Gear Closet: Nunatak’s JMT Jacket
After another full winter backpacking here in the wet Smoky Mountains, I decided it was time to switch gears and buy a synthetic coat for trips with more precipitation in the forecast. After looking at a grip of coats on the market, reading reviews and doing research about various kinds of synthetic insulation I landed on the JMT Jacket. At this point, I was still coming to grips that sometimes my awesome down layers aren’t the best choice for some trips, mostly because I have been using them for 20 years of backpacking. The problem is no matter how well I shielded them from the elements (bomber rain coats, windshirts) they would still get a little wet regardless, not into the down itself but into the exterior fabric. Which honestly, isn’t such a big deal because I would just put them into my sleeping bag at night and they would dry out. The real problem is that in bigger storms, I was hesitant to take them out at all (especially in the mornings, when I couldn’t dry them out) for fear that I would eventually would destroy my custom made coats and that would be that. It occurred to me that my winter trips in the PNW were usually in the higher elevations, therefore were snow and easier to keep the penetrating precipitation at bay with a good raincoat. But here in the Smokies, it is mostly rain because the more modest size of the Range. So, it was time to get busy on my search for a JMT. Luckily, I put up a listing up on Backpacking Light’s Used Gear Forum (the BEST way to buy quality cottage UL gear) looking to buy one and I got a crazy good deal, so I was sold.
Nice loft, especially for a synthetic layer!
At first glance of the Jacket, I liked the color of it, weight and puff of the Apex Climashield insulation (55% of the Jacket’s weight is the Apex!). When I put it on, I quickly notice how it started heating up right off the bat, almost quicker than my down layers. Upon closer inspection, I liked how the 10D fabric on the outside of the Jacket had very little seams, lean cut for my skinny frame and long sleeves without a lot of bulk in them. The only things I didn’t like at first was how it was shorter in the front than the back and that the shockcord around the waist is not adjustable and it is a little tight. I proceeded to layer up underneath it with a fleece first, then switching to vest down vest and eventually my down jacket to see if it could fit and they did! Next, I wanted to layer over it with a windshirt and my rain jacket, success. I took the JMT out for a 70 mile trek recently, it did swimmingly in the cold, 25 degree mornings on the trail. The Apex filling heats up extraordinarily fast when moving and the 10D. exterior fabric cuts the wind splendidly. These guys have thought out any possible change you could hope for with it, manufacturing wise. From a few color to exterior fabric options, longer sleeve or jacket lengths (thanks Ya’ll) or hood or hoodless versions with pockets option . If you are going to order a custom Jacket from them, make sure you get all your measurements done beforehand to make the ordering easier because there is a lot of decisions in that process. Feel free to call over to the fabulous customer service folks at Nunatak if you have any questions, I’m sure they have the answers you seek. Remember, it can take up to 6 weeks to get your Jacket so leave plenty of time for them to make you this quality product for you.