Mountain Khakis is getting technical. Long known as an outdoor lifestyle brand, the company with the Bison logo from Jackson Hole has released some serious technical outerwear using innovative new materials. One such piece is the Alpha Switch Pullover. My first time wearing it on a ski tour, my friend Mason exclaimed, “when did Mountain Khakis start making performance gear?”
The Mountain Khakis Alpha Switch Pullover features:
- 3.5oz 95% Nylon, 5% Spandex, Stretch Woven Fabric
- 1.1oz 96% Nylon, 4% Polyester Ripstop Lining
- 80gm Polartec Alpha Insulation
- 80/20 Durable Water Repellent
- 5 pockets
- Reversible zipper
Let me break down everything the Alpha Switch Pullover has going for it.
Reversibility. Mountain Khakis calls this pullover “The MacGyver of Jackets,” meaning that it’s designed to be worn in both “static” and “active” phases of outdoor and everyday activities. In short, it works when you are working, and still works when you’re not. Versatility is the pullover’s utility as it is reversible. One side is a solid, stretch-woven material for wind resistance and warmth when you’re not working up a sweat. This side (blue in my photos) is a much more casual look, so it works well as an everyday option, both in the city or the mountains. The other side is a translucent, DWR ripstop that is very breathable for activity like hiking and skinning. In my photos it is a grey color with a technical, knitted mid-layer insulation sort of look.
Insulation. Beside the reversibility, what really makes the Alpha Switch stand out is the insulation. Polartec Alpha was engineered for U.S. military special ops, and was recently de-classified for civilian use. The stuff is very impressive and is just now trickling into outdoor gear. What makes it so unique is that it dries 60% faster than other synthetic insulation. They say it is also much more breathable. The result is an insulation layer that provides warmth when you’re standing still, and excellent temperature regulation when you are moving.
Details. Other small details are nice touches. The stretch-woven side has a large center pocket that is awesome for stashing items quick like gloves. A zippered chest pocket is just the right size for keys or a cell phone. On the ripstop side, there are two zippered hand pockets and a vertical, zippered chest pocket. That makes 5 pockets total in one jacket. Sleeves and hem are elastic to help keep the cold out and warmth in, and a large, center half-zipper can be used to dump heat if you do max out the jacket’s breathability capability.
I’ve been testing the Alpha Switch Pullover while backcountry skiing and am so far impressed. Most recently I wore it as my primary jacket on a yurt trip to Utah’s Tushar Mountains. Temperatures were warm, with highs in the 40’s during the day, so I was worried about overheating in an insulating piece. But I wore it anyway skinning up City Creek Peak in the mornings. What they say is true: Polartec Alpha is amazingly breathable. I was able to keep the jacket on for most of my tour without overheating. Any other mid-layer would have come off and been stuffed into my pack long before I finally took off this pullover.
When I was not moving, say eating lunch atop a mountain summit or visiting the outhouse in the middle of the cold night, the insulation was pretty warm and windproof. While this is not an ultra warm jacket (I wouldn’t wear it as a belay jacket on a sub-zero day for example) it was plenty toasty in temperatures from 20-degrees F and up.
I never had the chance to test it out during bad, stormy weather, so I can’t speak to the jacket’s water resistance. But a quick faucet test at home revealed decent wet shedding capabilities on the DWR ripstop side… not so much on the stretch-woven side which just soaked the water up. So pair it as a mid-layer under a waterproof shell if you think you might get caught in a rainstorm or blizzard.
When I’m backcountry skiing, I wear multiple layers and shed them as I get hot, then put them back on as I cool off. But with the Mountain Khakis Alpha Switch Pullover, I was able to ski tour with it on pretty much all day. This thing is basically an automatic thermostat for your body… not too hot and not too cold. Color me impressed.
The Good: Reversible options for lots of versatility and multiple uses. Polartec Alpha insulation has to be worn to be believed. It’s remarkable stuff.
The Bad: Pullover is a bit awkward getting on and off, especially when I wear a hat. Luckily there is a jacket option.
Final Word: The Mountain Khakis Alpha Switch Pullover really is the MacGyver of Jackets. Use it for backcountry skiing, hiking, backpacking, fly fishing, or a night on the town, and it will handle anything you throw at it.