COLUMBIA Mission Air II Shell (£80)

COLUMBIA Mission Air II Shell (£80)

By John Manning

September 19 2011

TGO Rating 2 stars

“Wet behind the ears,” my test notes record but it wasn’t just behind my ears. I found myself swimming in condensation in this jacket: the fleece collar lining was sodden, my hair, back and shoulders were damp and my arms were drenched. The breathability test scenario was admittedly, of necessity, contrived and extreme – a mile-and-a-half, 25-minute, 500ft ascent with hood up and front zip fastened in warm weather – but no other jacket tested this way produced such dramatic
results. And while the moisture in most others dissipated when the jacket was opened post-ascent, here it lingered, uncomfortably. Hood and torso are mesh-lined but there’s not a lot else to help lessen moisture accumulation; there are
no pit zips and the pockets are fabric-lined – they’re eff ectively closed when under a pack hipbelt so wouldn’t help much anyway. Backside cover and arm movement are good. While the hood is comfy, its good-size peak isn’t wired, so is
easily distorted by wind.

Technical Spec

Protection: Omni-Tech (ripstop nylon)
Pockets: two zipped hand, one inner stow/security
Weight: 564g (XL)
Sizes: Men: S-XXL, Women: n/a
Likes: backside cover, hood comfort
Dislikes: weight, bulk, lack of venting/breathability, pocket positioning, floppy hood peak

Columbia
0118 922 0130
www.columbia.com

Shopping
Links