Accessible Pinnacle
A review of Keela Outdoors’ Pinnacle jacket
When Keela Outdoors told me that they were sending me a Pinnacle jacket, I have to confess, I was fairly neutral about the idea.. Hey, ho, it was a waterproof jacket, nothing to get too excited about. For me, new kit is just that, something to use for work and play, a tool, if you like.
I did a bit of online research and found that the Pinnacle had already attracted some highly positive reviews. Chris Townsend’s review in The Great Outdoors ended with the distinction of “Best Buy.” “This product has been awarded our ‘Best Buy’ endorsement, meaning our reviewer believes it to be one of the best items of it’s kind available.” Praise indeed. I started to get interested.
When the Pinnacle arrived I was equally impressed and, with the bad weather, it’s been a constant companion both on the hills and around town. Having had the Pinnacle jacket for a few months and having had lots of people asking about how it is, it seemed time to put pen to paper and summarise my thoughts. In a nutshell, it’s an “A” class jacket best summed up by a plethora of “B” words; it’s burly, bombproof and a bit of a bargain.
One of the first big days out with the Pinnacle was walking it to Sgurr na Stri for sunrise. This meant an early o’clock start, up at 0300 and leaving Sligachan at about 0345. The forecast wasn’t great with winds meant to be gusting to 55 MPH on the tops and with wind chill it was meant to feel like minus 16. On the plus side, visibility was meant to be excellent with quite a lot of sun.
Almost from the word go, there was very heavy, wind driven rain and it was to be a Full Metal Jacket day, waterproofs from top to toe. Conditions were abysmal, the path underfoot a torrent of water, rain beating down and winds funneling along the glen. On my top I wore the Pinnacle whilst my legs were encased in an expensive pair of goretex trousers. Perfect testing conditions to see how the Pinnacle did compared to the expensive, branded goretex.
With a big pack containing camera gear and tripod as well as winter gear and clothing, the walk in was arduous. Being about 12 KM with 500 M of ascent and with a deadline to meet, my pace was fast as I raced the rising sun. The well designed hood shielded me from the worst of the weather and the pit zips enabled me to control my core temperature. The Pinnacle seemed bombproof. I was a bit damp on arrival but given the heavy rain and my exertion then I’m not sure a goretex jacket would have done any better. Suffice to say that my legs were equally damp and the goretex didn’t appear to have been any more effective than the Aquaflex.
Luckily, the rain eased off and visibility was, as forecast, pretty good. The waterproofs stayed on for the rest of the day mainly as a barrier against the brutal winds. First big walk and I was seriously impressed with the Pinnacle.
What Keela says about the Pinnacle jacket;
“Waterproof, windproof and breathable, the Pinnacle Jacket delivers a tough, durable and technical 3 layer hard shell with all the features you need for on the mountain. Made with our Aquaflex Extreme fabric, the Pinnacle provides uncompromising severe weather protection.
Designed for the mountain professional this jacket is your all season must have.”
At any time of year, the Cuillin is a tough testing ground for both people and their gear. All approaches to the ridge start from nigh on sea level, so any of the Munros involves a big ascent. The majority of the rock is gabbro that’s renowned for it’s abrasive qualities and reputation for shredding finger tips, clothes and footwear. This winter, the weather has been dire with high winds and torrential rain along with the expected snow and ice. Thus, the Pinnacle has seen a lot of use in testing conditions.
The design and build is top notch and perfect for my use in the mountains of the Cuillin. From practical experience, I can say that it is superbly waterproof, very comfortable to wear all day
Many years back, possibly when goretex was in it’s early stages, I can remember saying to a climbing partner that I just wanted a well designed and thought out jacket with pitzips. Goretex was (and is still) super expensive and I have doubts about how good it is. Goretex may be fantastic in cold, dry conditions when the breathing qualities of the material work well. But, in the UK with our maritime climate and lots of rain, I’m not too sure how well goretex actually works especially when you are working hard and producing a lot of heat and condensation.
For me, a 4 season mountain jacket centres more around the design and construction parameters than the use of branded, supposedly breathable materials. Keela use their own proprietary breathable fabric called Aquaflex Extreme. This is “a moderately lightweight 3-layer waterproof fabric which is also breathable. Aquaflex Extreme combines these properties with a more robust and durable finish.”
From testing experience, the Aquaflex seems really good. It’s 100% waterproof and is breathable although possibly not as much as goretex. Having said that, without access to a laboratory and some serious scientific investigation, breathability seems largely down to variations in the climate conditions, how hard you are working and your personal physiology. I’m more interested in the design and build of a jacket than whether or not it’s made from a branded breathable fabric.
What I Like
1. Bombroof construction
The Pinnacle is a burly jacket, make no mistake but that’s what I want from a winter jacket. It’s going to have to protect me from high winds, snow, rain and hail so burly is good. Wearing the Pinnacle feels like having the protective attributes of a suit of armour without the weight/bulk/inflexibility.
At about 650 grams, it’s not the lightest but it gives me the confidence that it will protect me from the most extreme conditions mother nature is likely to chuck at me. The material is tough and feels like it will stand up to a lot of use. No signs of any abrasion, rips or tears despite a lot of contact with the notorious gabbro. This jacket inspires an awesome level of confidence in the protection it provides.
2. Design
The hood works really well whether wearing a helmet or not. There’s lots of scope to cinch things down both against the weather and if not having the bulk of a helmet to cover. There’s a stiff peak that has a wired rim and there’s a huge scope for adjusting volume using drawcords both at the front and back. I also like that the hood can be rolled down and neatly stowed away with a Velcro tab; ideal if the jacket is being used in windy conditions when the hood isn’t necessary. The hood fits well over a climbing helmet with plenty of room to still swivel you head left/right or up/down. There’s a wire stiffener in the brim which helps custom shape the peak. In extreme conditions, the hood provides a real shelter from the elements. With the front zip fully done up and the hood tightly cinched down, basically only your eyes remain exposed to the elements. Complete your ensemble with a pair of goggles and you’re bombproof in the worst weather conditions.
