Hi guys,
I have been looking for an active insulator that breathes better than an alpha windshell combo, but more durable than just an alpha fleece by itself. Will predominantly be used hiking and mountaineering in cold and wet weather, under a shell or sometimes without a shell if weather allows. Will likely be my summertime insulation piece. May see some use around town running errands on a colder day.
On a recent trip to Europe I managed to try on a Proton Hoody and I loved it. The fit was excellent and the high collar was perfect when zipped up (this is something that usually makes or breaks a jacket for me, I have quite a thick neck). Only problem is New Zealand conditions don't get quite cold enough to use a Proton Hoody while active, which is a shame because the carob colour is awesome, so I thought what about the Proton SL instead?
I won't have the opportunity to try it on in store and shipments come from Australia, so hoping someone here can provide some insight on the fit. I currently own a Nuclei FL from 2024 in Large, but I can only get an alpha fleece and baselayer underneath before it feels too restrictive. The Proton I tried on was also a Large, with a good fit around the waist, neck and arms, chest very similar to the Nuclei FL. For reference I'm 177cm and 95kg, 44in chest, so not your typical hiker/climber build.
Would I be a Large in the SL as well, or will it be quite a bit more athletically cut and should I consider upsizing? I'm mostly concerned about it getting tight under the arms when I reach or around the chest or back when stretching. The Proton Hoody didn't seem to have any restrictions and neither does my Nuclei FL. How does the collar compare to the Proton Hoody? I would prefer if the collar was much the same, I don't like jackets that can't be zipped up around my neck with the hood down. My Nuclei also has a good collar, but not quite as good as the Proton was - I suspect this is due to the larger hood on the Proton. Anything else I should consider? To those that own either Proton jackets, what is your use case and what temperatures do you use it in?
Thanks for any insight.
Cheers