A quick heads up on on the new Berghaus Extrem 7000 Belay Parka, a warm and water-resistant jacket designed specifically for sitting around on frozen belay ledges while your mate faffs around on iffy snow and ice…

The jacket’s part of the relaunched Extrem range of technical clothing and looks like a serious bit of cold weather kit. The outer fabric is Pertex Endurance, which is totally windproof, but also has high levels of water resistance to cope with snow, spindrift and the odd frozen rain shower.

Zoned And Mapped

It’s strategically reinforced too with shoulders, arms and hood all getting a tougher, more abrasion-resistant fabric. The fill is Berghaus’ own synthetic and water resistant Hydroloft® Elite Pro synthetic insulation, which again is specced to carry on working efficiently even if it gets damp.

Not something you’ll wanting to be carrying over long days out, but potentially ideal for pitched winter climbing where you could spend 50% of your day huddled on a belay ledge with spindrift pouring down on top of you.

Body mapping means that the fill is strategically positioned for maximum benefit – no more aching kidneys then…

Other stuff includes a serious helmet hood with micro-wired peak, plus full adjustability at front and back. There are two large chest pockets and two large hand-warmer pockets, all with additional Hydroloft® insulation.

Finally you get ‘low-profile snug cuffs for a comfortable feel on the move’, it says here, and single-handed adjustment at the hem.

As you’d expect, that level of protection doesn’t come light or cheap and the jacket weighs in at a claimed 897g (size large) and retails at £200.

Hello Spindrift My Old Friend…

Not something you’ll wanting to be carrying over long days out then, the Extrem 700 Belay Parka, but potentially ideal for pitched winter climbing where you could spend 50% of your day huddled on a belay ledge with spindrift pouring down on top of you.

If you want something lighter, take a look at the new Ramche 2.0 Down Jacket – it’s super warm and half the weight of the Belay Parka, however it’s also a lot less rugged and costs £350. More about that in our imminent round-up of this winter’s best insulation.

More Information

See www.berghaus.com/mens-extrem-7000-belay-parka/421918.html