Review: MILLET Typhon 50000 Warm Stretch Jacket. Waterproof, highly breathable, stretchy, warm, and comfortable. What more could you want?
Written by Yasushi Hisatomi
Waterproof and breathable jackets for outdoor use, such as hard shells and rainwear, are now all "highly breathable and stretchy." Manufacturers are competing to release new models that boast excellent sweat-wicking properties and ease of movement, and this seems to be the latest trend
Millet has been independently developing this highly breathable, stretchy hard shell for about four years now. This is the "Teiphon 50000" series. Its high performance and excellent balance blew people away at the time, and even after several years, even with minor updates, the basic performance remains unchanged, and it's amazing how it still boasts top-level quality. As with mesh underwear such as the now-standard "mesh shirt," Drynamic™ Mesh, Millet continues to impress with its unique perspective that remains ahead of the market
The Typhon 50000 series has steadily expanded its lineup, and this season it has introduced many interesting variations, including an above-the-knee coat type and a down jacket type with down filling. Today we will be taking a look at the Typhon 50000 Warm Stretch Jacket,
table of contents
Key Features of the Millet Typhon 50000 Warm Stretch Jacket
This hard shell rainwear is suitable for all seasons, offering high levels of waterproofing and breathability, comfort, and freedom of movement. With a water column resistance of 20,000mm and breathability of 50,000g/m²/24h, the fabric offers top-level weather resistance and comfort, keeping you comfortable in any weather. The soft, stretchy fabric and three-dimensional cut ensure a comfortable fit and stress-free freedom of movement. The brushed lining provides moderate warmth, making this the perfect outer jacket for cold-weather outdoor activities like mountain climbing and skiing in the fall and winter
Recommended points
- Fully waterproof and highly breathable
- Soft and stress-free to wear
- Moderate heat retention
- Packable
Points of concern
- The brushed lining can get in the way during activities that cause a lot of sweating
- There are better models for serious snow activities
Main specifications and evaluation
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Item Name | Typhon 50000 Warm Stretch Jacket |
| official weight | 520g |
| Actual weight | 460g (JP L size) |
| material | DRYEDGE™ TYPHON 50000 BRUSHED BACK 100% NYLON |
| Water pressure resistance | 20,000mm |
| Breathability | 50,000g/m2/24h |
| 2 hand pockets, 1 inner chest pocket | |
| Food | Articulated hood with adjustable fit at top, back and front |
| evaluation | |
| waterproof | ★★★★☆ |
| Breathability | ★★★★★ |
| Comfort | ★★★★★ |
| mobility | ★★★★☆ |
| durability | ★★★★☆ |
| weight | ★★★☆☆ |
| Functionality | ★★★☆☆ |
Item Appearance
Detailed Review
DRYEDGE™ TYPHON 50000: A high-spec material that offers everything you need in an outerwear piece
The Typhon 50000 Warm Stretch Jacket (hereafter referred to as Typhon Warm) is made from a proprietary three-layer fabric called DRYEDGE™ TYPHON 50000. While highly breathable (or highly breathable) rainwear and hard shells that wick away sweat are becoming commonplace in outdoor activities these days, this material, despite only being available for four or five years, remains one of the most breathable fabrics available. It's also waterproof, with a water column resistance of 20,000mm, making it a reliable choice for trail running and short-term activities, as well as serious mountain climbing
The fabric is "Dry Edge Typhon 50000" with excellent specifications. The outer fabric is lightly brushed, which is quiet and has good water repellency, probably because it is designed for use on snow
Soft and comfortable to wear, with moderate heat retention
The notion of a stiff, armor-like winter hard shell is now a thing of the past. Anyone who slips on this jacket will experience a soft feel and comfortable fit that's hard to believe it's a hard shell. One factor contributing to its popularity is its relatively light weight (460g in JPL size), which is quite light for an all-season hard shell. Other key factors include the clever three-dimensional cut and the moderate flexibility of the mechanical stretch nylon, which reduces stress when rotating the upper body or swinging the arms. While we tend to focus on fabrics used by various manufacturers, such as GORE-TEX, Pertex Shield, and Polartec Neoshell, I think the capabilities of this material should be more widely known
When I pulled the arm part with all my might, it stretched more than I expected, even though it wasn't made of a polyurethane-like material
Since it's positioned as a hard shell primarily for autumn and winter, it has a brushed lining and is designed to provide a certain degree of warmth even when worn alone. Opinions differ on this point. Having the shell itself provide warmth can help with layering if you're not doing much activity in low temperatures, but if you're doing activities that cause you to sweat a lot even in low temperatures, you'll want to take off a hot shell. In that sense, the Typhon Warm isn't a big deal for general skiing or snow hiking, but you should be careful if you're wearing it for high-tempo winter activities
The lining is waterproofed with seam tape and the brushed fabric provides a certain degree of warmth
High functionality with careful attention to detail
