Listed on CMP's site as the Man Jacket Fix Hood, this outer shell jacket is a no-nonsense, waterproof, breathable and tough ski jacket for on-mountain, all-weather protection.
With over 50 years of fabric design and technology CMP use their own three-layer fabric on this jacket, with a thermal laminate sandwiched between its layers. The resulting feel is of a tough and moderately stiff fabric but which is not as noisy on the move as some rival waterproof shells.
Waterproofing is a claimed 15,000mm, putting the Fixed Hood on the high end of normal for keeping the weather out. This performance is further improved by fully taped seams and water-resistant zips throughout - with the most waterproof zips placed on the side pocket zips. Although still water-resistant, the main front zip focuses principally on tough, reliable closure, with a storm flap inside to keep the worst wind and rain out.
Breathability is a claimed 10,000 MVP, which is moderate but in testing we were able to avoid moisture build-up on the inside of the jacket by using the long pit zips and opening up the long side pockets, where clever use of a fine mesh allowed fresh air in and hot, moist vapour to escape.
Although we missed having a chest pocket, the clever insertion of zipped inner mesh pockets into the main side pockets worked well, storing valuables above the removable double gel-grippered snow skirt and at the top of the long, deep pockets.
Other features include adjustable cuffs, a micro-fleece panel on the back of the neck, wrist gaiters with thumb loops, a ski pass pocket on the sleeve and an offset zipped pleat under the chin which allows you to drop or raise the hood, without opening the jacket's main zip.
Overall a comfortable, dependable and tough shell jacket with decent but not outstanding breathability and waterproofing for long days on and off the pistes. Our only criticism would be the rather ineffective hood tensioning toggles.
