Cloudveil RPK Parka and Pants
Nov 19, 2008 · 03:31 AM · permalink
The Cloudveil RPK Parka and RPK Pants arrived last week and right off, I was impressed with the quality of the construction and feel of both items. Which is good because together they have a street value of about $900.
The RPK series uses the Gore-Tex Soft Shell waterproofing system and they seem to be vastly more breathable than Gore-Tex Pro Shell. That said, the fabric itself is not quite a softshell and not quite a hardshell but somewhere in between. These are uninsulated shells but inside they have a nice fuzzy finish as well as fleece "body mapping" which provide a fair bit of warmth.
God is in the details, and though minimalist, these pieces certainly have those.
The jacket has a comfortable neck gaiter with a cinch; an upper-shoulder pass pocket with elastic cord that snaps back when you're done showing your pass; a flap to keep the zipper from icing and protect your chin; two ample interior mesh pockets; removable hood with adjustment; pit zips with two-way zippers; and a sturdy but light powder skirt with pants-integration.
The pants have 7/8-length two-way side zips; plenty of pockets (two front, one rear, and one thigh); and mesh-vented boot gaiters.
Both pieces have fully-taped seams, waterproof zippers, and ample zipper flaps for added protection. The sizing feels right on or even a little on the small size. I ordered both pieces in small—usually just fine for me in ski wear—and will have to trade them for mediums. The size small jacket is a close but comfortable fit on me with just enough room for a couple layers. The design of the jacket and slight stretch of the fabric allows plenty of freedom of movement despite the trim fit but, as I mention below, length of the jacket and shoulders seem to cause some problems with the hood.
There are a few downsides that do need to be mentioned:
- The zipper flaps on the pants are kind of stiff (being a double-thick layer of fabric) which causes them to buckle and pinch when bending. It's not intolerable, just a little constraining, and perhaps this will go away when I go up a size and/or once broken in.
- The pit zips, though nicely designed, are also kind of stiff. I'm hoping that, also, will take care of itself as they break in.
- A two-way zipper on a jacket is kind of an important feature to me, and it's disappointing that for $500, Cloudveil couldn't have put one on the RPK.
- Although the left-interior pocket has a cell-phone pocket, it will be a tight fit for an iPhone (especially is you use a silicone protector like me).
- The zip-off hood is skimpy in its dimensions, barely able to accommodate a helmet, which I hope will be remedied by going up a size.
| Specs: Cloudveil RPK Parka | |
| Price as tested | $494.95 |
| Shell | 115 x 70 denier face; 94% nylon, 6% spandex; Gore-Tex Soft Shell 3-layer fabric with two-way stretch |
| Weight | 34 oz 963.9 gm |
| Sizes | S, M, L, XL |
| Colors | Black, flax (yellow), metro (blue), sienna (reddish-brown), tarmac (khaki) |
| Features |
|
| Specs: Cloudveil RPK Pants | |
| Price as tested | $394.95 |
| Shell | 115 x 70 denier face; 94% nylon, 6% spandex; Gore-Tex Soft Shell 3-layer fabric with two-way stretch |
| Weight | 26 oz 737.1 gm |
| Sizes | S, M, L, XL |
| Colors | Black, tarmac (khaki) |
| Features |
|
Comments
Update: The Cloudveil RPK Parka hits the reject pile.
Any further thoughts on this jacket? I was worried about the collar when I tried it on in the store, and you post seems to confirm that impression. However, the few folks i know that have this piece, think very very highly up it
Hey D—thanks for the comment.
My final thoughts are in Cloudveil RPK Parka hits the reject pile, but to summarize that, the RPK failed my requirements in three chief areas:
It didn’t provide an adequate barrier to cold. I couldn’t tell if it was leaking or conducting, cold, but my insulation layer could not keep up as a result (I’ve since verified that my insulation layer works fine with other shells).
The collar was uncomfortable and provided inadequate face and neck protection.
The fabric is fairly heavy and anywhere it is doubled up or has a zipper sewn in, it tended to bind.
Overall, to me the RPK seems more like a hard wearing all purpose shell (or work shell) than a technical shell, and for me the price tag is just too steep to hope that it breaks in and becomes comfortable. It’s extremely well made and feels tough, but not particularly versatile, which is one of my main requirements for a ski shell.
I have several more shells to cover that might be better choices.
I have the 1 season older RPK and found it to be quite the opposite of your findings. With correct insulating pieces, it has be come my jacket of choice for the nastiest, snowiest and windiest of days. I’ve never felt a “draft”. And the hood is perfect for a helmet. I wear my XL Giro nine9 helmet under the hood regularly and find I have amazing protection AND peripheral vision. I can’t comment on the shortness of the neck due to my beard :)
Also, this is the first Cloudveil jacket that has been large enough to fit me. A large fits me very true to size.
To anyone considering this jacket, I’d say take a look for yourself. The reviewer didn’t seem to like it, but I think this is a great jacket, and my only complaint has been answered in this new version…a zippered phone pocket!
cheers.
Hey Dave, thanks for the comments. I wonder if they changed the hood with this new version, because although the hood -will- fit over a helmet, it’s a very tight fit and completely screws up how the jacket wears. That was true for the small and the medium.
What have you found with break in? Has it become more supple over time? I had problems with the stiffness of the collar, the pits zips, etc. but Cloudveil’s site did mention a break in period. Did yours improve over time?
Also, I’ve since tested the same insulation layer (a lightweight down midlayer) with other shells under similar conditions and find it completely adequate—so in my test of the RPK something was not working.
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