MAMMUT Ultimate Advanced Jacket 2011

The best soft shell I've owned since my time in the outdoors (from 1994 to now) was the MAMMUT Clime Jacket. I've owned two Clime jackets since 2005 and just wore out my second one this year and I've been shopping for a good replacement since Mammut doesn't make or sell the Clime Jacket anymore. The Ultimate Advanced, a cross between the flimsy Brisk Jacket and Ultimate Hoody, is Mammut's closest attempt at replacing the Clime Jacket since 2008. However this jacket is super expensive to buy retail if you can find one. I was lucky enough to snatch one up on sale.

PROS: The Advance Jacket has a lot of hidden features - the inside storm flap, for one, folds away by itself when the jacket is unzipped. The pit zips are really easy to open and close with one hand. The Jacket is lighter than you would expect but not as light or packable as the Brisk or Clime. A high cinching collar with a low-hanging dual-cinching hemline and long sleeves for the size provides great protection-this was one of the few flaws of the Clime that the Advanced jacket fixes. Great placement of ventilation pockets so they don't get in the way of a climbing harness or backpack hip belt. The Advanced Jacket is also very warm for weight and can be likened to getting Patagonia R4 warmth in something like an R2 fleece. Cut and design is really great and economical there is not too much fabric to bunch up and bog you down.

CONS: My biggest gripe (and where the jacket lost 2 big stars is that the sleeves are NOT articulated. So the arms and torso of the jacket rides up and bunches up the minute you raise your hands above your head. This makes the jacket utterly useless for any activity where climbing, paddling and using your arms are important. For that I had to return it. Also the front pockets are NOT really pockets but narrow ventilation slits. At best you can put keys and lip balm in them.

This is the GRAPHITE color:







Issue with the Sleeves NOT being Articulated! The torso rides up and bunches when moving your arms. Compare to the Patagonia Down Jacket which has Articulated Sleeves:



The BLACK COLOR: