The Alpkit Definition is by no means new. It was released a few years ago and has been widely reviewed by people far more knowledgeable than me. I still feel like another long term review can help potential buyers decide whether to invest in this jacket, so I decided to write one.
Fit
The fit of this jacket is on the athletic side – there is no loose or excess fabric when you move around and it does not ride up badly when your arms are above your head if you are scrambling or climbing. The length of the jacket is very good for me, but some hillwalkers might find it a little short. The fit in general is definitely aimed more at the climber and scrambler than at the pure hillwalker (although it still works fantastically well for hillwalking).
Compared to my other waterproof, the Mountain Equipment Lhotse – the fit is very similar and just as good. This is an indication of the amount of research and time that Alpkit put into the definition jacket, after all, the Lhotse is widely regarded as having one of the best fits of any mountaineering jacket.
The hood is very good, although I think it isn’t the best I’ve seen. It’s quite small when compared to the Lhotse’s hood (although the Lhotse’s hood is absolutely massive), still big enough to fit a helmet under, but it doesn’t quite offer the protection of some hoods. This does have one key advantage, visibility is not affected by the hood. My Mountain Equipment jacket makes it rather difficult to see out of when I’ve got the hood fully tightened, I’ve never had this problem with the Alpkit.
Fabric
The fabric is excellent. The waterproofness is very good, and so is the breathability. Despite this, modern Gore-Tex Pro does take the edge in my experience, offering slightly better breathability. The difference in performance is so small that it’s only noticeable as I switch between the jackets on a regular basis.
Pockets and Vents
The pocket placement on the Definition is generally very good. They are all accessible when you have a backpack on. The two hand-warmer pockets are well-sized, but I think the chest pocket could be made bigger – it only fits my phone.
Alpkit have gone for an unusual setup for the vents – opting for two vents just below the armpits. They work well, and are definitely easier to use than traditional pit-zip style vents, but they’re not quite as effective and getting rid of heat.
To conclude, the Alpkit definition is an outstanding jacket. The performance isn’t quite on par with top of the line jackets, but when you consider the considerably lower cost of the Definition, it’s performance is genuinely outstanding.
Oscar Outdoors 