#UBERLAYER REVIEW SKIN#

The hand pockets on the Ascendant don’t have zippers which I’m not a big fan of. The chest pocket, on the other hand, does have a nice sturdy zipper and is just the right size: big enough for a bigish smart phone. Instead I found it quicker and easier to simply role the jacket into the hood and stash it in a pack. However, with out a zipper the pocket doesn’t seal closed and the loop seems a bit flimsy for clipping to a climbing harness. The left hand pocket can be used as a stuff sac for the jacket and has a carabiner loop. While I would have preferred a sturdy zipper to keep the pockets closed when I’m not using them it hasn’t been that big of deal. For some reason, likely weight, there are no zippers on the hand pockets. The Ascendant has three pockets: 1 chest, 2 hand pockets. The soft and fuzzy Alpha Direct Insulation feels great next to skin. I personally find that I have to bump up a size when ordering trim fitting mid layers with most brands or they’re a little snug. The sizing is predictable for a Trim fit on a mid-layer.

#UBERLAYER REVIEW SKIN#

This jacket simply feels amazing! The Alpha Direct insulation is very soft and fuzzy against the skin while the breathability gives it a natural feel. It’s also fantastic as a soft and comfortable hoody for just about any non-aerobic activity like sitting at a desk when the AC’s a little high or hanging around camp at the end of the day. Instead, I found the Ascendant great for moderate output activities: ski touring when someone else is breaking trail, moderate difficulty alpine and rock climbs in cool weather, cycling around town, etc. If that’s what you’re looking for I’d suggest you check out something lighter like the Deviator. With almost 100g/m2 of insulation the Ascendant is too warm for really high-output aerobic activities such as steep approaches to climbs with a big pack or deep trail breaking during a ski tour. Photo: Bonnie McIntyre I found the thumb loop on the cuff a little small so never really used it.

The stretch fabric doesn’t restrict movement at all. It’s warm on an alpine ridge when the wind kicks up a bit but still cool enough to keep on when the wind dies and the sun comes out. As it’s quite breathable for a wind resistant jacket the Ascendant works great at moderating temperatures in the backcountry. I found it to be a great jacket for a much wider range of activities though. Performance:Īs an “Active Insulation” layer the Ascendant is designed to be used during aerobic activities in cool environments. It’s warmer, more durable and more breathable. The Polartec Alpha Direct insulation is like polar fleece on steroids. Of course fewer layers of fabric also means that the jacket is more breathable as well. Further weight savings were realized through the use of the newish Alpha™ Direct insulation which doesn’t require an interior facing fabric. For comparison, the Uberlayer was using a slightly heavier 30d outer fabric and 98g/m 2 Polartec Alpha insulation. The Ascendant features a 20d ripstop Pertex® Quantum outer facing fabric that’s stretch woven with 95g/m 2 Polartec® Alpha™ Direct insulation. Insulation: Polartec® Alpha™ Direct (95g/m 2).Very breathable but still wind resistant and warm it’s ideal for keeping a nice even body temp. The Ascendant became my go-to jacket for ski touring this past spring. This new active insulation layer from Outdoor Research takes advantage of some newer tech to make a more breathable and lighter hoody without changing the overall warmth offered by its predecessor. Move over Uberlayer, there’s a new put-on, leave-on layer in town called the Ascendant.

Uberlayer review