In this review Paul Phillips and Ola Stępień take a look at a selection from the 2016 Moon clothing range.
Men & Women's Meteor Jacket £90
The look
Meteor jacket comes in both male and female versions. The colour, although called charcoal black by Moon, has a hint of brown which gives the colour a warm hue and goes really well with the contrasting bright orange lining and zips.
The Design
Jacket's outer is made of the Cypher - Moon branded fabric consisting of a cotton/polyester mix with 3% elastane. This fabric works great in many climbing garments as it is sturdy, dries quickly and stretches well. Lining is made of light taffeta, which has a silky feel to it. The body has a single layer of quilted synthetic insulation.
The Features
Meteor Jacket features a large, draw cord adjustable hood, two zipped hand pockets, simple elasticated cuffs and draw cord adjustable hem. I wasn't too keen on the cuffs to start with but they worked really well to keep the heat in on cold days at the crag. The women's version has an inner zipped chest pocket and male version has one placed on the outside. All zips are YKK with Moon branded pulls. Main zip has an inner guard which wraps around the top and feels nice next to skin.
The Fit
Jacket has a simple cut, with hem being longer at the back. Jacket feels big for the size so it can accommodate extra layers and has a relaxed fit.
Conclusion
As with all gear the devil is in detail. At first glance the Meteor comes across as a simple jacket, more casual than technical. However, close inspection reveals details that make it stand out, like the wavy quilting stitch pattern and the protective strap on the zip guard that prevents the zip from catching. I also like the printed message and the logo on the inside lining. It's well made, carefully designed and it fits in nicely in the "sport-casual" range and feels surprisingly warm for the weight. It can withstand the drizzle and is quite wind resistant too. It's my jacket of choice for the crag or the pub lately and definitely recommended.
Men's Cypher Pant £60
Conclusion
On the whole there's a lot to like about the Cypher pants you can definitely tell they're the product of continued improvement in the design department. I've worn them for most climbing sessions over the last three months and they still look like new. The design and material gives great freedom of movement and they dry really quick. The only thing I'd change about them is to have a actual fly.
Women's Faraday Jean £60
Sizes: X-Small to X-Large
Colours: Indigo
Skinny fit climbing jeans that don't restrict the movement and look great at the same time... Is this even possible? Moon Climbing made an effort to produce this very tricky design and highly desired piece of climbing garment amongst ladies. The result is Faraday Jeans, which i had a chance to put to the test this winter.
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The Look
Faraday Jeans come in one colour, Indigo, which is basically dark denim. There are lighter washed out patches and folding marks in high wear places which add a little dimension and nice pre-worn look. There is a discreet Moon logo embroidered on the change pocket. At first glance they look like an ordinary pair of jeans. The only feature that distinct them from any high street brand is a diamond shaped crotch, designed to significantly extend the range of leg movement.
They come in sizes from XS to XL and are all in 32 inch (regular) leg length apart from the size XS which are 31 inch long.
The Design
The minute I put the jeans on I could tell they were designed with climbing purpose in mind. The construction and fabric make a great combination to maximize the movement range. Diamond crotch patch stretches all the way down to the knee on the inside leg and the extra room around knees allow to move freely on the rock without feeling any discomfort.
With 91% cotton, 8% polyester and just 1% elastane the fabric feels very sturdy and jeans-like yet surprisingly stretchy. Like most jeans they feel a little tight when put on straight after wash but relax a little soon after. They hold the shape well however and don't get baggy even after several days wear.
The Fit
The difficult part of describing the fit is that we come in all shapes even within the same size. Therefore I can only relate to myself when discussing the fit.
I found Moon sizing guide almost spot on with the Faraday Jeans. They sit right above the hips but at least 6-7 cm below the waist and do not ride down when squatting. If like myself you are a lady with big-ish hips in comparison to your waist you will appreciate the fact that the waist does not stick out while sat down like in some high street brands.
Faraday Jeans are the first skinny jeans that can accommodate my rather large calves and do not feel tight around knees when squatting. Despite being on a loose side of the "skinny" legs do not appear baggy. I am 5' 6" feet tall and at size S the leg length was perfect for casual wear however required rolling up for climbing, which is the case with most climbing trousers regardless the fit.
It was no surprise that I found the trousers a little snug around the hips when the lower leg and the waist fitted perfectly.
Conclusion
Moon took on the difficult challenge of designing the true skinny climbing jeans and got pretty close. They definitely put a lot of thought to the design and came up with trousers that are sturdy, functional and look great. Perfect for a day bouldering and the pub stop on the way home.
Some may argue that the legs fit on the slightly baggy side of skinny and should the hips fit perfectly the waist and the legs would definitely feel too big. One way around this issue would be to make the fabric a touch more stretchy. Perhaps 2% elastane found in most other "not-skinny" climbing jeans would add just that little flexibility to fit larger hips without feeling too loose on the more ectomorphic, athletic ladies.
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