“There are not many 7D fabrics out there that work in the outdoor industry,” says Duncan, “but ultimately we found one that met our high standards and it really keeps the weight down, while helping to add warmth by cutting drafts in the forward-facing torso area.”įinally, to finish off the jacket’s materials, the team chose the Polartec® Power Dry® Power Grid™ fleece for the back, arms and hood because of its breathability and maximum wicking.ĭuncan originally targeted the Deviator for spring touring. “This is one of the biggest benefits to our athletes,” says Duncan, “insulation with maximum airflow.”įinding the right lightweight shell to cover the Alpha® insulation became the next challenge. This passes on the heat and moisture directly to the Alpha® insulation without using, for example, a taffata inner layer. For the jacket’s liner fabric, the team decided on a stretch mesh. The team used the Polartec® Alpha® insulation in its lightest weight package. “We had the opportunity to lose the bulk of a mid-layer fleece or wool by using this new super quick drying and breathable puff insulation,” says Wall. As they worked with different constructions and fabrics, something became apparent. “Often, however, ideas for solving these problems come from researching new fabrics.” In the case of the Deviator, they set out to experiment with Polartec® Alpha®, a premier active insulation. “It always culminates in trying to meet a functional need for our customers,” says Wall.

While the honor is substantial, the designers at Outdoor Research always return their attention to what matters most: the customer’s needs. The imagination, innovation and effort paid off when the Deviator won the Backpacker Magazine Editors’ Choice Award. While hybridized jackets have been in the Outdoor Research line for over a decade, “The Deviator reflects one of our most concerted efforts to put the right fabric in the right places for our athletes, regardless of previous convention,” says Jason Duncan, Technical Apparel Product Manager at Outdoor Research. This design philosophy obtains optimal performance by placing unique, technical fabrics in areas where their performance is best appreciated. Though the Deviator is lightweight, it is anything but simple. It’s a constant balancing act, and a challenge all too familiar for the designers at Outdoor Research. “The challenge of keeping certain areas of our body warmer and but avoiding excess perspiration and heat from too much warmth is a never ending one,” says Jeannie Wall, an Outdoor Research Product and Marketing Consultant for Alpine and Rock Climbing with decades of experience competing and playing in the mountains. Fortunately for us all, the design team at Outdoor Research got it right with the Men's Deviator Hoody and Women's Deviator Hoody, a lightweight, breathable active Insulation piece that was named a Backpacker Magazine Editors’ Choice for Spring 2015. Perfecting the balance between warmth and moisture management isn’t easy, and getting it wrong can turn your stellar day in the mountains into an epic. And like our products, our lives and the lives of our customers are sculpted by the experiences we have in the natural, unpredictable environments we love. At Outdoor Research, our products have been designed by adventure for more than 30 years, with features and fabrics imagined, tested and perfected in the wild. “Designed By Adventure.” It’s more than just an advertising slogan.

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