7 noteworthy hard shell jackets made with GORE-TEX's latest material, C-KNIT

Hard shells using the latest Gore-Tex material, C-KNIT, are now available

Hard shells are all-weather outerwear that protect the body from harsh environments such as snowy mountains and ice walls. While they completely shut out rain, snow, wind, and cold air, they are thicker and bulkier than rain gear, so they tend to stay in the back of your closet during the spring and fall seasons. However, in the coming seasons, they will provide you with absolute peace of mind as a reliable shell

In the world of hard shells, the arrival of models using Polartec NeoShell when our editorial team tested one last year , we confirmed that it offers exceptional flexibility and breathability while maintaining a minimum of waterproof performance and durability, making it more than sufficient for all but the most extreme environments. While GORE-TEX Pro still holds its own in more extreme conditions like the dead of winter, there's no doubt that NeoShell has become a powerful option for outdoor enthusiasts who prioritize lighter weight.

Well, GORE-TEX, the king of waterproof and breathable materials, couldn't stay silent about this breakthrough. In 2015, after a long four-year wait, the long-awaited GORE C-KNIT Backer finally appeared. Simply put, what's so great about it is that compared to the previous 3-layer fabrics like GORE-TEX Pro,

• Lightweight and flexible for easy movement
• Improved breathability keeps you dry even when you're active
• Despite this, it has high waterproof durability (specific figures not disclosed)

It has successfully overcome the weaknesses of GORE-TEX Pro (just like NeoShell), and is also trying to beat NeoShell in terms of waterproof durability (though the exact figures are not public, so it's frustrating that the actual results are unclear). Our editorial team has already confirmed its capabilities in the spring/summer rainwear that was released earlier . And this fall/winter season, each manufacturer has been releasing items using this new material with their own unique concepts.

So, when it comes to choosing a hard shell for the 2015-2016 season, our editorial team has focused on models that use the GORE C-KNIT Backer. We've picked out seven jackets designed for use in snowy mountain trekking and backcountry skiing (there's a spec comparison table at the end). Let's get started

*Reference prices are current as of October 28, 2015

The Marmot Cerro Torre Jacket is a beginner's model for snowy mountains, offering basic functionality and sufficient durability.

Cerro Torre Jacket

Marmot

63,720 yen

451g

Marmot's newly redesigned Cerro Torre Jacket uses GORE C-KNIT throughout. It omits the chest pocket and snow skirt, which were present until last year, and seems designed for simpler, more basic uses (perhaps more suited to snowy mountain climbing than midwinter alpine climbing or ski touring). Still, it offers the bare essentials, including a wired hood, pit zips (underarm ventilation), and front and inner pockets. Depending on your weight, comfort, and ease of movement, this could be a very versatile and affordable model

The Patagonia Refugitive Jacket is a versatile jacket made with carefully selected fabrics, lightweight, and highly functional.

Refugitive Jacket

Patagonia

64,800 yen

425g

You'll understand the moment you slip it on. It's love at first sight. This jacket, designed for any adventure in the snowy world, is shockingly light and flexible, so much so that you'll think it's a GORE-TEX jacket. This is the result of using a thin 30D base fabric and ensuring 40D thickness in reinforced areas such as the shoulders and arms, resulting in the ultimate in lightweight construction. This attention to detail clearly conveys the NeoShell aesthetic. With two hand pockets, a chest pocket, and two interior pockets, the ample storage is sufficient even for winter, when small items are often packed in. Pit zips provide excellent ventilation

The OUTDOOR RESEARCH FURIO JACKET is a full-fledged alpine jacket that offers increased mobility while maintaining its high robustness and durability.

FURIO JACKET

OUTDOOR RESEARCH

42,120 yen

539g

The previous Furio Jacket used lightweight GORE-TEX Paclite for the body and durable GORE-TEX ProShell for the shoulders and upper sleeves. The new model uses GORE C-KNIT for the hood and previously ProShell sections, improving mobility, comfort, and breathability where you need it. Both use high-density 70D yarn, so durability and durability are no problem, and it can be said that overall performance has improved

THE NORTH FACE Starlight Jacket: A reliable piece designed with a deep understanding of Japanese winters

Starlight Jacket

THE NORTH FACE

48,600 yen

? g

This model combines two lightweight layers for the body and sleeves, with GORE C-KNIT on the shoulders, hood, and elbows, combining different materials for optimal performance. The two-layer design provides excellent insulation, while the three-layer (C-KNIT) provides excellent mobility and breathability. It's a user-friendly design that takes into account the sweat (moisture) and wind (cold air) that can be a problem in Japan's winter mountains. It's perfect for a wide range of activities, from the snowy autumn and early spring seasons to winter mountain climbing

The MAMMUT Alvier HS Hooded Jacket is a high-spec jacket packed with advanced features specifically designed for backcountry use.

Alvier HS Hooded Jacket

MAMMUT

75,600 yen

630g

While the models we've introduced so far are more geared towards alpine adventures, Mammut's GORE C-KNIT model is geared towards serious backcountry adventures. It's made with plenty of 70D high-density fabric, and features outstanding functionality, including a (removable) snow skirt and hand gaiters to keep out snow and cold air, plenty of pockets, and a microfiber cloth for wiping goggles. The ultimate ventilation feature is the wide ventilation, allowing you to roll up your sleeves freely (see around 0:33 in the video). It's packed with aggressive features that are uncharacteristic of Mammut (?)

The Peak Performance Heli Alpine Jacket is a premium hard shell for backcountry use, designed with ultimate functionality and beauty.

Heli Alpine Jacket

Peak Performance

92,880 yen

760g

Based in Sweden, Scandinavia, they continue to pursue uncompromising quality in categories such as skiing, alpine skiing, and adventure skiing. Their new flagship model is a monster, combining comfort, durability, and ease of use. Not only does it boast exceptional comfort and breathability thanks to the GORE C-KNIT, but it's also crafted with attention to detail, including fleece in areas that feel the cold and where the chin comes into direct contact with the skin, ensuring high comfort. The numerous pockets are also thoughtful, with the left chest pocket featuring an antenna hole for easy wireless storage. While it's certainly perfectly usable for alpine skiing, there's no doubt that this hard shell is the ultimate choice for skiers tackling the steep slopes of off-piste terrain

The Arc'teryx Zeta LT Jacket is a versatile outerwear for trekking that can be used all year round.

Zeta LT Jacket

Arc'teryx

57,240 yen

335g

Finally, Arc'teryx, a regular in high-performance clothing, has also produced a product with their own interpretation of GORE C-KNIT. First of all, it's important to point out that it might be better to think of it as a "rain jacket suitable for snow" rather than a jacket for serious snowy mountain climbing. The number of pockets, the roominess from the opening to the hood, and the lack of pit zips make it less than ideal for serious winter mountain climbing. In that sense, it could be positioned as high-performance rainwear for autumn and winter hiking. From that perspective, it's flexible, lightweight, easy to move in, and the large, convenient pockets make it an excellent rainwear piece that can be used year-round

summary

Finally, to make it easier to compare, we have listed the specs of the above models. We have not yet tried on all the items, so our comments are tentative, but as an editorial team, we believe that this year's "buy" is Patagonia if you plan on doing a lot of mountain climbing, and Mammut if you plan on mainly backcountry, taking into account overall usability. We plan to test and review several models from this range again this year, so please stay tuned!

Here's a recommended article on how to choose a hard shell

• How to Choose a Hard Shell and 10 Recommended Hard Shells

   

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