bit! After trying to move everything at once we quickly settled into a carry, cache and back carry routine. Over a merino base layer and expedition weight fleece the Uberlayer kept me warm and extremely comfortable, somehow being very insulating but at the same time, totally breathable. It may surprise you to read my very expensive and lovely expedition down jacket only came out on a couple of evenings for extended cooking / snow melting sessions. There aren’t many days I haven’t worn the jacket since, it’s warm and you don’t really ever notice you are wearing it.
Having coveted the jacket for several months in the Jagged Globe shop I finally made the purchase on returning from Nepal in October. There were a couple of surprises for me on last month's trip the Alaskan Range -40degC doesn’t seem that cold (unless there’s a wind!) and my Outdoor Research Uberlayer jacket is awesome.
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