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What is the Belay Parka?
The Belay Parka is an essential for climbers and belayers during the wintertime. It's a warm, synthetically insulated jacket designed for bail-worthy winter belaying conditions during challenging winter ascents and alpine adventures. Oh, did I mention it's also the warmest synthetic jacket in the Black Diamond range?
What is it made of?
Shell: The face fabric is 50D polyester ripstop that provides ample abrasion resistance and durability for rugged, rocky terrain. It's treated with a PFC-free DWR for added water resistance, which, combined with the synthetic insulation, helps to keep you dry and warm during belay duty (although please note that this doesn't make it waterproof).
Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) used in earlier DWRs can't 'break down', so once they reach nature (usually via water waste from factories), they stay out in the environment and contaminate living organisms, working their way up the food chain. PFC's are suspected carcinogens and have been known to affect reproduction and hormone production in mammals. For these reasons, many brands are now using PFC-free alternatives to reduce the impact manufacturing has on our beautiful planet.
Insulation: Two different types of PrimaLoft® insulation provide maximum efficiency, which include PrimaLoft® Gold and PrimaLoft® Rise.
PrimaLoft® Gold Insulation is a synthetic insulation that provides ample warmth, breathability and efficiency with lower bulk and weight. The smaller fibres of this insulation provide maximum thermal efficiency; they're thinner than human hair, and the thinner the fibres, the warmer the insulation will be. Synthetic insulation is also effective when wet, unlike down insulation which loses all its heat as it becomes damp, making it ideal for adventures in challenging conditions.
PrimaLoft® Rise is made with recycled content, like post-consumer plastic bottles, and provides impressive thermal values with lesser weight and thickness. It's incredibly versatile, and being synthetic, it once again proves effective when damp.
Synthetic PrimaLoft® insulation also makes a great vegan alternative to down if you seek something free of animal products.
Lining: The Belay Parka is lined with lightweight 20D nylon, which feels smooth to the touch. It's incredibly durable yet breathable enough to help regulate temperature and keep sweat/condensation build-up at bay.
The fabrics are also bluesign® approved, meaning they're manufactured in a way that is safe for the environment, workers and consumers. bluesign® certifications ensure that the materials used avoid harmful substances, use reduced air and water emissions, increase resource productivity, and the production line is more transparent and trustworthy.
What are its features?
The hood is adjustable and helmet compatible, making it ideal for belaying your partner on long, multi-pitch routes halfway up the wall. You can use a single hand to pull the cord adjuster, making it super easy if you're already holding onto ropes and gear and want to secure some extra warmth.
You can fasten the jacket with the two-way zip at the front. This zip is belay-device friendly for ultimate climbing functionality and also provides good ventilation when needed and easy access to your climbing harness underneath - you can simply unzip it from the bottom! A wind flap with DWR also sits at the main entry point for added weather protection, maximising warmth and keeping the breeze out.
Underarm gussets enhance freedom of movement where climbers need it most and help to keep any stress off vital seams. The cuffs are lightweight and stretchy to provide ample wrist motion and comfortably fit a smartwatch or chunky gloves underneath.
For storage, there are two zipped hand pockets, and two zipped chest pockets for small essentials like energy gels, snacks, a headtorch or a mobile phone; the left chest pocket also has an internal stretch mesh pocket to hold valuables like keys or cash. Two interior drop pockets are also handy for extras like gloves, water bottles or a small map/guidebook.
Lastly, you can adjust the hem using another single-pull cord which is super easy to use with cold fingers, chunky gloves or just one hand.
Features:
- Redesigned fabric and fit
- Adjustable climbing helmet-compatible hood
- Lightweight, stretchy cuffs
- Two-way belay device-friendly YKK® front zipper with DWR and wind flap
- Single-pull cord adjust on the hood and hem
- Underarm gussets for added range of motion
- Two zippered hand pockets, two zippered chest pockets and two internal drop pockets
- Left chest pocket has internal stretch mesh pocket