The pockets are ideally placed. Two voluminous chest pockets work well with either climbing harness or a pack’s hip belt. These are great for gloves, snacks, phone or anything else. There are two hand warmer pockets lower down which are great for, well, warming your hands but any contents would get in the way of harness/hipbelt. Nice to have especially if I’ve stopped to take photos and am waiting for some good light.
The hood has a stiff peak with a wired rim plus front and rear drawcords. The hood is helmet compatible but can be cinched down well over a hat or bare head. In really severe weather the collar can be pulled up over the mouth and nose so just your eyes are uncovered. Add goggles and you have as good protection as you can get and still see.
3. Construction
Construction continues the burly, bombproof theme. It looks like the stitch count on each seam is nice and high and all seams are neatly taped and sealed. Note, the taped seams are a full 2cm wide so no scrimping and saving here, just bombproof good practice. The 2cm wide taping makes the slimmer versions on top brands seem a bit wanting although this burly construction does reflect in the weight of the Pinnacle.
Personally, given the harsh Cuillin conditions, I’d opt for the burlier construction of the Pinnacle, knowing that it’s going to last much longer. This is good for you, good for your wallet and good for the planet so a winner all round.
4. Sizing
I’m not really sure how Keela have done this but the Pinnacle is a Tardis like creation. It’s generously sized yet with the design, the cinch cords on the hood and hem it can be worn just as well with a few thin layers as with a seriously warm insulated jacket underneath. For example, often I’ll be walking in during the night, ascending maybe 950m. It will be a high energy activity with a lot of heat and potential condensation generated. Perhaps it’s mega windy so I’ll want a hardshell and will wear the Pinnacle snugged down over a thin layer. When I arrive up on the ridge ready for sunrise photography, my first action will be to put on a nice, warm jacket like the Keela Solo or Patagonia DAS Parka. Either of these will fit under the Pinnacle jacket. Not just fit but easily fit so that the insulation isn’t too compressed and loses it’s insulative value.
I’m a medium for most tops and this is what I opted for with the Pinnacle and it works well for me.
5.Details
Small things can make a huge difference to usability. I’ve already mentioned the Velcro tab to secure the hood but in a similar vein there are tabs to secure the long ends of the hem draw cord if you’ve cinched it right up. Not just a neat and tidy solution but a safety issue. Who wants to snag crampons on a drooping drawcord or have it catch on a rock as you are climbing?
All the weather resistant zips have generously sized plastic tabs which are easy to use with gloved hands. The pit zips deserve a bit of praise because they just work well and are easy to zip/unzip with one hand. Some other jackets have pitzips which are a bit of a nightmare to operate, not so the Pinnacle.
Another nice touch is the micro fleece chin guard which adds comfort when the zip is fully done up. The arms seem a good length for me and don’t ride up if you are reaching over head. The velco adjusters at the cuffs are easy to adjust even when wearing big winter gloves and the variable adjustable cuffs means gloves can be snugged down inside them so as to complete your winter armour.
This is only a small detail but something that really bugs me with some of my other brand jackets. The manufacturers have gone mad to shave off weighs so not just minimal stitching and minute taping on the seams but minimalist loops to hang the coat up. One brand has taken minimising weight to such an extent that the loop is almost unusable and every time I come to hang the coat up or take it down then it’s a real battle. No such problems with the Pinnacle that has a really substantial and easy to sue hanging loop.
6. Colour
The Pinnacle is available in a nice range of colours; Rescue Red, Spice, Cobalt and Black. Well done to Keela for getting some nice bright colours in there. I wanted one that would look good in photos and the orange/spice looks great. Not only does it look good but shows up well if I was needing to be found.
7. UK Company
Support and repairs are easily arranged. Keela has a fantastic reputation for building tough clothing but if it does get damaged then they have their “Clothing Hospital.” I’ve just sent off a pair of trousers to Keela for repairs. Check their website for more details but there’s a lot of scope not just to get repairs done but also alterations. Think, zip replacements, patches, whole panel replacements and shortening trouser legs and the arms of jackets.
Check their website but I was amazed at how cost effective the prices are. For example, to replace the main waterproof zip costs £20.
8. Cost
Cost really does seal the deal. With top of the range, big brand named, goretex jackets costing up to £500, £600 or more then the Pinnacle at £154 is a genuine bargain and should outlast it’s more expensive rivals
What I don’t like ?
Unusually for a review, I am really struggling to find any negatives. Sure, it’d be great if it was half the weight and even cheaper but that would mean a real struggle with the laws of physics and economic reality. If I was being picky then I’d have to say that the weight might put me off using it in the summer when it’s robust qualities might be overkill. But for winter use, or days with a dire forecast then it’s the business.
Conclusion
It’s great that a UK company such as Keela has produced such a wonderful winter waterproof at such a low price point. It’s well featured, well designed and well built.
Whilst the jury’s out on long term durability, I’m confident it will hold up well. I have other Keela items which are five years old and still going strong and there seem to be a lot of stories of people with Keela gear which seemingly lasts forever.
Suffice to say that it has become my go to jacket this winter. I’ve got a good choice of other jackets by Arcteryx, Rab and Marmot but the Pinnacle certainly hold it’s own and at a fraction of the cost.
https://keelaoutdoors.com/product/pinnacle-jacket/
