If you live in the mountains, you need a jacket for all 4 seasons. Fall, winter and spring are obvious, but summer? Don’t forget how cold it can get when the sun goes down, or you’re up walking the dog before dawn. So I make the case that you need a versatile jacket that isn’t too hot, and isn’t too cold, but just right for all seasons. Behold the Mountain Hardwear Thermostatic Jacket.
The MH Thermostatic Jacket is a light weight puffy with a quilted pattern that makes it look all stylie. It’s also super high-tech because it’s filled with Termal.Q Elite, a proprietary, synthetic insulation that is a combination of “several different densities of fibers that interact to create a 3-D grid-like structure that creates the same air-trapping effect as down.” Other features include:
- Two front hand warmer pockets
- Dual hem drawcords for quick fit adjustments
- Low profile elastic cuffs for easy layering
- Jacket stows in a pocket
My Mountain Hard Wear Thermostatic jacket arrived on a cold, blustery day. Its energetic color made my day. Not even a windy bluebird day at Alta could sway me from wearing it. Its soft, light-weight protection made me feel like I wasn’t even wearing a jacket. I was weighed down by skis, boots, and ski pants but not my jacket.
Flash forward several months to a chilly spring evening, and I reach for the Thermostatic to protect me from cold temperatures. When it begins to rain, I throw a rain jacket over it. There is no moment where I feel encumbered like the little brother in a “Christmas Story.” This jacket is perfect for layering in any condition: winter, spring, whenever. And I’m sure I’ll use it for summer camping. The jacket can stow itself in a pocket and if you’re like me, it can be used as a pillow.
The Mountain Hard Wear Thermostatic jacket boasts of 60 grams of Thermal. Q Elite synthetic insulation. It’s lightweight design is perfect for slipping under a shell or wearing as a stand alone jacket.
The only thing missing from this jacket in my opinion is a hood. I love throwing my hood on when it’s windy outside for additional protection (though they do make a version with a hood at extra cost.) Other than that, this is jacket is a dream. Seriously, you forget you have it on until you look down.