Winter is around the corner, and it’s time to upgrade your cold-weather wardrobe; a high-quality jacket or heated jacket is a must-have, and the Columbia Omni-Heat Jacket is a great non-heated option for those looking for both warmth and style. This jacket has become increasingly popular among outdoor enthusiasts and regular wearers alike and for good reasons. As an outdoor enthusiast myself, I have worn the jacket in various conditions and put it to the test.
In this review, I will share my experience with the Columbia Omni-Heat Jacket and offer a comprehensive analysis of its features and performance. From sub-zero temperatures to icy winds and harsh conditions, I have thoroughly tested this jacket’s ability to keep you warm and comfortable. So, if you’re looking for a reliable and practical jacket that keeps you warm in the winter months, this review is for you.
What is Columbia?
If you’re not familiar with Columbia, it is a world-renowned American outdoor clothing and sportswear brand that has been in business since 1938. They design and produce gear, equipment, and apparel for outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, fishing, and skiing.
What sets Columbia apart from other clothing and equipment brands is their innovative use of technology. For example, the Omni-Heat technology used in the Columbia Omni-Heat Jacket. To put it simply, think of it as a space blanket, those metallic sheets given to hypothermia patients by rescue teams or to marathon participants at a race. It reflects your body heat back to you, providing exceptional warmth. This feature is undoubtedly reflective of Columbia’s dedication to creating innovative products that provide both style and performance.
In addition to outdoor gear, Columbia also boasts an eco-friendly approach to their business operations, reducing their carbon footprint while still making high-quality outdoor wear. Their reputation for quality products and sustainability makes them a reputable brand in the outdoor gear industry. So you can rest assured when you purchase the Columbia Omni-Heat Jacket from them.
What is Columbia Omni Heat Infinity?
The Columbia Omni Heat Infinity is the latest advancement in their Omni-Heat technology for insulation. The fabric consists of lightweight, highly compressible insulation, which retains your body heat with insulating fibers. It works together with their unique Omni Heat reflective lining, which reflects your body heat back towards you through tiny silver dots embedded in the fabric. The new Omni Heat Infinity builds on the original Omni-Heat™ concept inspired by NASA that incorporates tiny silver dots to reflect heat. The new expanded pattern of gold dots reflects more of your body heat, delivering instant warmth. The difference with the new gold liner is that it mixes large dots in with small ones, allowing them to cover a greater surface area with the reflective foil, therefore keeping you warmer.
In addition, this insulation technology ensures that the jacket keeps the heat in and does not allow the wind to penetrate through it. The result is a highly breathable, warm, and comfortable jacket that can be worn alone or as an under-layer for more extreme conditions.
One of the main benefits of Columbia’s Omni-Heat Infinity is its outstanding warmth-to-weight ratio. It provides superior insulation without adding bulk or weight to your overall outfit. This lightweight design also makes it highly compressible, allowing you to pack it into your backpack when not in use.
How We Tested Columbia’s Omni-Heat Jacket
To provide an accurate review of the Columbia Omni-Heat Jacket, we tested this jacket in various weather conditions. Firstly, we examined the jacket’s fabric and built quality, checking for durability and any defects that could affect its performance.
To test its insulation capabilities, we wore the jacket in chilly conditions and verified if it kept us warm and if we were comfortable. We also wore the coat in windy conditions to test its wind resistance and effectiveness in protecting us from cold gusts.
To test the Omni-Heat Jacket’s comfort and fitability, we performed activities such as hiking and skiing while wearing the jacket to verify if it provided mobility and comfort during movement. We also tested how effectively the pockets were storing essentials such as phones and other equipment. Additionally, we looked into the jacket’s weight and if it was packable, making it convenient for travel purposes.
By subjecting the Columbia Omni-Heat Jacket to various challenging tests, we gained insight into its performance, functionality, style, and durability to provide a detailed and informative review.
Test Result
We tried out the Columbia Omni-Heat Jacket in various situations, and we’re happy to say that it really delivers on its promises! The insulation worked wonders and kept us toasty warm in chilly weather, all while still being breathable enough to prevent sweating. Plus, the jacket’s well-made design allowed for comfortable and easy movement, making it perfect for activities like hiking or skiing.
The pockets on this jacket are a great size, giving us plenty of room for all our essentials like our phone and wallet. And the water-resistant zippers were a thoughtful touch, keeping everything dry even when we got caught in a little rain. However, the number of pockets is a little few than what I like to have. It’d be great if only there were a couple more pockets.
