Bergans has launched the Hodlevke jacket and trousers this season, a new and visually appealing baggy-style combination for young people, especially for freeriding, but also for ski touring and "normal" skiing. The outfit is made from 3-layer Dermizax™ NX material, which promises particularly high breathability as well as wind and waterproofness.
Test conditions
I have been able to test the Hodlekve combination from Bergans since mid-December 2013. To give you a better idea, here are a few facts about myself: I am 1.75 meters tall, weigh 68 kilos and wear the combination in size S. During the test period, the jacket and trousers were used on several freeride days and on various ski tours (this is exactly the area of use that Bergans mainly envisages for the clothing line), with all conceivable weather conditions: from warm temperatures and drizzle to snowfall, wind and extreme cold. During the test period, I was therefore able to get a pretty good idea of whether the properties advertised by Bergans were right.
Test
The combination was made from 3-layer Dermizax™ NX material, which is waterproof, windproof and extremely breathable according to the announcement. I can confirm these properties. In strong winds, the combination is perfectly waterproof and even in heavy rain, no moisture is absorbed by the fabric. However, the really good breathability of the material should be particularly emphasized. It keeps you very warm in the cold (if you wear a Primaloft jacket or similar under the jacket, of course) and especially in the warm temperatures at the beginning of the year in the northern Alps, we noticed that the material did not encourage sweating, on the contrary - the jacket kept the body temperature in a comfortable range. Overall, the jacket and trousers, especially the seams and zippers, look well made.
The color choice of Sea Blue / Neon Orange is quite striking and yet very harmonious. However, the combination not only impresses with its young and colorful style, but also with its well thought-out cut and numerous features:
The Hodlekve jacket has a large, adjustable hood, which can also be worn over a helmet, and a high collar, which I found very comfortable, especially in windy conditions. Numerous large outer pockets, some of which are attached, offer plenty of space and are also visually eye-catching; there is an inner pocket for valuables. It should be emphasized that all the outer pockets can be easily accessed even when wearing a backpack with a chest and hip belt.
Both the detachable snow skirt, which can also be attached to the trousers, as well as the long cut of the jacket and the drawstring at the bottom of the jacket offer protection from snow and keep the back nice and warm.
The longer cut took a little getting used to for me at first, as the freedom of movement in the upper leg area initially seemed a little restricted in some situations (e.g. braking on the lift ;-)). However, you quickly get used to the "new length" and soon appreciate the advantages mentioned above. However, the length could be a little annoying when wearing a climbing harness for abseiling.
You should be careful when opening the jacket zipper from below, as it is quite easy for the inner lining to get caught.
The long ventilation slits under the arms, which ensure a pleasant body temperature, especially on short hikes, are well done.
The Hodlekve trousers also have long ventilation slits on the inside of both legs, which can be opened quickly and easily on ski tours. For me, it was unusual at first to wear ski pants without a bib. But in the end, the trousers also impressed me with their good fit, which offers sufficient support and, if necessary, you can improve the wearing comfort with a belt. At this point, however, I would like to point out that a bib (perhaps removable) could possibly be included in the next collection. This would definitely prevent the trousers from slipping and also avoid pressure points caused by a belt. However, this may also be a personal feeling, as I have been wearing pants with bibs for ages.
The cut of the trousers is slightly wider and therefore just right to ensure good freedom of movement, especially for hiking or touring.
I also found the fact that the trousers are cut slightly shorter at the back than at the front to be very well thought out, as this prevents the trousers from getting caught in the binding right from the start. The reinforcement of the fabric at the lower edge of the pants ensures less wear and tear and the inner gaiters protect against snow as intended, especially on deep snow days.
There are also large pockets on the pants. If you don't want to wear your avalanche transceiver on your upper body, you can easily store it in one of the trouser pockets (not in the sewn-on pockets!) without restricting your freedom of movement.
Conclusion
A really sophisticated freeride combination from Bergans that not only looks good and has a good recognition value, but above all is well thought out. The Hodlekve combination is ideally suited to Bergans' designated areas of use: freeriding, ski touring and skiing. Here, Bergans has obviously really looked at the demands placed on materials and features, especially for freeriding and touring, and has implemented this well and in detail. Only the length of the jacket could be a problem for more alpine use. Overall, I was very impressed with the combination for freeriding and ski touring.
Advantages and disadvantages
+ Breathability
+ Good workmanship
+ Many pockets (including large ones) on the jacket and trousers
+ Pockets are accessible even when the chest and hip straps of the backpack are closed
+ Helmet-compatible hood
+ Ventilation slits on the jacket and trousers
+ Jacket snow skirt can be attached to the trousers
- The jacket zipper can be opened from the inside. jacket zipper can be opened from below (trapping the inner lining)
- the long jacket is not necessarily suitable for climbing harnesses
- no bib on the trousers
Details
RP:
Hodlekve Jacket 529.95 €
Hodlekve Pants 399.95 €
Available sizes: Men's S-XXL, Women's XS-XL
Tested color - Jacket: Lt SeaBlue/Br SeaBlue/NeonOrgane | Pants: NeonOrgane/ Br SeaBlue
Material: 3-layer Dermizax™ NX with 4-way stretch. Waterproof, windproof and extremely breathable.
Jacket:
Adjustable, fixed hood with a generous, helmet-compatible fit.
High collar, tunnel opening and visor.
Front pockets, chest pocket, sleeve pocket, inside pocket (men) and ski goggle pocket.
The pocket lining is made of mesh for a good wearing climate and greater packing volume.
The front pockets are positioned so low that they are accessible even when wearing a backpack with a hip belt.
Recco® search reflector.
Pants:
Fixed gaiters on the inside with an adhesive rubber edge.
Front pockets, a thigh pocket in bellows design and a thigh pocket for the avalanche transceiver.
The pocket lining is made of mesh for a good wearing climate and a larger packing volume.
Recco® search reflector.
Here's the manufacturer information for the jacket and pants...
You can buy both the jacket and the pants in the PowderGuide partner store Bergzeit.de.
.
