Days in the mountains are days of contrast: frozen nights thaw to sun-drenched mornings; sheltered paths turn to bare windward flanks; the chill of an exposed stance swiftly counters uphill burns. The highly breathable Switch Pro Hooded Jacket is built to cope with the changing demands of fast-paced activity in the mountains, where efficient body temperature regulation is a priority. It can both wick away moisture on strenuous uphill legs and retain warmth at wind-ravaged belays; it helps you keep moving, focusing on the task at hand, not swapping layers.
Innovative Active Insulation
At the centre of the Switch Pro’s active insulation is the unique Octayarn Warp-knit lining: a modern, lightweight and highly wicking alternative to traditional polyester fleece fabrics.
Under the microscope, Octayarn is made from hollow, multidentate fibres, with each individual fibre having eight protruding cog-like ‘teeth’. This complex 3D structure increases surface area and traps warm air, improving warmth and moisture-wicking capability while reducing overall weight. Octayarn offers the thickness of an 80-denier fibre but for half the weight and considerably less bulk.
Woven in a highly breathable warp-knit and without an inner face fabric, the Octayarn offers unparalleled moisture transfer, keeping you comfortable when working hard, particularly on technical terrain where constantly switching layers isn’t an option.
To counter the loss of smooth inner face fabric, we’ve reversed the Octayarn lining on the arms. This provides the same level of insulation but prevents binding to base layers when pulling the jacket on and off and allows unrestricted movement when reaching for holds.
In addition to the Octayarn lining, a lightweight, stretch-woven outer offers wind resistance and fluorocarbon-free water repellency, protecting you from light rain, spin drift and cold winds. While under the arms, along the sides and through the hood, panels of bluesign® approved Pontetorto® Tecnostretch fleece improve fit. Crafted at a family-run fabric mill in Italy, this highly technical stretch fleece is our highest-performing fleece fabric. As well as improving fit, the strategically placed panels help to prevent overheating, reduce bulk for comfortable layering and allow complete freedom of movement, all helping you to keep moving regardless of how demanding the terrain is.
A Cold-Weather Essential
Switch products represent our very best active insulation. The hooded and fully lined Switch Pro is the warmest jacket in our Switch range, making it the best choice for those working hard over long days in cold conditions. Packing small but offering exceptional warmth and comfort, it is essential for fast and light missions and multi-day objectives in cold and changeable conditions.