Review coming on the Stone Glacier Cirque "Lite" jacket

[Blandry]

I figured as much. That's the thing about mid/active layers, you have to spend the money, then get out there and work hard in them to see how they perform.

I can wrap up in a breathable puffy/outer layer, then strip down to heavy merino personally. I really go from hot/warm to cold, nothing in between.

These new mid layers that combine insulation and fleece are good to see and the kelvin lite jackets are great in this category. I'm tempted to try the cirque lite.

 

[mtwarden]

just an FYI- I'm getting close to wrapping up testing and going to include the Cirque Lite along with the other jackets in the Mid-layer Shoot-out

 

[hwy1strat]

I've got some money burning a hole in my pocket and it's going towards either the cirque lite or the sitka ambient jacket. I'm dying to know how they compare!

 

[Blandry]

I love my sika ambient.. it's a very light jacket that insulates and punches well above it's weight.

I really want to try to cirque lite but fear it will just be the same midlayer the ambient fills and then I have another midlayer which my heavy fleece layers also fills. I will probably just buy it even at $250 to compare because I'm a huge SG fan.

If I didn't already own the sitka I would buy the SG w/o hesitation.

 

[sr80]

jacket ooks great, i own an arcteryx atom LT hoody. Sounds like theyre pretty similiar though? Thoughts?

 

[mtwarden]

I'm sure there are similarities, not having a LT in hand hard to say how similar. Looking at the pictures posted on this thread it appears that the fleece fabric that runs up through the middle on both jackets looks different. I would also guess that the inner and outer fabrics are different, how different I don't know????

 

[woods89]

@mtwarden

Curious on your thoughts on one of these companies building an active insulation piece and leaving the insulation out of the back where a backpack typically sits. I've always thought that would be a really nice feature, if the back was simply a windshirt material, or mesh.

A year ago or so I cut a hole in the back of a fleece and replaced it with a mesh panel. In some limited testing I was quite impressed. Then I happened to get an Alpha Direct piece and that was a big enough hit that it's usually my go to. I'm not quite brave enough to cut a big hole in the back of it yet.

I'm also a person that sweats a lot, so maybe my experience is different than most.

 

[mtwarden]

What would really be the cat's pajamas is having that option but having it removable when wanted and the ability to leave it in when you don't have a backpack on (or cold enough it doesn't need to be removed).

I think that's probably what would hold manufacturers back as there are probably times (even bee bopping around town) you'd want the insulation in the back.

Outdoor Research had a couple of pieces (a few years back) that were hybrid pieces- that had active insulation in the front and none in the rear- fabric portion was a grid fleece. Those pieces never gained much traction and afaik they dropped them.

But I fully agree, if your going to sweat (with a backpack on) that's the first place you'll see sweat and likely the most sweat.

I'm doing one additional test with my review and involves a steep climb (1200' in a mile) with a 20 lb pack and then a couple mile descent to complete the loop. I weigh both the base layer and jacket at the top of the climb and then again when completed. I did the first test yesterday and the vast majority of moisture detected was in the back area.

 

[woods89]

What would really be the cat's pajamas is having that option but having it removable when wanted and the ability to leave it in when you don't have a backpack on (or cold enough it doesn't need to be removed).

I think that's probably what would hold manufacturers back as there are probably times (even bee bopping around town) you'd want the insulation in the back.

Outdoor Research had a couple of pieces (a few years back) that were hybrid pieces- that had active insulation in the front and none in the rear- fabric portion was a grid fleece. Those pieces never gained much traction and afaik they dropped them.

But I fully agree, if your going to sweat (with a backpack on) that's the first place you'll see sweat and likely the most sweat.

I'm doing one additional test with my review and involves a steep climb (1200' in a mile) with a 20 lb pack and then a couple mile descent to complete the loop. I weigh both the base layer and jacket at the top of the climb and then again when completed. I did the first test yesterday and the vast majority of moisture detected was in the back area.

Yeah, removable would be ideal. I find however that if my pack isn't on, most of the time my puffy is on, so most of the time I wouldn't have it covered. Being able to keep my back dry seems to be really valuable. With my fleece I just planned on carrying a light vest to throw on when I took my pack off to replace the lost insulation.

I think it would be hard for the general public to see the value, though, so marketing would probably be tough. My guess is the average person would look at that big hole as a liability. So it would probably only appeal to a small subset of people.

 

[mtwarden]

I think it would be hard for the general public to see the value, though, so marketing would probably be tough. My guess is the average person would look at that big hole as a liability. So it would probably only appeal to a small subset of people.

