Haglofs Endo Active Shell Jacket

Specification

MATERIAL       Gore-Tex Active Shell

HOOD                volume adjuster, stiffened peak

POCKET            stretch woven chest

LENGTH           66cms

FRONT OPENING  concealed zip with internal flap

WEIGHT            313 grams

SIZES                 men S-XXL, women XS-XL

RRP                 £220

Active Shell is a new type of Gore-Tex designed to be more breathable than previous versions. It’s a 3-layer laminate with a lighter weight and thinner Gore-Tex membrane sandwiched between thin synthetic fabrics. There’s also a proprietary lamination technique for attaching the membrane to the lining material that is meant to aid breathability and make the garment feel pleasant against the skin. I assume this means less or no glue, which is usually used to stick the layers together. W.L.Gore has put strict design requirements on Active Shell garments so that breathability isn’t impaired. There’s a maximum weight limit of 400 grams per garment too. Active Shell garments are aimed at “highly aerobic, done in a day activities such as trail running, mountain biking and fast alpine ascents”. However I see no reason why they aren’t suitable for sweaty activities such as hill walking and backpacking. Indeed, lightweight waterproofs are especially useful for the latter as the hope is always that they will spend most of their time in the pack. High breathability is welcome too as it’s always good to have dry clothing under your waterproofs when you make camp, especially if you’re carrying little in the way of spare clothing.

I’ve been testing a sample of Haglofs first Active Shell jacket, the Endo, which will be in the shops soon. Firstly I have to say that I am impressed with Active Shell, it really is very breathable. On calm fairly warm days with drizzle falling and high humidity I’ve had to work very hard to produce even a slight amount of dampness inside. This is a revelation after Paclite, the previous lightweight version of Gore-Tex, which is nowhere near as breathable.

I have mixed feelings about the design of the Endo though. It’s a fairly short jacket with a slim cut. I can just get the medium, my normal size, over a microfleece top but it’s more comfortable worn just over a base layer. I guess this is fine for some activities but for walking in cool weather a size larger would be better. The hood is fine, with a stiffened peak and Haglof’s external stretch cord volume adjuster. It gives good protection and moves with the head. There’s just one pocket, a small stretch fabric one on the chest. This will hold a compass or GPS unit but little more. I’d rather have a roomier one. My big dislike is for the cuffs, which are elasticated with a non-waterproof panel and thumb holes. I found these sweaty, which was particularly noticeable when the inside of the rest of the jacket was dry. I’d much rather have adjustable cuffs that could be opened for ventilation. The front zip has tiny flaps that almost hide it and a stiffened inner flap with a rain gutter. So far this has kept the rain out.

The weight of the Endo is low but the price high. I don’t think any Active Shell jackets will be cheap! Overall it’s a good lightweight waterproof with excellent breathability. If you’re happy with the cuffs it would be a good buy. I doubt it will prove as durable as jackets made from heavier fabrics but that applies to all waterproofs in this weight range. 

Haglofs

01539 822595

www.haglofs.com