There can’t be many people in the world who aren’t familiar with Adidas. The German band have been making some of the best sportswear in the world for nearly 100 years now. In that time, you pick up a thing or two about making gear that’s as functional as a family saloon, and as stylish as a sports car.
The team at Adidas have taken this blend of performance and aesthetics and applied it to their Terrex trail running range, and the Adidas Agravic Alpha Shield jacket is a fine example. Designed to perform while you’re pushing yourself outdoors, the Agravic is ideal for trail running, but it also excels if you’re mountain biking, climbing, or generally being active outside.
The outer layer of the jacket is made from Pertex Quantum fabric, which not only sounds like something Iron Man would have woven into his suit somewhere, but it’s durable enough to live up to its impressive name. It’s also incredibly light, which helps keep the overall weight of the jacket down.
“You’re just as at home on the streets of the Northern Quarter as you are on the trails of the Peak District in this future classic.”
But it’s beneath this tough outer layer where the real Agravic jacket magic happens. Adidas have insulated it with Polartec Alpha active insulation. This is insulation designed for US Special Forces, and specifically, the start-stop nature of combat in extreme climates and over the most challenging terrains.
The Polartec Alpha insulation is a combination of lofted knit fibres on a solid mesh core, which limits the cold air coming in through the jacket’s breathable outer layer, and moves excess heat away from the body. The hydrophobic yarns used in the insulation move moisture away from the body as your activity level increases. The result is a very strong, but incredibly light insulation that will regulate your body temperature, ensuring you remain comfortable, so can stay outside for longer – which is kind of the point anyway, right?
