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Gear reviews | Bergans Slingsbytind down jacket (with hood)

Functional down jacket for all days

by C. N. 01/09/2015
With the new Slingsby collection, the Norwegian manufacturer Bergans is offering a clothing series especially for ski tourers and alpinists. In addition to hard and soft shell clothing and mid-layer tops, backpacks and various items of insulating clothing are also available - both for men and women. We have extensively tested the men's model of the Slingsbytind down jacket with hood.

The Slingsby collection

The namesake of the series, William Cecil Slingsby (1849-1929), was an English alpinist who made a name for himself with numerous first ascents in Norway and is considered one of the co-founders of ski alpinism. The names of the individual products in this collection come from peaks that Slingsby climbed. The entire collection has a minimalist design and deliberately dispenses with anything superfluous: the products were designed to be lightweight and offer great freedom of movement.

First impression

The high-quality workmanship of the jacket is immediately apparent: Seams are just as neatly finished as the embroidery and printed logos. The zippers run smoothly and can be operated with one hand. The jacket feels slightly stiffer than other down jackets. This is probably due to the windproof and water-repellent outer material (Pertex Microlight) and is not a problem in everyday use. The jacket has two outer pockets as well as separate outer and inner chest pockets. It packs down small and can be stowed in its own inner pocket. The tested model has a hood without any adjustment options. However, the jacket is also available without a hood. There is an elasticated drawstring at the bottom hem that can be adjusted in two places.

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The cut

The first thing that stood out was the slightly wider cut, which is nevertheless convincing in everyday use and guarantees sufficient freedom of movement. The jacket does not slip up even when moving your arms overhead. The back is cut longer so that the lower back stays warm when skiing with a backpack without the jacket puffing out at the front. The drawcord at the bottom hem can be used to reliably seal the jacket at the bottom so that no heat is lost. The cuffs on the sleeves are fitted with strong elasticated bands that also provide a secure seal. The hood sits well on the head and does not pull the jacket upwards. It is elasticated all the way round to ensure a close fit on the head. If necessary, the hood can also be worn over a helmet, but it doesn't seem to be designed for this purpose.

The practical experience

In practice, the jacket was completely convincing despite the cut, which took some getting used to at first! The jacket's great thermal performance is remarkable: as the jacket fits snugly around all openings, hardly any heat is lost. The outer material is waterproof even in strong winds. The jacket does not get soaked in heavy snowfall and therefore retains its high thermal performance. On several tours in adverse conditions and low temperatures, the jacket could not be persuaded to give up even when used without an additional hard shell jacket. The jacket certainly doesn't keep the water out for a whole day of skiing, but short rain showers were no problem. On spring tours in stable weather conditions, you can leave the hard shell jacket at home. Although the jacket is not the lightest (weighed 462 grams in XL), it can still provide a weight advantage - if that is important to you.

For warmer temperatures and ascents, an insert made of breathable material under the arms or a ventilation option would perhaps be good, but both would certainly reduce the overall thermal performance. The outer material makes a stable impression and has not yet shown any signs of wear. A self-adhesive repair patch with instructions is even included in case of damage. The hood is a particularly positive feature: As a lot of body heat escapes through the head, the jacket is even warmer thanks to the lined and close-fitting hood. The solution of stowing the jacket in its own inner pocket is also more convenient than an extra pack sack, which can quickly get lost in the wind. The jacket fits perfectly into the inner pocket and the zipper can be closed reliably and without any fuss. However, there are jackets that can be packed smaller. So if you value every gram of weight and the smallest possible volume, you should probably go for the version without a hood.

It is particularly important to note that Bergans only uses down that is a by-product of the food industry. Down from live plucking and stuffing is not used, which is ensured by corresponding supplier contracts and controls.

The conclusion

The jacket leaves a consistently positive impression and it is difficult to find any points of criticism. The only thing that can be criticized is the lack of ventilation under the arms, although this is not usually the case with down jackets. The windproof outer material makes a hard shell jacket superfluous in many situations. This makes it easy to cope with the fact that the jacket is a little stiffer. It has quickly become a loyal companion and has replaced a (lighter) down jacket without a hood and without wind protection on ski tours and in everyday life.

Details

Material: Windproof, water-repellent Pertex® Microlight. Low weight and pack volume. Product contains bluesign® approved textiles.
Down: 90/10. Down fill power: 700 cuin.
Quilted seams.
Sizes: Men's S - XL
Weight: Men's L: 420 grams
Weight of filling: Men's L: 120 grams
(detailed washing instructions enclosed)

Here is the website of the manufacturer with further information, here you can buy the jacket from our partner shop.

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This article has been automatically translated by DeepL with subsequent editing. If you notice any spelling or grammatical errors or if the translation has lost its meaning, please write an e-mail to the editors.

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