The Mountain Khakis Quilted Reversible Jacket is exactly what it says it is. It’s a jacket, it’s quilted, and it’s reversible; one side is a solid color and the other is plaid. Gotta love outdoor gear with a name that makes sense. I’ve been wearing this coat nearly every day this fall, and seriously put it through it’s paces.
The Mountain Khakis Quilted Reversible Jacket is pretty simple, but still has multiple features, including:
- Reversible construction: wool-blend or DWR nylon sides.
- 600g washable Fiberfill insulation.
- Handwarmer and chest pockets.
- Fold-Down collar with button closure.
- Button-closure cuff.
First off, the Reversible Quilted Jacket is really good looking. As usual when I get a new jacket that looks this good, my wife immediately declares that it’s hers and steals it away. Although I’ve worn it almost every day for the last two months, it’s been a battle to get it back. The nylon side looks like a light weight, insulated puffy, and in essence, it is. The wool side is for your Paul Bunyan personality as the plaid pattern screams mountain man. You can choose your look based on the situation or mood, or make it weather dependent as the nylon side repels the elements far better than the wool side.
Case in point: on a recent trip to Denver, we went to an IPA festival in Boulder. So I went with the plaid side and fit right in with beer-swilling, bearded brew connoisseurs. Later that night we went out to dinner and by simply turning the jacket inside out, I was dressed up enough to not feel like a redneck at a high tea.
Pockets are everywhere on both sides, but they vary in placement. The wool side has hand warmers on the sides and a horizontal, zippered chest pocket.The nylon side, however, only has one vertical, zippered chest pocket. I was disappointed that there are no hand warmers on the nylon side as that’s the version I wore when it was colder or wet, and therefore my hands were chilly. The main front zipper is also reversible, but having fabric on both sides meant the zipper got caught very frequently.
The 600 grams of synthetic insulation is plenty warm on a brisk fall day, and I stayed toasty as temperatures dipped below freezing. But overall I wouldn’t call the MK Quilted Reversible Jacket a terribly technical piece. It’s not super warm for bitter cold, the nylon side isn’t confidence-inspiring when weather gets very nasty, and there’s no way to cinch down the cuffs and waist to prevent cold air from seeping in.
The Good: Stylish, reversible options to suits any situation, warm, friends and spouses envy me.
The Bad: Not real technical for serious outdoor pursuits, no side pockets on nylon side.
Final Word: The Mountain Khakis Quilted Reversible Jacket is a lifestyle garment, but hey, there’s no need to look like you’ve just reached the summit of Everest when heading out on the town. What this jacket lacks in technical prowess, it more than makes up for in style. And based on the amount of compliments I got from friends, plus the constant swiping from my wife, I’d say this is the casual, outdoor jacket of choice.
For more, check out www.mountainkhakis.com