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What is the First Light Hybrid Hoodie?
Black Diamond's First Light Hybrid is an insulative, hooded midlayer designed with mapped synthetic insulation and merino wool. This unique combination of technical yet lightweight materials makes it ideal for pre-dawn starts on the wall and challenging winter ascents when you need to layer up.
What is it made of?
Outer: The face of this jacket comprises 20D nylon ripstop with a merino wool backing on the back and sleeves, which is warm and durable enough to withstand bumps and scrapes on rock.
Merino wool is renowned for its natural performance properties, being soft, warm yet breathable, fast drying, and odour resistant. It's effective at regulating temperature, making it ideal for challenging ascents where you'll be working up a swear.
The lighter nylon combined with naturally regulating merino enhances the permeability of the First Light Hybrid; it'll help to keep your body temperature regulated and prevent moisture buildup.
The outer nylon face is treated with a PFC-free DWR (durable water repellent) to resist light rain or snow, although please note that this doesn't make it fully waterproof.
If you were wondering, PFC-free means perfluorinated chemical free. Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), used to add water repellent to textiles, aren't able to break down; so, once they reach nature via water waste from factories, they stay out there and contaminate living organisms, working their way up the food chain. PFC's are suspected carcinogens and have been known to affect mammal reproduction and hormone production. Therefore, many leading brands in the outdoor industry are now prioritising cutting out the use of these chemicals entirely to contribute to a greener manufacturing process.
The fabric is also bluesign® approved, meaning it's manufactured in a way that is safe for the environment, workers and consumers. bluesign® certifications ensure that the materials used avoid harmful substances, use reduced air and water emissions, increase resource productivity, and the production line is more transparent and trustworthy.
Insulation: The insulation is mapped around the body to provide warmth only where needed, reducing overall weight and bulk. It's used in the hood, chest and arms - areas which can easily be exposed to the cold, even with a jacket over the top.
Primaloft® Gold Active is a synthetic insulation that provides ample warmth, even when wet. The ability to retain heat when wet is a huge advantage to synthetic insulation compared to down, alongside it being a vegan alternative. This insulation is also incredibly breathable and helps to regulate body temperature, balancing the body's microclimate when working hard. It's made from recycled polyester, which, though recycled, maintains performance and feel. This insulation does not migrate and has a four-way stretch to enhance flexibility and freedom of movement - perfect for climbing, ski touring, or when using hiking poles.
Lining: The jacket is lined with woven stretch nylon, which is smooth to touch, durable and stretchy enough to work coherently with other materials when you move. Using this fabric just makes sense - it doesn't add a crazy amount of weight, is low bulk, breathable and finishes the jacket neatly inside. What more do you need?
What are its features?
The hood is helmet compatible, giving you complete protection at all times, whether wearing your safety gear or not.
Two zippered hand pockets and a concealed zip chest pocket provide ample storage for small essentials such as gloves, a mobile phone, snacks or energy gels.
For added convenience, the entire hoodie packs down into the chest pocket, making it easy to stuff into a backpack or kitbag if you're travelling or need to de-layer at the crag.
Features:
- Migration-resistant Primaloft® Gold Active Insulation
- 20D nylon ripstop face fabric with PFC-free DWR
- Merino wool back panel and sleeves
- Helmet-compatible hood
- Packs into chest pocket
- Two zippered hand pockets and concealed zip chest pocket
- Updated design and fit