The Karrimor Phantom jacket
A full technical waterproof jacket for less than £150 is Karrimor’s latest offering.
Featuring three-layer eVent fabric, the Elite Phantom has, the brand said, been designed and constructed to endure the toughest and harshest conditions.
The Phantom uses durable water repellent coating coupled with an eVent membrane, often seen as a rival waterproofing system to the best known Gore-Tex membranes that have become the norm for many outdoor gear brands.
The Phantom boasts waterproofing to a respectable 20,000mm hydrostatic head and breathability of 14,000g per sq metre per 24 hours.
eVent has its Direct Venting Technology, which claims rapid transfer of sweat through the microscopic pores in the membrane, giving a claimed cooler experience for walkers pushing the pace.
The Phantom, priced at £149.99, weighs 760g, according to Karrimor.
It has two map-sized Napoleon chest pockets, two large torso pockets, a fully adjustable hood with wired peak, brushed chin guard and adjustable cuff fasteners.
The jacket also comes with ventilating pit zips, rubberized shoulder and waist patches and in internal chest pocket with attached whistle.
The nylon jacket also has raglan sleeves and has an adjustable shock-cord hem.
The Elite Phantom jacket is available exclusively from Sports Direct, which owns the Karrimor clothing brand.
Alan
27 April 2013Looks a good jacket a shame about the orange and blue zips, have been on Sports Direct site and the only choice is
(startling) orange and black. Ok, you would be well noticed
but Orange.
OutdoorsGuy
04 May 2013Not really sure about eVent. The two jackets I owned both leaked and all the people on the hill I have talked to have had similar experiences, its light weight, breathable, but not that waterproof. I also found it not very durable, (but i guess thats down to the face fabric also).
Whats other peoples experiences of the fabric in heavy weather?
Is it not more accurate to say Karrior is a brand name owned by Sports Direct?
It was such a shame when they went bust the first time, they were never the same again. I still see some of their original bags about.
Guess you get what you pay for in the Outdoor world.
Glenn
05 May 2013As I run hot I find eVent most appropriate for my needs. I've tried quite a few 'breathable' fabrics in my time and with anything, most of it is marketing bumf. I find eVent far superior to Gore Tex imo for breathability (I think my legs are the sweatiest bit of me lol, had a pair of Gore Tex gaiters which were fine keeping off the ticks and bog muck, but when taken off the insides were covered in droplets of sweat, not had this with eVent). Thing is eVent needs to be maintained. It needs to be tech washed more often(small price to pay than rather have a 'breathable' pu membrane in which you need to sweat for the breathability to work by some kind of osmosis - Gore Tex makes me feel clammy), but as with all outdoor kit, look after it and it will look after you. I've also found that surplus kit (usually marketed as 'Gore Tex') seems to have a lot more in common with eVent. I wouldn't buy boots with eVent though, just due to the fact that muck isn't eVent's best friend.
As for post above, Karrimor was once a reputable brand which was taken over and ruined by by SD. Yet I recently bought an Alpiniste II and this jacket is bang on, ready to play with the big boys. Don't let Karrimor's previous failures put you off, 99 quid for a decent well designed eVent jacket harking back to the great days of how Karrimor once was, is a steal. I've even had outdoor gearheads check out my jacket and they all kind of say it's a jacket that's been designed by someone who has been 'out there'.
Rob
31 July 2013Have an original Karrimor Phanton jacket from 2003 made of packlite Gore Tex. It's been brilliant but recently, after years of wear some of the seams have started to come away. Am looking for a new jacket and didn't realise that SD now own Karrimor. Will have to look elsewhere. Also have a Karrrimore rucksac from the '90's. Fancy a new bag but it just won't wear out!