Jacket reviewed:
686 GLCR Hydra Thermagraph Jacket
Product color: Blue Storm Heather
Rider specs: 6’0″, 195lbs, jacket size: XL
Intended Use: Snowboarding, Snow Sports
Retail Price: $269.95
Recommended for:
Anyone looking for a lightweight, insulated, 20K Waterproof jacket suitable for most conditions.
Product Details from 686:
- Lifetime Warranty
- 2-Layer infiDRY® 20K Stretch Fabric + DWR
- Fully Taped Bemis® Seams
- Thermagraph™ Body Mapping Insulation System Using 120g infiLOFT Clo® Eco Vivo 93% Recycled Insulation
- Vader™ Vents
- Air-Flo™ Mesh Lined Under Arm Vents
- Adjustable Helmet Compatible Hood
- Hood Link System
- Waffle Knit Fleece Inner Collar/Mouth Flap
- Inner Smart Phone Pocket with Audio Cord Outlet
- Tangle Free Headphone Loops
- Internal 686 Jacquard Mesh Goggle/Storage Pocket
- Adjustable Welded Cuffs
- Inner Thumb Grip
- Inner Lycra Wrist Gaiters
- Zippered Sleeve Pass Pocket with Key Clip
- Attached Adjustable Powder Skirt
- Pant Jacket Connect™ System
- Front Hand Pocket Inner Key Clip
- Adjustable Bottom Hem Cinch
- YKK® AquaGuard® Water-Resistant Center Front and Chest Pocket Zippers
Review Date: December 2020 – February 2021 in Wyoming
Review:
Chris and I have been fortunate enough to review numerous products from 686. We really like their products for their bombproof durability, style, and bonus features. On a whim, I decided to try out the 686 GLCR Hydra Thermagraph Jacket just to see what I thought. I tend to run warm, so I am generally not a fan of insulated jackets. I normally just wear a shell and layer beneath it and find that is enough for me. I’ve been really happy with the jacket.
The 686 GLCR Hydra Thermagraph Jacket has strategically placed insulation panels and breathable zones to help regulate body temperature. There are insulated panels, filled with 120g infiLOFT Clo® Eco Vivo 93% Recycled Insulation, that line your back and core. I was able to ride with only a base layer underneath on most days. On a few freezing days and even with the wind blowing pretty good, I added a t-shirt over my base layer, and that was warm enough. The GLCR Hydra Thermagraph Jacket kept me warm and comfortable in temperatures ranging from -20 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
The outer jacket is infiDRY® 20K Stretch Fabric + DWR, making this a really functional jacket. The stretch fabric allows for great movement without restriction. It also boasts an articulated fit, offering ergonomically articulated cut lines that are designed to work with movement and provide room where you need it most. Reaching for bindings or reaching for grabs, the jacket will not hold you back. Beneath that layer is the infiDRY 20K Membrane, 686’s exclusive waterproof and breathable fabric, designed to keep you dry in any condition. This held up well on the one recent day we had where it was actually rain falling from the sky.
The GLCR Hydra Thermagraph Jacket has a lot of features that are standard with most jackets: fully taped seams, powder skirt, wrist gaiters, YKK® AquaGuard® Water-resistant Zippers, jacket to pant system, pass pocket, and adjustable cuff straps. What sets the GLCR Hydra apart is that it has some other features that really add to its functionality. A lot of jacket collars can cause your goggles to fog or make it difficult to breathe when fully zipped. Fortunately, many of the 686 jackets feature Vader™ Vents, which are basically small mesh-lined holes to allow airflow. I really liked these as they keep my goggles fog-free and made it easy to talk and breathe. This area also has a Waffle-Knit Fleece Inner Collar/Mouth Flap which feels great against your skin.
Another bonus feature found on some of 686’s jackets and on the GLCR Hydra is an asymmetrical zipper. The zipper starts at the bottom of the jacket, centered as you’d expect, but as you zip it up the jacket the zipper ends up off to the left side of your face. This feature is very nice as your lips and chin never bump against a cold zipper and it just leaves your skin against the soft fleece.
This jacket does have ample storage with three large pockets on the outside. It has an internal goggle stash pocket and a media pocket that is touch screen compatible. It also has media loops to keep headphones from becoming tangled or caught on things. On the right chest zipper area is a small pocket for lip balm and on the left sleeve a pass pocket. Most of these are pretty standard and it’s always nice to have space for everything you could possibly need.
Overall:
The 686 GLCR Hydra Thermagraph Jacket has kept me warm and dry during some cold months. I’ve really enjoyed the body-mapped insulation and it has allowed me to layer much less. It is loaded with unique, functional features and style. It has the durability you’d expect from 686. It has a great fit too and with the stretch fabric, it moves with you, not against you. It is available in ten different colorways. When shopping for a new jacket next fall, consider 686, you won’t be disappointed.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Great 20K Waterproofing/15K Breathability
- Loaded with features
- Body-mapped insulation
Cons
- Zipper can be a little hard to start
| Price: |  (4.5 / 5) |
| Performance: | (4.5 / 5) |
| Design: | (4.5 / 5) |
| Overall: | (4.5 / 5) |