Berghaus Gets New Gore-Tex Pro
Gore-Tex has revamped its top-end waterproof three-layer Gore-Tex Pro fabric for this winter with a new construction and tougher face fabrics meaning ‘up to 28% more breathability’ and increased durability, and Berghaus is using the new fabric extensively in its top-end Extrem and Mountain ranges.
We have one of the new Civetta Jackets using the fabric in for review right now, it’s an impressive all-rounder with a more relaxed cut to allow layering in cooler conditions and fabric performance has been impressive so far, but there are more technical options in the range too.
New Ulvetanna Pro Jacket
They don’t come much more technical than the Ulvetanna Pro Jacket (left) which was developed in conjunction with Berghaus athlete Leo Houlding to work in the extreme conditions of the Antarctic during multi-day expedition use.
Not only does it have the new fabric, but Berghaus has reworked its already impressive helmet-compatible hood to give serious full head and face protection with multiple adjustments, plus the lower face has venting holes to prevent condensation from breath building up and freezing in very low temperature condition.
Other features include an asymmetric zip to reduce bulk in the chin area, big front pockets for easy storage and mesh-lined 3D vents which are designed to stay open for maximum cooling in use. Weight is claimed at 650g, but that includes a zip-out snow skirt for those hardcore wade-ins through powder snow…
A serious jacket for serious places, but we don’t see why it wouldn’t cut the mustard equally well in Scottish winter conditions if you can run to the £370 price tag.
Women’s Mirgin La Jacket
Other Extrem garments using Pro fabrics include the Women’s Mirgin La Jacket, a £330, top-spec shell aimed at female mountaineers and ski-tourers and featuring the cracking helmet-friendly Asgard Hood as well as those 3D vents and a PrimaLoft-insulated spindrift collar – we like the sound of that.
The Kangchenjunga Jacket that scored good marks with us last year also gets the new fabric as do the Oktang Bib Pants.
Mountain Range Too
Gore-Tex Pro also gets used in this year’s Mountain range of all-round mountaineering kit notably for the men’s and women’s Antelao Jackets. Not as sleekly cut as, say, the Ulvetanna Pro, these are intended as all mountain, do it all jackets for anything from full-on winter mountaineering through to general walking and scrambling. A detachable snow-skirt makes them ski friendly too.
There’s venting via pit-zips, napoleon-style chest and twin hand pockets, a mountain hood and so on. Realistically it’s all the jacket most of us realistically need, while the Ulvetanna is the one we might dream of. Price is £300 for the men’s, £290 for the women’s version. Weight around 550g, but again there’s a snow-skirt to shed.
Eat My Pants
There are also matching Antelao Pants, again for both men and women, with tough Schoeller Keprotec, KEVLAR® kicker patches, full length two-way YKK® AquaGuard® side zips, three pockets, detachable braces, removable gaiters, and diamond gussets and articulated knee panels.
Waist length rather than bibs and complete with detachable braces. Priced at £270 and weighing in at around the 600g mark.
Watch out for our Best Winter Waterproof shells review coming soon.
More Berghaus info at www.berghaus.com.
