When hiking in snow, you need to be mindful of your layering. If you layer too much, you get too hot on the climbs. Layer too lightly, and you face getting cold during your breaks.

Down jackets provide too much insulation when moving and are way too hot on trains or in heated mountain huts, etc. With active insulation gear, you don’t need to worry about taking layers on and off because of its high insulation and breathability. However, until now, we haven’t seen a jacket that could cope with the fierce winds and blizzards of winter hiking.

Our new All-weather Alpha Jacket, combines Polartec Alpha Direct, which excels in breathability and insulation, with Pertex Shield Air, known for its outstanding breathability, waterproofing, and lightweight properties. This jacket is comfortable both while on the move or when resting indoors, and can withstand winter storms and blizzards. A true all-weather active insulation layer made for winter.

Wearing this, you won’t have to worry about layering during your winter hikes anymore.

– Outer shell, Pertex Shield Air that can withstand blizzards and snow.
– High-insulating Polartec Alpha Direct lining (136g/m²).
– Comfortable during activity and indoors compared to down jackets.
– Helmet-compatible hood.
– High water repellency (C6 DWR).
– Quickly ventilate with pit zips.
– Breathable and insulating all in a single jacket.

Active insulation has been revolutionary for its high breathability. However, separate layering with an additional outer shell has been the norm to keep wind and water out.

The All-weather Alpha Jacket is a groundbreaking piece of equipment that combines active insulation and an outer shell in one. It features the exceptionally breathable and waterproof Pertex Shield Air with a Polartec Alpha Direct lining, known for its high insulation and breathability. This combination ensures warmth, prevents overheating, protects against high winds, and keeps you dry in deep snow.

In severe winter conditions, the comfort this jacket brings allows you to focus on your activities without the need for intricate layering.

*Note: Since the jacket is not seam sealed, water will seep through in rainy conditions.

To ensure high insulation and breathability without hindering the functionality of the Polartec Alpha Direct lining, we used Pertex Shield Air, a breathable waterproof fabric with a nanofiber structure for the outer shell. Compared to layering an active insulation with traditional winter hard shells, this combination brings overwhelming comfort to the user with its high breathability.

Compared to down jackets designed for harsh winter conditions, the insulation of this jacket may not be as high, but with the effects of the outer fabric blocking wind allows you to feel warm beyond the numerical value. Add a mid-layer like our Alpha Vest for extra warmth.

Typical outer shells made of breathable waterproof materials lack ventilation, posing a problem when worn during sleep as body heat has difficulty transmitting to the sleeping bag. However, Pertex Shield Air, with its breathability, transfers heat effectively. Being able to wear your main shell to bed allows for a simpler and lighter gear setup.

The large hood, designed to accommodate a helmet, can cover the face up to the mouth when the front zipper is pulled up. Whether the helmet is worn or not, the fit around the face and head can be quickly adjusted by pulling the cords on the cheeks and back of the head. Additionally, the cords on the cheeks can be easily released by pressing the upper button.

To ensure adaptability across a wide range of temperatures while wearing, large pit zips have been incorporated under the arms to enhance ventilation. The zipper pulls are designed with different shapes for the upper and lower ends, making them easy to distinguish even when wearing thick gloves.

In the two large mesh inner pockets on the left and right sides, you can store items you want to quickly access, such as gloves or batteries or your phone.

We designed the pattern for maximum comfort. The hood and arms will not interefere during movement, so you can stay focused on your hiking.w

The cuffs are made of durable 100 denier Pertex Shield, featuring a lining that is fast-drying and resistant to water absorption. We went through multiple prototypes to ensure the cuffs and Velcro adjusters are user-friendly. Seal the cuffs with an inner glove on and layer over shell gloves to shut out the snow.

The Pertex Shield Air is a novel fabric developed by Pertex to further improve water pressure resistance, washing resistance, and overall quality from existing nanofiber membranes.

Nanofiber membranes are net-like structures made of extremely fine polyurethane (PU) fibers that are water repellent (hydrophobic). They have a sponge-like structure with many micropores, allowing the air and moisture to pass through. This air-permeability creates exceptional comfort within the clothes.