Yup- that's my guess as well

 

[Blandry]

I've been looking at this cirque lite jacket more closely as the emails arrive from SG. They seem to be really proud of it. I really like this piece. I'm a grid fleece junkie and the grid side panels with the insulated parts will go a long in temps change/activity. It's got the huge internal storage pockets and cinch cords where I prefer them. You could do a baselayer with this jacket all way to freezing with my body type and metabolism.

I'm going to have to buy it, I can see that already. More gear in the closet.. I think I can cover 100deg to neg 20 now haha.

 

[mtwarden]

I think I can cover 100deg to neg 20 now haha.

 

[Blandry]

Isn't it crazy the level of comfort we have now with the tech. Layering is now a science being integrated into all day gear.

 

[feanor]

If they copied the atom lt, it’s a smart thing to copy. However, I’ve never considered my atom to be a great active insulation. I tend to always over heat in it when climbing. But that doesn’t stop me from wearing it more than any other piece because it’s so dang versatile.

From what I’ve read, anything with alpha direct is going to be far superior at moisture management and in the active insulation category. I will certainly be buying the SG lite though because of the versatility.

 

[Blandry]

I see the atom lt is the same but not grid fleece, just basic 100gram .. but def same theory. High five for stone glacier realizing this and making a 50deg up/down piece of gear and I know it will be.

 

[Ridley]

@mtwarden

Curious on your thoughts on one of these companies building an active insulation piece and leaving the insulation out of the back where a backpack typically sits. I've always thought that would be a really nice feature, if the back was simply a windshirt material, or mesh.

A year ago or so I cut a hole in the back of a fleece and replaced it with a mesh panel. In some limited testing I was quite impressed. Then I happened to get an Alpha Direct piece and that was a big enough hit that it's usually my go to. I'm not quite brave enough to cut a big hole in the back of it yet.

I'm also a person that sweats a lot, so maybe my experience is different than most.

The First Lite Sawtooth has insulation on the chest, shoulders and partially down the outside of the arms. The back and inside of the arms is a heavy merino wool. Neat idea but the insulated part doesn’t stretch and the merino does, it’s an odd fit that is kinda binding when moving your arms. It is nice with a backpack on though.

 

[TheTone]

Yeah, removable would be ideal. I find however that if my pack isn't on, most of the time my puffy is on, so most of the time I wouldn't have it covered. Being able to keep my back dry seems to be really valuable. With my fleece I just planned on carrying a light vest to throw on when I took my pack off to replace the lost insulation.

I think it would be hard for the general public to see the value, though, so marketing would probably be tough. My guess is the average person would look at that big hole as a liability. So it would probably only appeal to a small subset of people.

Someone was trying to make basically this exact thing. Was taking it to shows trying to presale it and kickstarter funds to get them made. Pretty sure the idea died. Personally I thought it looked like a cheap piece of crap

 

[woods89]

The First Lite Sawtooth has insulation on the chest, shoulders and partially down the outside of the arms. The back and inside of the arms is a heavy merino wool. Neat idea but the insulated part doesn’t stretch and the merino does, it’s an odd fit that is kinda binding when moving your arms. It is nice with a backpack on though.

Sounds interesting! Merino would be a swing and a miss to me with how long it holds moisture, though. In my opinion the material on the back needs to either be nylon windshirt material or mesh.

 

[AttackMode]

@mtwarden

Curious on your thoughts on one of these companies building an active insulation piece and leaving the insulation out of the back where a backpack typically sits. I've always thought that would be a really nice feature, if the back was simply a windshirt material, or mesh.

A year ago or so I cut a hole in the back of a fleece and replaced it with a mesh panel. In some limited testing I was quite impressed. Then I happened to get an Alpha Direct piece and that was a big enough hit that it's usually my go to. I'm not quite brave enough to cut a big hole in the back of it yet.

I'm also a person that sweats a lot, so maybe my experience is different than most.

Canis has a piece that might fit the bill. Alpha grizzly jacket. They claim the back is highly breathable and the front is windproof. I suffer from the same problem. My center back always gets sweaty unless I'm wearing just a base layer up top.

 

[woods89]

Someone was trying to make basically this exact thing. Was taking it to shows trying to presale it and kickstarter funds to get them made. Pretty sure the idea died. Personally I thought it looked like a cheap piece of crap

There is a guy who makes, or made, a synthetic puffy with this concept. In my opinion it's too much insulation, though. It does have a removable back. I haven't ever seen one in person so I couldn't speak to it's quality.