However, it’s certainly not the jacket to wear out into a heavy rainstorm. The result is the shell easily sheds light snow and rain. ![]() The outer shell is composed of a stretch woven Schoeller nylon material ( 80 gsm, 93% nylon, 7% elastane) that incorporates NanoSphere Technology to maintain water resistance. That being said, on a really windy day the hood cannot be cinched down around the face with the same snugness that a hood with drawcords would provide. The rim of the hood is lined with the same elastic as the cuffs, which allows it to easily accommodate a helmet without the need to mess around with drawcords. Side view of hood with ski helmet (below) Ski helmet with hood partially zipped (above) and fully zipped (below) ![]() I certainly won’t ding Black Diamond for this, as the hood is not designed to accommodate a ski helmet. My helmet will fit under the hood, but it’s a bit tight. In the winter, I often wore the First Light while backcountry skiing. Hood with climbing helmet front view (above) and side view (below) It’s described on the Black Diamond website as “climbing helmet compatible.” I don’t climb, but here is a photo of me wearing a borrowed climbing helmet, just to give a sense of the fit of the hood. True to its name, the First Light Hoody has a hood. It’s a nice feature for keeping snow and cold air from seeping in. The hip opening can be adjusted using a single drawcord. I like the simplicity-just a stretchy cuff that flexes to accommodate thick layers, such as mittens, but is also comfortable when the First Light is layered under an outer shell. One of my favorite features of the First Light is the arm openings. It’s not a big deal, but is an extra step that I don’t always remember to take when I’m out on the trail. I notice friction when putting the jacket on, and have to remember to hold the cuffs of my baselayers to prevent them from creeping up on my arms. This may sound picky, but I wish the inner liner, a woven nylon mesh ( 65 gsm, 100% nylon), was more "slippery," for lack of a better term. During the time I’ve spent testing it, I had no issues with material pilling, fraying, or chafing. The fit of the jacket is comfortable and allows for unrestricted movement. The arms are long enough to avoid riding up on my wrists when my arms are fully extended. I’m 5'4" with a short, fairly narrow torso (35" hip, 27" waist, 33" chest, 15.5" torso length), and the size small fits perfectly. During this time I wore the First Light in temperatures ranging from single digits to the upper 40s (Fahrenheit). ![]() I wore the First Light while backcountry and front-country skiing, fat biking, hiking, and snowshoeing in and around the White Mountains. I tested the Black Diamond First Light from late January through April as a member of the Trailspace Review Corps.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |