Flylow won the APEX Award from Polartec® in 2013 with the LabCoat. With this technical jacket, the young American label promises guaranteed waterproofness combined with high breathability. Made for all-round use in the mountains, the jacket has a simple design and a high-quality finish.
Test conditions
The jacket has been in test use since the beginning of December and is used for all kinds of winter activities. So far, it has been worn to pick up bread rolls around the corner, for freeriding in the south, for ski touring in the apery north, for ski courses in the rain and for jogging in foehn winds. In terms of weather, it has been through a lot: from constant rain and snowfall to foehn storms. During this time, I was able to get a good idea of whether the properties advertised by Flylow are true.
I wear the jacket in size M with a height of 176 cm and 72 kg. I usually wear a layer of merino underwear, a fleece and a vest under the jacket.
Test
The first impression of the jacket gave me mixed feelings. Although the material felt very comfortable, the jacket has a relatively wide cut by my standards, which was very unusual for me. However, as I had previously worn a tight-fitting mountain sports jacket, this should come as no surprise. A size S would probably also fit me, but after a short period of getting used to it, it is very comfortable to wear. The sleeves are long enough and have a Velcro fastener that works without any problems in all conditions.
Flylow advertises the jacket as guaranteed waterproof, 99.9% windproof, with outstanding breathability, which I can absolutely confirm so far. It is absolutely waterproof in the rain. So far, the outer material has not absorbed any moisture and the drops of water roll off like on the first day. The AquaGuard® zippers from YKK hold tight and are easy to operate with gloves. The breathability of the material deserves special mention. Especially in this rather mild winter, sweating is not further encouraged. You always feel properly dressed. Only at the beginning of the test did I always feel a little cold in the chest area. Since then I have been wearing a vest and the problem has been solved. This is probably also due to the slightly wider cut, which reduces the insulating properties somewhat. However, I find the material much more comfortable to wear than my previous technical jackets, especially during more intensive activities.
The jacket has a large adjustable hood that can be worn over a helmet without any problems. The drawstrings are somewhat hidden and are not easy to operate when wearing gloves. The collar is cut high, which I find very comfortable, especially in windy conditions.
The pockets are positioned as they should be: One in the chest area and two on the sides, which are easily accessible even when wearing a backpack. On the inside, there is a smaller pocket and two large pockets which, according to the description, can be used for carrying skins. Personally, I find these pockets very practical for stowing maps. The only thing I miss is a pocket for magnetic ski cards, which is probably unusual overseas. For touring, the pack size and weight (625 grams) are not record-breaking, but for me they are in a completely acceptable range.
The detachable snow skirt is easy to use with press studs and can be easily attached to the compound pant. The generous ventilation zips under the arms are very advantageous, especially on sweaty ascents, and make you almost forget you're wearing the jacket.
Conclusion
The LabCoat jacket is designed for all-round use on the mountain, and it does an excellent job of it. After around three months of use, it still shows no signs of wear and makes a robust impression. Only the somewhat wide fit in the chest and stomach area could be a little more "streamlined". On the other hand, it impresses with its outstanding breathability. The combination of good breathability and good ventilation options really comes into its own on ascents with a jacket. The jacket feels like a softshell and is completely waterproof. My initial concerns were therefore not confirmed and together with the compound pants, the Flylow combo is really convincing.
Advantages & disadvantages:
+ Very good breathability
+ Good ventilation options
+ Robust and stretchy material
+ Large inner pockets
- Somewhat large fit in the chest/belly area
- Hood is difficult to operate with gloves
Product details
RRP: 499,- €
Weight: 625 grams
- waterproof and breathable Polartec® NeoShell®
- ventilation zippers under the arms
- pre-shaped shoulders and sleeves
- helmet-compatible hood
- detachable snow guard
- three inside pockets
- two handwarmer pockets
- one easily accessible chest pocket
Here is the manufacturer's product information, here is where you can buy the jacket in our partner store and here is more information about Polartec® NeoShell®:
