Under Armour ColdGear Reactor Hooded Jacket Review
When I was in the market for a winter coat this season, I went with a ColdGear Reactor Hooded Jacket by Under Armour after doing some research and then seeing one beam at me from the store rack. Purchase made, why has this particular jacket become my new favorite accessory for both wilderness snow camping and urban treks to happy hour? We’ll because Under Armour as come pretty close to making the perfect jacket (if one ever existed).
The ColdGear Reactor jacket follows a strong trend running through the outdoor industry right now – making technical apparel more stylish and wearable. Think rugged, water resistant materials that feel good when you wear them and don’t look all crinkly. That’s precisely what Under Armour has done with the ColdGear Reactor jacket.
Features and Technology
Much thought has been put into making this jacket what it is. ColdGear™ Technology – an all new sythetic isolation material, keeps you warm when you’re not moving, and wicks away moisture when you get active. Storm 2 technology is on the surface, providing wind and water resistance. Even how the jacket is sown has a lot of consideration in it. Stitch lines are strategically placed to provide more warmth, less warmth or breathablity based on where the body regulates heat.
A major feature of this jacket is the MagZip™ zipper that has a puzzle carriage design and magnets that effortlessly connect the zipper every time upon start. Waist pockets are secured by zippers and the lower hem of the jacket is adjustable if it gets windy.
Yet another, and probably one of the coolest features this jacket offers is the integrated carry bag. Simply unzip the interior breast pocket and stuff the jacket into it. This results in a neat compact way to transport the Reaction jacket, making it great for travel. I’ll be taking mine to the Andes next month.
Real World Test – Technical & Practical
While Under Armour has tested this jacket between 0° and 55° degrees Fahrenheit, I’m managed to get mine down to 28° last weekend while tent camping through a winter storm at Mt. Laguna CA, that brought 30 mile an hour winds and 8 inches of snow. The Reactor held up well to that weather and kept my warmth regulated as I struggled to set up a four-season tent, and later hunkered down through the storm. While these jackets have some bulk to them, they weigh next to nothing, a great choice for backpacking, and aren’t too puffy to be worn as an mid or outer layer.
From an everyday standpoint, I’m always grabbing for this jacket. I settled on the hooded version in arctic camo, which a) makes it a neutral that can be worn with just about anything else, and b) has some flare to it as it’s a pattern. Photos on the web don’t really do this arctic camo justice, which is actually created from a modern half-tone pattern you begin to pick up on from about five feet way. This makes it a very cool jacket style wise that I’ve thrown on over business casual.
