Description
Features
Sustainability and Product Care
The Balance is our definitive fully-featured, durable waterproof for mountain activities. Designed for hill-walking with cross-over for climbing and riding so you need fewer garments in your wardrobe. It has a highly breathable waterproof fabric and active cut, it's for moving fast and working hard.
- Highly waterproof and breathable fabric with subtle stretch for all-day comfort
- Streamlined active cut fit for multiple activities: hill-walking, climbing and riding
- Fully-featured, durable and PFC-Free
Waterproof, Breathable, Durable
The Balance uses a cutting-edge fabric that moves with you, whether reaching for the brakes or the next hand-hold. This fabric allowed us to make the Balance a neater, more active fit for moving quickly in, with a drop hem and longer sleeves to ensure it never rides up.
Mountain Sports Cross-over Comfort
The tough nylon and spandex outer is designed for rough use, its in-built stretch reducing the likelihood of snags and tears. And for the backing fabric we’ve used a polyester knit that feels more comfortable against bare skin. This 3-layer material has a hydrostatic head of 20K and a moisture vapour transfer rate of 20K and is treated with a completely PFC-free durable water repellent (DWR).
Stowable and Helmet Compatible Hood
The hood will fit a climbing helmet should it start bucketing down mid-scramble. But it’s also got a handy stow-away tie if you want it out the way when you’re out on a ride. And a snap closure on the collar allows you to dump extra heat and moisture through the front of your jacket without it flapping about.
Designer's Notes
"We wanted the Balance to be equally as comfortable on the bike as on the north face of Tryfan so the hood is something we spent a lot of time on. We’ve used a design that allows you to easily stow the hood away without taking the jacket off, but it’s also constructed so that the attachment can be easily repaired or removed completely if you decide you won’t use it." Ronnie Legg - Head of Clothing Design
Key Features
- Multi-activity fit with a drop hem and longer cuffs for climbing, scrambling and biking
- Stretch fabric that moves with you for reaching the handlebars or your next hand-hold
- Streamlined alpine cut for high intensity, high movement activities and wearing over fewer layers
- Neat collar snap to fully vent the front zip without the jacket flapping
- Helmet-compatible hood that can be stowed away easily whilst in use
- Pockets set for easy access when riding or wearing a rucksack hip-belt
- Durable stretch fabric offers increased tear resistance
- Water resistant YKK AquaGuard® zips with internal storm flaps
- 3 Year Alpine Bond
Vital stats
Fit
Regular
Performance
Hydrostatic Head: 20,000mm
MVTR: 20,000 g/sqm/24 hrs
Construction
Outer Fabric: 90% nylon/10% spandex
Membrane: PU membrane
Inner fabric: Polyester knit backer
DWR: PFC Free
Weight
12: 375g
Origin: China
Product Care Information
Caring For Your DWR
To keep your jacket’s durable water repellent (DWR) treatment in tip-top condition, wash it regularly in pure soap or a specialist cleaner. You may also need to refresh the treatment about once or twice a year (depending on usage) using a reproofer. Using a spray-on reproofer maintains your jacket's wicking ability.
Washing Instructions
Wash on a delicate cycle at 30˚C or hand wash with lukewarm water. Use a technical wash product (like Nikwax Tech Wash or Grangers Performance Wash) or pure soap. DO NOT use detergent, fabric conditioners or softeners. Rinse thoroughly in clean water. Line dry or tumble dry on low heat. You can also use a cool iron to reactivate the DWR.
Repairs
We have dedicated Repair Stations in our stores and we're fully equipped to breathe new life into your old kit. This includes spare parts, patches, new zips and wash and reproofing of your down and waterproofs. Pop into any store or contact us online for more info.
Alpine Bond
If one of our products does not meet your expectations upon delivery, or if during its lifetime does not live up to the demands placed upon it, please return it to us for repair, replacement or refund. If the problem is our fault then we will do this to your satisfaction. If it’s your fault then we will help out the best we can. Find out more about our Alpine Bond here.
Sustainability
How It Is Made
PFC-Free DWR
The Balance uses a completely PFC-free DWR treatment on its outer fabric. PFCs are potentially harmful and have been found to build up in the environment. We don't like the sound of that which is why we're one of the first outdoor brands to eliminate them from our entire range.
Where It Is Made
Our products are made in the best factories in the world. We know the factories personally and they have all signed up to our Code of Ethics in our supply chain. This includes the Ethical Trading Initiative base code, fair pay, safe working environments, no child labour, no modern slavery, no bribery or corruption, no materials from conflict zones and humane farming methods.
All our factories sign up to our Code of Conduct. Find out where we make our product by visiting our Factories of Alpkit factory zone.
Reducing our carbon footprint
We are carbon neutral under PAS2060 and offset our Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 operations and transport emissions. We recognise that offsetting is not part of the solution but a point to pass through on a journey to Net Zero. Carbon Neutral is just a step in that journey.
We have joined the Science Based Targets Initiative which sets independent targets for us to achieve to do our bit to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Our targets are to halve our Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2025 based on 2018 base year and reduce our total carbon intesnity by 15% every year to achieve genuine net zero by 2050.
End of life
When your partnership with this product is over send it back to us and we will pass it on to someone that needs it through our Continuum Project.
