What is the Spire Mimic Jacket?
The Spire Mimic is a lightweight, super breathable, warm insulated jacket featuring Haglofs' new Mimic Gold insulation and a Pertex Quantum recycled outer fabric. It's perfectly suitable for virtually any outdoor activity, from mountaineering to dog walking.
What is it made of?
Insulation: Haglofs use a mixture of their recycled Mimic Gold insulation and QuadFusion fabrics throughout the Spire. Mimic Gold mimics (see where it gets its name?) the natural warmth of down without the negative effects when it gets wet, meaning a more versatile jacket in changeable conditions. This insulation is blown into the baffles like down, meaning it's more packable and lightweight than an alternative synthetic jacket using just sheet insulation. The benefit to sheet insulation, however, is it offers greater warmth when stationary. Haglofs have used their QuadFusion sheet insulation throughout the centre of the jacket to keep your core warm and protected — this means you benefit from the best of both insulation types without a drastic weight or pack size increase.
Fabrics: Surrounding the insulation is a recycled Pertex Quantum fabric with a durable water repellent coating. This fabric is super lightweight yet offers good all-round durability and weather-resistance. Stretchy fleece side panels increase breathability and comfort during active pursuits.
What are the features?
An insulated and adjustable hood provides extra warmth when stationary, while two zipped hand pockets and one chest pocket provide essential storage for your usual bits and bobs. An elasticated hem and cuffs seal out the cold and will fit over gloves or additional layers. Articulated sleeves along with the stretchy side panels mean you won't feel restricted when climbing or when using walking poles.
Where does it fit in the layering system?
The Spire Mimic can either be used as a super warm midlayer with a shell over the top in heavy rain or as an outer layer in dry, cold conditions. Even if the jacket gets soaking wet, it'll still provide warmth and will dry quickly.
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Recycled Mimic Gold/QuadFusion insulation
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Recycled Pertex Quantum outer fabric
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Insulated, adjustable hood
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Stiffened peak
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Two zipped hand pockets
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One zipped chest pocket
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Elasticated cuffs & hood
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Articulated sleeves
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Stretchy side panels
How Should Your Insulated Jacket Fit?
Insulated jackets are pedantic little things. Too tight and you'll compress the insulation and limit the warmth capabilities of your brand new jacket, too loose and you'll spend hours warming up the dead space inside the jacket. Getting the correct fit isn't just about aesthetics, it will determine how warm you are.
The Incorrect Fit
Too loose: A jacket which is too loose will keep you relatively warm, however it will take far longer to do so and will waste large amounts of your precious energy. An insulated jacket works by trapping the natural heat that your body gives off in the fibres of the insulation; this creates a micro-climate inside your jacket, keeping you warm and toasty. If your jacket is too loose, heat will be able to escape through the hem, the sleeves and the neck of the jacket; it's a little like sticking the heating on in your car with the windows cracked open - it will heat up, just incredibly slowly.
Too tight: A jacket which is too tight is arguably worse than one that is too loose. If your jacket is far too tight, the baffles can compress to a point where the insulation can't loft effectively, limiting the amount of warmth it can trap. Essentially, it won't work!
The Correct Fit
It's a tricky one to explain, but it's somewhere in the middle. You've first got to consider how many layers you'll tend to wear underneath; will you have just a t-shirt then the jacket, or possibly a baselayer, midlayer and then the jacket? When you've figured out your layers and you've popped your insulated jacket over the top, you shouldn't have any dead space inside. The cuffs and hem should be comfortably sealed around your waist and wrists with room to move. You should be able to lift an arm up above your head without the hem of the jacket lifting more than an inch or so, and the sleeves should be long enough that when carrying out the same motion, they aren't mid-way up your forearm. Your shoulders and chest area should have enough room so that your hands can touch behind your back without feeling restricted.
Additional Information
Lastly, consider which activites you'll primarily be carrying out while wearing the jacket. Are you primarily using it as a winter climbing piece, or an everyday/dog walking jacket? You'll find that technical climbing jackets tend to feature a shorter cut, while urban and casual jackets feature a longer cut to offer additional warmth with less mobility.
To see examples of what a badly fitting and correctly fitting jacket looks like, click here.