Mountain Equipment Kinesis
Warmest fleece from the Fall/Winter 2018 Gear Guide.
“A fleece-turned-belay jacket.” That’s how one tester described the Kinesis after a season of climbing and skiing in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. The lining is made from hollow polyester fibers (the core retains warm air). The fibers are grooved, which boosts surface area—giving the Kinesis the warmth of a puffy without extra weight. On a -5°F day hiking on Franconia Ridge, it kept our tester warm over just a mid- weight baselayer.
THE DETAILS
The Kinesis’s hood stood out on the coldest days. Lined with the same grooved yarn as the rest of the fleece, its close fit (comfy without a ski helmet but capable of stretching over one) and high collar insulated our tester’s face and neck from 0°F temps on Mt. Moosilauke. The 30-denier nylon face fabric withstood a season of ski edges and sharp New England schist. Ding: price.
TRAIL CRED
“The hand pockets are fully insulated too—nice for warming up,” one tester reported after an early-season climbing session in Rumney, New Hampshire.
Weight: 11.3 oz. (m’s L)
Sizes: Men’s S-XXL, Women’s XS-XL
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See more of the best Insulation for Winter 2018
See the entire Winter Gear Guide
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