Curiously, this Lowe Alpine top is the only Polartec Power Stretch item submitted. It’s a great material for a midlayer: warm, quick drying, light and, as you’d imagine, stretchy. This garment is much less a jacket, and a true midlayer. It’s close-fitting – as it needs to be for effectiveness, but you’d probably want to try it on.
I’ve worn it walking in winter, mountain biking (good long sleeves), running and scrambling and found it an excellent piece. It’s a warm piece so could only be used over a couple of seasons. There’s a half zip which is good for temperature regulation, and there’s a storm flap and chin guard. The raglan sleeves means there’s no seams under backpack straps, and the other seams are flatlocked.
It zips up high, but the softness of material and fleece lining means it’s not a problem. It also holds its form quite well when unzipped so you don’t get unwieldy pieces of fabric flapping around. There’s one small chest pocket – big enough for a phone – and that’s about it. The long sleeves have thumb loops around which is a soft fleece. If anything I’d have liked it a little longer in the back, but otherwise perfectly fit for purpose.
By Daniel Neilson
