Field test results for the Rock Jacket

Takanobu Mizuno, a mountain guide who enjoys all-round activities including year-round mountaineering, variation routes, various climbing styles, and backcountry skiing, has shared his impressions of the newly released "Rock Jacket" this season.

Takanobu Mizuno [ TAKANOBU MIZUNO ] https://guide-mizuno.com/

The Rock Jacket was field tested in Ogawayama, Nagano Prefecture, using its predecessor, the Wind River AP Hoody.

The Rock Jacket is an updated version that maintains its major feature of high abrasion resistance while also being suitable for use in a variety of climbing situations, including rock climbing, with pockets positioned so that they do not interfere with harnesses.

The test started with a multi-pitch climb, a narrow chimney with some back-scratching moves that were perfect for this test.

Despite the rough texture of granite, the fabric was perfectly fine and barely even felt worn. This result alone suggests that the material has extremely high abrasion resistance.

On long, multi-pitch climbs, lightweight gear is key, and the same goes for clothing.

When it's windy, it can be difficult to decide what to wear, but when it comes to cold and windproof clothing, you want to carry it as thin and compactly as possible. When you're climbing, you're moving, so you stay warm, but when the wind picks up while you're belaying in a shaded area, you can feel the chill to your core, even in the middle of summer.

This jacket has the advantage of not letting heat escape easily. It blocks the wind well, so you can use your own body heat to keep warm.

Perhaps the biggest advantage is the addition of a function that allows for easy donning and doffing on the route. This extremely lightweight and packable jacket comes with a carabiner loop, so it can be attached to the gear loop on your harness with a carabiner.

In my case, I attach it to the gear loop on the back of my harness, and this is where it really shines.

When putting on or taking off a jacket in a strong wind, for example, when the climbing rope is flying around, the jacket is likely to fly off. However, this model can be put on or taken off without removing the carabiner from the harness, that is, while it is hanging from the gear loop.

Of course, it doesn't interfere with subsequent belaying or climbing. When storing it, you can easily pack it up by pushing it into the pocket, and finally it becomes completely packable with one action without using a zipper. After storing it, it's very compact, about the size of your palm.

It gives you peace of mind that it won't blow away, and is a reliable companion that will keep you warm from the moment you put it on.

By the way, to make this function even smoother, I usually wear size S clothing, but for the Rock Jacket I use size M.