5 Mountain Equipment Fitzroy Jacket Review

Reviewer: Alexander Dingwall, Carluke   (1-5-2012)

Just back from a long weekend on Skye. Despite the brilliant weather, the winds were bitterly cold at times. The Fitzroy was perfect in terms of weight and performance. Even the odd winter shower was shrugged off without any problem. The hand-warmer pockets being especially welcome.

5 Mountain Equipment Fitzroy Jacket (Winter 2011) Review

Reviewer: Marcin Gorski, Warszawa   (8-4-2012)

I bought the Mountain Equipment Fitzroy Jkt as a ski mountaineering belay jacket and now I can’t imagine any ski mountaineering outing without it. I use it when I need extra warmth once I have reached a summit and need a few minutes to remove my skins, repack things and rest before a descent.

The jacket may seem a bit roomy for size XL but I put it over my wet soft shell or hard shell jacket without the need to undress in freezing cold. And because of the extra room and active cut the Fitzroy does not restrict movement when skiing. At the same time the jacket with its synthetic insulation is so packable that it will also fit under a hard shell. Unlike down, it does not loose warmth when wet! The cut of the hood is really superb as it fits very well and does not restrict vision, also thanks to the volume adjuster which is easy to operate. The side pockets are generous and will easily accommodate a pair of skins or gloves. And as they are fleece lined they will keep your hands warm as well. When the side pockets are covered with your rucksack’s hip belt you can also use a spacious chest pocket to keep your paraphernalia at hand. And if this is not enough there is also an inner security pocket.

All in all, the Fitzroy is an awesome bit of kit!

4 Mountain Equipment Fitzroy Jacket Review

Reviewer: Ivan Chudovan, Bracknell   (23-3-2012)

Hi everyone, I've recently got back from my ski holiday in Slovakian mountains and have to say that I love this jacket even more then before after I bought it. Despite the jacket being a little bit roomy for size M it's great underneath my Gore-tex pro shell size M. Great even if I compare it to my previous ME Down jacket which got smelly after one trip to Caucasian Mt Elbrus two years ago. I took it once for a small day trip on my MTB and the result came out fantastic, but have to say it was -2C out there. I have already recommended it to my friend, bought it for him and he is pleased all around with it and after couple of days he did some shopping for his girlfriend as well. Great service, happy customer.

5 Mountain Equipment Fitzroy Jacket Review

Reviewer: clive bush, avon   (17-12-2011)

Very pleased with the jacket, it roomy enough to put on whilst on a belay in a cold gully in Scotland :) The hood is helmet friendly as well :) a good jacket to have handy in the top of the sack to put on in those cold moments :) or during a quick stop :)

4 ME Fitzroy Jacket - Not quite as warm as I was expecting

Reviewer: Dr Ashton, Leeds   (24-11-2011)

As a committed "down" user, I was tempted by the Fitzroy as it utilises the new "Primaloft" insulation, which is known to maintain its lofting ability when damp which was the primary reason for getting this jacket.

Overall, I agree with other reviewers - this jacket is good, but to my mind it could be improved.

I like that it packs away remarkably small (supplied stuff sac), it does shed the weather nicely given that it's not waterproof (although when it's raining proper, I pop a cagoule on top). It fits me snugly and both the inner and outer fabrics are soft to the touch. I bought the black version because I wanted to wear it about town as well as on the hills and it's got a pleasant, low-key appearance, which suits me.

However, the two zipped hand pockets at the front, whilst having some insulation, do little to warm my hands or keep them warm - something I've not noticed with previous insulated jackets which were down-filled.

Also, the hood (which is lovely, warm and actually fits well), when not in use can be rolled and kept in place with a single, narrow flap. The downside of this is that the hood sort of bulges out from this and needs continual adjustment - it would have been far better to have had 2 or 3 flaps to keep it nice and neat. When the jacket is done up fully though and the hood rolled up (i.e. - not used), this material sort of doubles as a neck warmer/scarf so that's a nice touch.

I found that when I was gently active, I was comfortably warm, whereas just standing around resulted in me feeling cold, irrespective of warm trousers.

All-in-all, I'd definitely recommend it, but remind potential purchasers that it's not a duvet replacement and there are warmer jackets out there.

5 Mountain Equipment Fitzroy Jacket Review

Reviewer: Charlie Mackie, North Queensferry   (19-10-2011)

Bought this after my much loved Rab insulation jacket got left at a crag! But since I bought this, it seems like a silver lining.

Granted the Fitzroy is a little heavier than my old Rab counterpart. But it surpasses it in every other way. Warmth, weather resistance, durability and has about the same manoeuvrability. With its own stuff sac, ready to clip to your harness. A great bit of kit which I recommend to anyone!

5 Mountain Equipment Fitzroy Jacket (Winter 10/11) Review

Reviewer: Richard Gentry, Yeovil   (29-3-2011)

I bought this as a belay jacket and general all round use as down isn’t that great for UK conditions! As everyone else says this is a really good bit of kit. Keeps you warm and is pretty effective in light showers at knocking the rain back. Loads of pockets, the two hand warming pockets are especially nice. Durable, haven’t had to put any Duct Tape on mine yet which is marked difference to most down jackets you see at the crag. Like the Velcro closure on the arms. Haven’t got anything really bad to say about it, the only thing is that it doesn’t pack down that small but then it’s not down.

5 Mountain Equipment Fitzroy Jacket Review

Reviewer: Nick Smith, Sheffield   (5-10-2010)

An excellent jacket for UK Winters. I bought it specifically as a belay jacket for Scottish Winter mountaineering, but it gets a lot of general use as well. UK Winters are typically cold and wet, so a synthetic-insulation jacket such as the Fitzroy works much better than a down jacket.

I tried on about a dozen different synthetic jackets before choosing the Fitzroy as having the best fit and features: It has a helmet compatible hood, compresses down to a small size in your rucksack, good pockets that don't interfere with a climbing harness, and Velcro wrist cuffs to keep the wind out. It is very similar to the Rab Generator Alpine jacket in terms of fit, insulation and price.

5 Mountain Equipment Fitzroy Jacket Review

Reviewer: Eliot Stephens, Port Talbot   (31-7-2010)

Bought this jacket back near the beginning of the year for serious hiking out in the Brecon Beacons, South Wales.

What persuaded me to buy was Mountain Equipments great hood design and the number of pockets the jacket has. I must say I have not been disappointed with this jacket. Its brilliantly warm, and as it says, does not loose that warmth when wet. Although the water resistant fabric is just that, I wouldn’t like to subject it to as much water as a Windstopper soft shell.

The hood on the jacket is amazing, and the volume adjuster at the back is perfect for getting a really synched up fit around your head for when you don’t want the hood dangling over your face and you want to keep warmth in.

The pockets are generous and thinly fleece lined making them comfortable to shove your hands in while walking. The side pockets however could be a little higher, as they have still conflicted with the rucksack straps.

The price is significantly heftier than some other synthetic jackets that Berghaus and Rab make, but for me it is totally justified. I have friends who own a Rab Generator and a Berghaus Ignite Jacket and they both concede that they would rather have payed the extra for the ME Fitzroy.

This was the first proper Mountain Equipment Product that I bought and thus educed a string of other purchases from them.

Buy one!!!