The Eclipse Hooded Zip-T in Magma has become one of Mountain Equipment's most well-known pieces of design, an uncompromising and specialist layer that’s seen on climbers and mountaineers all over the world. For most climbers it’s a constant in their clothing system for cold and serious routes where each item has to perform exactly as required to earn its place.
The most obvious feature is the hood and collar design, which was developed to allow all the separate protective elements to be used individually or together in the worst conditions. The hood or face covering can be comfortably used alone and crucially the face protection can be pulled down without undoing your helmet strap before a strenuous crux. With the hood and collar up it replaces the need for a balaclava as well as reducing the need for a neck gaiter to be carried. The offset front zip ensures a comfortable fit around the face.
Whilst it performs brilliantly over a thin base layer it works especially well next to the skin on stop, start climbing days in cold conditions where managing moisture is critical to comfort. The Italian-made, gridded PontetortoⓇ Tecnostretch 187 fabric is the finest of its type. With excellent warmth for its minimal weight and, crucially, a rapid drying time, it’s also durable enough for regular hand washing in base camps on long expeditions. A longer cut tucks in to prevent cold spots and extended cuffs with thumb loops protect the wrists as a vital part of keeping your hands warm.
Features
Fabric & Materials: Pontetorto® Tecnostretch 187 gridded fleece for high warmth-to-weight ratio; treated with Polygiene StayFresh™ anti-microbial technology to reduce odour.
Hood & Collar System: Integrated close-fitting hood and face protection designed to fit under a climbing helmet, eliminating the need for a separate balaclava or neck gaiter.
Fit & Cut: Active fit with extended body length to prevent gaps; coverstitched seams for next-to-skin comfort.
Zippers: Deep, 2-way YKK® offset front zip for custom ventilation without chafing around the face.
Pockets: 1 zipped chest pocket for secure storage of essential items.
Cuffs & Hem: Low-bulk elasticated hem and cuffs with integrated thumb loops to protect wrists and trap warmth.
Specifications & Details: Weight of 290g (10.2oz); designed in the UK and backed by a Product Lifetime Guarantee.
Buyers Guide - How to choose a layer and use it effectivelyGrabbing a jacket and heading out for a couple of hours is great if you know you are going to be returning from the great outdoors to hot shower and dry clothes but if you are backpacking, climbing our venturing further afield then getting your layering wrong can be a real issue.
The basic rule is to carry all your layers if you are heading out to enjoy the hills because if the weather turns; you cannot put on layers you did not bring along.
A layer is, of course, an item of clothing. Many layers are better than one single layer because warm air is trapped between them. Air is an amazing insulator because it is as light as….well, air! To keep things simple we can identify three key layers: the base layer – the one next to your skin; the mid layer – sometimes made up of more than one but generally warm fabrics; the outer layer – your waterproof protection. Layering is the art, science and skill of buying, selecting and adapting your clothing to the given weather and activity. Including your hands, feet and head.
For your layers to work effectively at keeping you comfortable, their fabrics need to be able to “pick up” or wick the moisture/sweat from your body by touching it (close fitting base layers are key to this) so they can pass it onto the next layer and so on.
Whatever marketing departments may tell you: clothing will not make you sweat any less. Genetics, personal metabolism and fitness are the key factors there. Sweat is your body’s natural response to cooling and emotion. If you are too hot, you sweat. If you are nervous, you sweat. By understanding and using wicking clothing correctly we can manage our sweat to comfortable levels by adding and removing layers. The job of technical clothing is to minimise heat loss by trapping air, however water is the enemy of insulation so if your clothes are wet with sweat then you are going to feel cold.
Having multiple layers gives us the greatest possible flexibility to deal with rapidly changing weather conditions. The really good news is that if you choose your layers well they will work for lots of different activities too.
A hat and gloves can provide a surprisingly good addition to your layering and a re a great lightweight option for keeping warm.
Without sunshine the only source of warmth while out in the hills is food. Make sure you eat. Often.
We are all unique and have our own unique metabolisms. Learning how your body and your layers work together is something only experience will bring.