The Canis Alps hooded down jacket arrived on May 13th. The snow on the mountains had already begun to fade away, so I knew I was pressed for time. I did my best to put the Canis Alps jacket through the paces and it’s amazing how much you can learn about a garment in a short amount of time. I wore it as much as feasibly possible. When I ran errands around town, I blasted the AC. I had it on cold evenings and late-night flights. I also did my best to take advantage of the remaining days of bear season.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
There is substantial attention to detail! The cuffs don’t suffocate your wrists like old school jackets. They allow for freedom of movement without the anaconda squeeze. The sleeves aren’t going to slide up your forearm or twist when you rotate your arm. However, it is still tight enough that air and snow shouldn’t be an issue. Since it isn’t a Velcro sleeve, it will layer without becoming bulky.
The quilting lines are hidden. This is a big win for those of us who hunt the thick, nasty, jungle-country where everything is tearing at your clothes. Hidden quilting lines means no popped seams.
A thin strip of flannel has been conveniently placed at the base of the hood for comfort. A sweaty neck can touch and retouch the hood without feeling like you’ve stepped into a cold shower.
Interior pockets add ample room and the mesh helps keep the weight low. Typically, mesh pockets are saggy and floppy. That is not the case with the Alps.
THE RAIN
The tags that came with the jacket explain that the goose down filling is water-repellant. Additionally, one of the main materials used is waterproof Nylon66. I couldn’t tell if the Canis website considers the Alps Jacket as water-resistant or not, but it is. I tested it in a steady light rain for about an hour and a half while framing a house. The water would bead-up and shake off with ease. I stayed completely dry
We recently had a massive spring storm blow through. Our trampoline vanished. A neighbor’s house was destroyed by a tree and several friends were left without power for nearly a week! During the storm, I tossed on the jacket and ran out into the torrential rain to secure some items in the yard. By the time I was done, the insides of my elbows were damp but not wet. Water-resistant? Yes. Waterproof? No.
PACKABLE
It comes with a packsack. It’s a tight fit, but when all is said and done it’s slightly larger than a Jet Boil or a Big Agnes ground pad. It comfortably fits in my day pack.
WARMTH
The Canis Athlete website specifically calls it a “jacket”. They consider the Alp Hooded Down as an insulation layer for a late-fall hunt. I totally agree. It is not a big heavy down coat designed for a late-season sit in the snow. It will easily take you through September and most likely through October. The sleeves aren’t “tight” per se, but they’re snug enough that you won’t be able to wear many thick layers underneath. My 250 heavyweight merino wool hoodie fit with room to spare. I suspect that with the proper layers, I’ll be able to run this jacket all the way through November. Stay tuned at forum link below to see how it performs!
COMPARISON
One feature is the “Canis BTL (Built-to-Last) Down Construction”. Compared to similar jackets that I have in this category, it’s a little loud. The tradeoff is durability. I have two other lightweight jackets that are stealthy quiet, but both have required a good deal of patchwork.
BEFORE YOU ORDER:
The Alps Hooded Down Jacket runs more “athletic” than most. I’m 5’ 10” with a 44”-46” chest. Ninety-nine percent of the time, I wear XL shirts and jackets. The Alps Jacket in this review is a 2XL and there isn’t a ton of extra room. To get the chest size right, I ended up with a longer than usual “coattail”. It’s not ridiculously long and I think it will come in handy on colder days.
Check the sizing chart before you order!
For more information you can see a review by Canis Hunting Apparel on YouTube:
Click this link for detailed specs on the Canis Alps Hooded Down Jacket.
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