Patagonia Super Free Alpine Jacket

Anybody try this?

I'm curious about a couple of things. 

1-Hem length--Is it like a crop top, or does it actually stay put under a harness. 

2-Mobility--If you put the jacket on and lift your arms overhead...does it just pull up or do you have some freedom of movement?

3-Hood--Does it seem like it would actually go over a helmet, or it is a "pretend" alpine hood?  And what's up with that insulated gasket?

thnx

I found one to try on myself, so I'll answer some of my questions (and rant a little as well)

-It's light but the fabric seems durable. 

-The hood is definitely helmet compatabile, even for monsters such as myself, but still not as voluminous as Arcteryx hoods. 

-The hood gasket is kind of cool but also kind of unecessary, especially if you are already wearing multiple hoods over/under helmet. 

-The wrist gaskets are kind of annoying--you can feel them pull when you reach up and they make layering awkward.

-Back length is sufficient but not great.  Side indentations do nothing for mobility. 

-Follow these fun steps to feel depressed: 1) put on jacket, 2) put on harness, 3) reach overhead, 4) feel jacket pull out of your harness 5) feel the tightness through your back and shoulder and side.  It's no better or worse than basicallly all shells in this regard. Waterprof/breathable with stretch remains the seemingly impossible goal.

-No handwarmer/hip pockets = good.  Not necessary on an alpine jacket. 

Unfortunately, the side/chest pockets are not realy chest pockets, they are sort of compromise between hand warmer pockets and chest pockets.  Whatever you put in there will fall down around your harness and belay device.  When you lean forward the weight will pull tthem away from your body and make an annoying bulge.  No bueno.  

Overall it's not really a compelling option for me, but, then again, it's also cheaper than many high ends shells these days.

Basically, it's an underwheling conbfirmation that the more things change, the more they stay the same.  New fabrics and features come and go, but the basic design and fit for the intended use remain elusive.

I'd save the money and get a Dual Aspect or a Triolet if you want to buy Patagonia.  If I could afford it I would buy an Arcteryx Alpha or Alpha SV.  

I have no experience with the recent North Face clothing like the Torre Egger or the Pumori, but I'd love to try them on. TNF sizes used to work well for me (6'4" 210 lbs).  It would also be fun to try some futurelight fabrics.   Do they live up to all the hype?  I remain highly suspicious, but the details (pockets, etc.) on the Pumori look spot on.  I'm curious.  But, good god, the price!

Bruno, have you tried the Fjällräven Bergtagen Eco-Shell Jacket?

Eco-Shell  has pros and cons but it's waterproof/breathable with at least some amount of stretch. Cut for skimo so looooong in the body. Should fit your frame. I've gone back to Gore-Tex for ice season after using one for a couple of years - not because it's not waterproof but because the face fabric is polyester. This enables stretch but also means it wets out quicker and takes slightly longer to dry than a comparable polyamide jacket. DWR is PFC-free, again with pros and cons. 

I haven't got experience with Futurelight but it seems comparable to Eco-Shell in this regard. One of my colleagues has one, he had one warrantied for premature pilling but haven't heard complaints since then. 

No experience with the Superfree. But overall, have heard not great things about Futurelight. Arc Alpha jackets are perfection. I also just got a OR Helium Ascentshell. Haven't climbed in it yet but it seems promising for the fit components you were talking about. Also not gore tex, so not sure how it will actually do in the alpine :/

I recently returned my futurelight ski pants for the membrane disintegrating after less than a year. Rumour has it TNF is going back to goretex. 

Thanks Bruno for the write up! I have been really curious about how this jacket feels and the prospects of how it will fit under a harness.

Has anyone used the Recon Pro Shell from BD? I have an older version of it called the Front Point Shell, but the pit zips are busted and I'm waiting to figure out if BD will fix it. I am wondering if the new version is as good as the older one?

It is kind of depressing how every jacket marketed to climbers is cut the same as the rest, more for skiers who want to think that they are some Eiger climber. I just ordered an older gen ME tupilak and will report back.

Update, the older generation mountain equipment Tupilak is cut quite well for climbing when I raise my arm  as far above my head a possible the hem moves just under half an inch. The cuffs are huge as to fit over glove the way Scottish mountaineers seem to do? The zipper is super beefy, I believe it is a YKK aqua guard. When I hunch down and look at my feet, as you might, when climbing, I find that the jacket sticks out in front less than other jackets. It is not cut super long but you don't need it because it doesn't pull out of the harness. The hood is monstrous, The largest I have ever had! It is supremely comfortable and protective Hopefully this is helpful!

Also the Mountain Equipment Kineses has the same great cut.

Update to an update, now i would say that the hem moves just under half an inch. It is not cut super long but you don't need it because it doesn't pull out of the harness. The hood is monstrous, The largest I have ever had! It is supremely comfortable and protective. it is worth remembering that it dose not have hand warmer pockets, only chest pockets, they are huge, it would be easy to fit a beacon or maybe even a rang-finder style camera with a pancake lens!. The older model has pit zips, the new one does not. All the elastic cords are split as to not catch carabiners. Hopefully this is helpful!

Also the Mountain Equipment Kineses has the same great cut.