We were also impressed with how lightweight the jacket is, weighing in at around 1.7 to 1.8 pounds. It’s not bulky or cumbersome to wear, even in challenging conditions, and it’s comfortable to wear in a variety of environments. And when you’re done wearing it, you can easily pack it away in your backpack for your next adventure.
Overall, we can confidently say that the Columbia Omni-Heat Jacket is a top-notch product that lives up to its reputation. The Omni-Heat Infinity technology provided amazing insulation while still being lightweight and flexible enough for any outdoor activity. And with the added bonus of the water-resistant zippers to keep your essentials dry, this jacket is truly a winner. If you’re looking for a stylish and effective jacket that can stand up to even the toughest winter weather, you won’t go wrong with the Columbia Omni-Heat Jacket!
Heat Retention Test for Columbia Omni Heat Jackets
Reviewed, a platform that examines and tests consumer products, also conducted a study on the effectiveness of Columbia’s Omni-Heat Infinity lining. This is used in the Labyrinth Loop Omni-Heat Infinity Insulated Hooded Jacket. The jacket combines the foil lining with recycled polyester down insulation and retails for $180. Two other puffer coats without the foil lining were also tested: the Amazon Basics Men’s Lightweight Puffer, which costs $43.30, and the Creatmo Men’s Puffer Ski Jacket, which costs $69.97.
The test measured the heat retention of each jacket by warming up heating pads to the average temperature of the human body, 98.6°F, and then wrapping each pad inside each puffer with temperature sensors, leaving them alone for two hours to measure heat lost over time. This was done twice for consistency. If the Columbia jacket equipped with Omni-Heat Infinity liner were to lose its internal temperature slower than the other puffers, it would prove to be the warmer jacket for cold climates.
The comparison puffers were chosen based on their styles and weights. However, an exact weight match to the XL Labyrinth Loop Omni-Heat Infinity Insulated Hooded Jacket from Columbia was not found, so a 1-pound Amazon jacket was used to pit against a slightly lighter piece. The Creatmo jacket, which weighs 3.2 pounds, was used to see how it stacked against a thicker one.
According to the study, Columbia’s heat retention vastly outperformed that of the cheaper pieces. Heat escaped the Columbia jacket at an average time of 0.062 degrees per minute. At the same time, the Creatmo piece clocked in at 0.081 and Amazon at 0.103 over the course of two hours. This means that Columbia’s Omni-Heat Infinity liner does, in fact, stay warmer than the typical unlined puffer.
To ensure Columbia’s Omni-Heat Infinity lining works even when wet, one of the scientists was hosed down with water. The heat retention tests were repeated while each jacket was water-dosed. The Columbia jacket still retained its heat even when wet. Synthetic fills and natural down alike don’t work well as an insulator when wet because it relies on trapped air to keep the heat in, but the Omni-Heat lining kept the scientist from feeling their diminished insulation.
What I Like About This Omni Heat Jacket
I’ve had a bunch of chances to wear this jacket since November, and let me tell you, it’s not just some jacket you’d wear on a breezy 70-degree day. This is a jacket that can handle cold, windy days and temperatures well below 50°F. Unfortunately, I don’t get to experience those kinds of temperatures too often in my area, but I did get the chance to wear it for five days while the weather was below 50°F.
To make sure I was wearing it in the right amount of coldness for some testing, I hung out by the ocean, where the weather was even cooler than being inland. I wore cotton crewnecks with no undershirt underneath the jacket each day. I’m happy to report that this Columbia jacket is not only stylish, comfortable, and well-fitted, but it’s also functionally competent and super warm. After exploring the ins and outs of the Columbia Omni-Heat Jacket, there are several features that stood out and made me like it.
I can’t guarantee that it will keep you warm in the coldest of Canadian winters, but I can tell you that I felt toasty warm when walking in 52°F weather. After about 20 minutes, I started to perspire a bit, so I had to adjust the zipper to let some air in. The jacket has decent breathability, but I suspect the foil lining kept my body heat trapped and maintained my body temperature. Keep in mind that your mileage may vary depending on your climate and how much you move around.
The jacket has a lot of valuable features. There are two cinches at the waist that you can tighten to keep the wind out, which was really helpful when I was walking along a windy coast. The hood has a draw cord, and the cuffs are elasticized. There are two zippered hand pockets lined with textured nylon that feels similar to a thin corduroy and one zippered chest pocket. All the pockets use YKK zippers, which are an industry favorite for their durability. We’ve even written an article explaining why YKK zippers are the best in the industry! Check it out if you have never heard of it.