As you'd expect from a representative model from a long-established brand that has been making authentic hard shell jackets for many years, the sense of balance in the details is superb. For example, while eliminating unnecessary parts such as a storage bag, the packable design allows you to wrap the jacket in the hood and store it by hooking the cord lock, a convenient feature that has been a part of this series for a long time
Simply roll it up and put it inside the hood. By hooking the cord lock, it can be stored into a cylindrical shape of about 25cm
The inner pocket is located on the left chest lining and is large enough to hold a smartphone or a Shobunsha mountain climbing map
The inner pocket can fit a smartphone or map, but ski gloves would be difficult to fit
The front zipper is a smooth Vislon zipper that is durable, waterproof, and freeze-resistant, making it perfect for winter. The double zipper design allows you to open it from the top and bottom. By opening the zipper from the bottom, you can prevent the garment from flapping around, improve ventilation, or lift your thighs more easily, allowing you to customize your style
The front has a Vislon double zipper, which can be conveniently opened at the top and bottom when it's hot, increasing ventilation and preventing flapping
The two hand warmer pockets on the left and right are waterproof with waterproof zippers, and as is customary with mountain jackets, they are positioned high enough to not interfere with a hip belt or harness
The hand warmer pockets are positioned high enough to be accessible even when wearing a hip belt or harness
The cuffs are made of elastic rubber and Velcro. They're not wide enough to fit over ski gloves, so they're not perfect for serious skiing, but they're easy to adjust and provide a good seal
Elastic cuffs and Velcro for easy adjustment
The large hood can be worn over a helmet and can be securely fastened to your head using Velcro at the top and cord locks on the back of the head and cheeks. The brim is large enough to withstand heavy wind and rain without any problems
The large helmet-compatible hood can be adjusted for a secure fit
I actually wore it on an autumn hike
I walked in Tanzawa Mountains in temperatures around 5°C. With thin rainwear, I would have wanted to wear another layer of insulation or fleece between my base layer, but thanks to the warmth of this jacket and Millet's Drynamic™ mesh underwear, there was no need. In other words, my go-to combination was mesh underwear + base layer (a blend of merino wool and synthetic fibers) + Typhon Warm.
The combination of Drynamic's outstanding sweat management and heat retention, and Typhon Warm's breathability, weather resistance and heat retention provides minimal yet maximum comfort for autumn and winter hikes
Other than at the beginning of the walk, I didn't feel cold at all, even when going up or downhill, or when the wind was blowing through, so there was no need for warmer clothing. The windproof and heat-retaining properties of the shell itself kept out the cold air and prevented body heat from escaping, and the "bucket relay of sweat" made up of the three layers of Drynamic, base layer, and Typhon Warm worked perfectly, so I didn't get cold from sweat, which was a major factor. Furthermore, in the middle of winter when the temperature drops, by combining it with a high-performance insulation such as the Breather Toy Hoody , you can achieve a complete layering system that does not require taking off or putting on clothes, even when exercising in even colder temperatures.
The fit is loose enough that you won't feel cramped even if you layer thick clothes underneath, but the silhouette isn't too bulky, which is a plus. Personally, I think this year's honey mustard color is a hit, and it seems to be getting better every year
By leaving the front zipper almost fully open from both the top and bottom while hiking, I was able to ventilate with the wind from the front and prevent the clothing from flapping around. If you're not doing too much exercise, you can still be comfortable without having to take it off. However, if you start to sweat seriously, the warmth of the lining will get in the way, so you'll probably want to take it off. As someone who likes pit zips, I wish they had them
Summary: From autumn leaf viewing to skiing and snow trekking. A hard shell with high levels of essential functionality
Compared to the spring/summer Typhon 50000 Stretch Jacket, the fabric is thicker and the lining is now brushed tricot, which made me worried that breathability might be hindered, but perhaps because I used it after the temperature had dropped, I was able to fully enjoy how well it wicked away sweat. This excellent hard shell, with its waterproof, breathable, stretchy, moderate warmth, and soft feel, fulfilled all the necessary outerwear needs for early autumn hiking, just as I expected. For those who hike in the spring, summer, and fall, and ski or trek in the low mountains in the winter, this is the perfect hard shell to wear from the autumn leaves to the remaining snow in spring
One thing to note is that for those who primarily do more strenuous winter activities like ski touring or ice climbing rather than trekking, the jacket is a bit general-purpose, so while it's not impossible, you might find it lacking compared to hard shells designed for specific activities. However, as these models are often a bit pricey, this is a highly recommended piece for those who are gradually becoming accustomed to the world of the mountains and are stepping into the world of winter for the first time
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