The Pertex Shield Air is much lighter than conventional nanofiber fabrics, with a weight of 50g/㎡ to 60g/㎡. For breathability and durability, our proprietary version of Shield Air has 15 denier nylon fabric (40 denier ripstop) as the outer layer and 7 denier nylon as the inner layer. This combination makes it much lighter and more breathable than other nanofiber-based, waterproof moisture-permeable fabrics.

Pertex Shield Air

Conventional natural down and synthetic insulators tend to contain body moisture within the clothes and as a result, can be quite stuffy. Polartec Alpha Direct, on the other hand, is so air-permeable that it can be worn even during a high level of physical activity.

Additionally, the material itself is treated with Polygiene, which safely inhibits the growth of microorganisms and bacteria by incorporating low concentrations of silver ions. As a result, it possesses antimicrobial and odor-resistant capabilities that far exceed the lifespan of regular clothing.

• There may be slight variations between actual measurements and the dimensions stated due to factors such as fabric stretch, sewing discrepancies, and other manufacturing tolerances.
• Due to wearing and washing, fabric shrinkage may occur, leading to changes in dimensions over time.

The durability of water repellency is said to increase with thicker fabric, allowing for more penetration of water repellent agents. However, the Pertex Shield Air UL All-weather series, chosen for the outer shell, prioritizes lightweight and breathability. To achieve this, a thin and highly breathable outer fabric is adopted. As a result, while the water repellency is sufficient at the time of shipment, the sustainability of water repellency is lower compared to thicker materials.

While the water repellent is effective, moisture on the fabric surface turns into water droplets and falls off. As it weakens, it may cover the fabric surface like a water film, compromising breathability and leading to potential issues such as condensation build up inside the jacket.

If you feel a decrease in water repellency, you can revive it by applying heat, such as using a dryer after washing. If the water repellency doesn’t recover, consider using commercially available water repellent agents for maintenance.

• This product adopts an extremely thin waterproof and breathable fabric for the outer shell. Please be cautious about potential damages, tears, or abrasions from rocks or snagging on trees.
• To maximize the waterproof and breathable performance, care is necessary after wearing. Performance may be compromised by the accumulation of dirt, sweat, oils, etc. Wash the product regularly following the care instructions.
• If the water repellency is compromised, the breathability may also be lost. If you notice a decrease in water repellency, revive it by applying heat, such as using a hair dryer after washing. However, repeated washing can lead to the loss of initial water repellent agents, and even with added heat, the water repellency may not fully recover. In such cases, use commercially available water repellent agents for regular maintenance.
• Due to the lightweight and thin porous nature of the fabric, products containing substances such as petroleum jelly, insect repellents, or ethanol (hair cream, cosmetics, sunscreen, insect repellent, etc.) may cause stains or reduce breathability if they come into contact with the fabric. For removal methods, please refer to the our Journal; #2 – Removing stains from rainwear.

Water trapped between the outer and lining fabric can be difficult to drain. Using a washing machine may cause the membrane to delaminate. To keep the product in good condition, always wash and rinse by hand. If you wish to drain the water using a washing machine, put on a short spin cycle of 1 minute or less with the product turned inside out.

• Washing machines should be used for spin drying only, and washing should be done by hand.
• Wash by hand with a moderate amount of mild detergent in lukewarm water at a water temperature of around 30°C (86°F).
• Do not use fabric softener or bleach.
• Use a sponge soaked in warm water with detergent when stains are noticeable.
• Rinse thoroughly to avoid residual detergent, which may cause discoloration and damage the water repellency.
• When using a washing machine to spin, turn the jacket inside out and spin for 1 minute or less.
• Do not use a dryer as it will accelerate the deterioration of the adhesive.
• Hang dry in the shade.
• Periodically apply heat with a hair dryer to restore the water repellency of the outer fabric.
• Do not dry clean.
• Products containing Vaseline, insect repellent ingredients, or ethanol (hair cream, cosmetics, sunscreen, insect repellent, etc.) may stain the outer fabric and reduce its moisture permeability.