Columbia offers a limited lifetime warranty for the jacket. If anything breaks, rips, or snags, they’ll repair it for you (you just have to pay for the shipping), and if repairs aren’t possible, you may be able to get merchandise credit toward a new coat.
Overall, I’m really happy with the jacket. It’s well-fitted and comfortable, and the insulation works wonders. Plus, it looks great! I got the color-block pattern, which attracted a lot of attention from others (in a good way). But if you prefer a simpler look, you can get it in all navy or black. Either way, it’s a great jacket that will keep you warm in chilly weather and is perfect for outdoor activities like hiking or skiing. And when you’re done wearing it, it’s lightweight enough to pack away in your backpack for your next adventure.
What I Dislike About the Columbia Omni-Heat Jacket
Let’s talk about some of the things we noticed about the Columbia Omni-Heat Jacket that might not be perfect for everyone.
First off, we found that the jacket’s corner pocket may not be the best spot for your phone. It’s not the only jacket that has this issue, but it may be a bit inconvenient if you like to keep all of your essentials close at hand. That being said, the hand pockets are quite spacious and held all of our essentials (phone, keys, wallet) with plenty of room to spare. We wouldn’t mind an extra interior pocket or two, though!
Another thing we noticed was that the synthetic materials in the jacket can sometimes cause static build-up and attract lint. While the Omni-Heat technology does an amazing job of reflecting heat back toward your body, it can feel a bit intense in warmer weather or indoors when you don’t need as much insulation. You might find yourself zipping and unzipping more frequently to stay comfortable.
Lastly, while the water-resistant zippers are great for light rain, the Columbia Omni-Heat Jacket isn’t entirely waterproof. If you’re planning on being out in heavy rain for an extended period, you might want to consider a different jacket.
One thing to keep in mind is that in very cold temperatures, you might need to layer up a bit more underneath the jacket. Don’t get us wrong, the jacket’s insulation technology is top-notch and keeps you warm even in freezing temperatures. But if you’re like us and prefer not to layer up too much, you might want to consider a heated jacket to pair with it. We actually wrote an article about what heated jackets are and how they work, so be sure to check that out if you’re curious!
Conclusion
In conclusion, after thoroughly testing the Columbia Omni-Heat Jacket in various weather conditions, it is safe to say that it is an excellent investment for anyone looking for a reliable and practical jacket that can keep you warm and comfortable in the winter months. Columbia, a world-renowned American outdoor clothing and sportswear brand, has been in business since 1938 and boasts an eco-friendly approach to their business operations, reducing their carbon footprint while still making high-quality outdoor wear.
The innovative use of technology, including the Omni-Heat Infinity insulation, ensures that you’ll stay warm and comfortable even in the harshest conditions. The jacket’s lightweight design, water-resistant zippers, and spacious pockets make it highly convenient and versatile, perfect for outdoor activities like hiking or skiing. One of the main benefits of Columbia’s Omni-Heat Infinity is its outstanding warmth-to-weight ratio, providing superior insulation without adding bulk or weight to your overall outfit. The insulation technology ensures that the jacket keeps the heat in and does not allow the wind to penetrate through it, making it highly breathable, warm, and comfortable that can be worn alone or as an under-layer for more extreme conditions.
However, the jacket isn’t entirely waterproof, and the corner pocket may not be the best spot for your phone. The synthetic materials in the jacket can sometimes cause static build-up and attract lint, and the Omni-Heat technology can feel a bit intense in warmer weather or indoors when you don’t need as much insulation. Also, in very cold temperatures, you might need to layer up a bit more underneath the jacket.
Overall, if you’re looking for a stylish, reliable, and practical jacket that can keep you warm and comfortable in the winter months, the Columbia Omni-Heat Jacket is an excellent choice. Its innovative technology, lightweight design, water-resistant zippers, and spacious pockets make it highly convenient and versatile, perfect for outdoor enthusiasts and regular wearers alike. While it may not be perfect for everyone, the jacket’s many benefits more than make up for these minor drawbacks. Just keep in mind the few things we mentioned above, and you’ll be good to go!
Related Websites
Columbia Outerwear Limited Warranty
Product Description of Amazon Basics Men’s Lightweight Puffer
