UKC

Tierra Roc Blanc Jacket Review

© Adrian Nelhams

In preparation for its UK launch, Tierra started working with the International School of Mountaineering (ISM) earlier this year, becoming the 'Official Clothing Partner of the ISM'. 

Adrian Nelhams describes his first impressions of the jacket...

Test Conditions: I’ve worn the Tierra Roc Blanc Jacket for 10 weeks this winter icefall climbing in both the European Alps & the Canadian Rockies – over 50 days climbing ice & mixed routes.

Fabric:  The Roc Blanc uses the new generation, three-layer Gore-Tex Pro that features a brand new multi-layer membrane, a more durable micro-grid backer fabric and 70 denier top face fabric. Gore-Tex Pro is best for extended trips in severe conditions. The new Pro is designed to be more breathable than its predecessor with increased ruggedness, a solid no-nonsense material that is great for comfort on extended trips and can stand up to the increased abrasion from heavier packs, which makes it far better suited for longer trips into the higher mountains in both summer & winter where you’ll encounter the worst of what the weather can throw at you.

Fit: The Roc Blanc’s a very good tailored fit, feeling very trim with no excess, but being well articulated at the same time. When placing the ice tools above your head the jacket doesn’t ride up above your harness. The sleeves are a good, long length, again well cut, so that when you need to stretch out, the cuffs stay where they should and don’t ride up your arm.  

Features: The jacket is well designed and very functional. The lines are clean with minimal excess due to the athletic fit.  Two crossover chest pockets provide quick and easy access. They are a good size to fit a map, spare gloves or a knife and abseil tat. Unlike most jackets, the Roc Blanc has unique and conveniently placed ventilation zips that sit just in-front of the arm rather than underneath the arm (where they can be awkward to open and close).These zips allow easy access when on the move and ventilation is a priority without the hassle of stopping or having to use two hands. The sleeves are well-articulated, they’re a trim fit with no bulky excess and good strong Velcro fasteners which really wrap around and seal the cuff. The storm hood is a good size allowing the helmet to fit neatly underneath it. Single-handed hood adjusters tie back neatly into the inside of the jacket, so they don’t flap back and hit you in the face. The wired peak keeps off the worst of the weather and gives it a great shape thanks to the combination of a sheet adhesive and wired thread.  The zips throughout are water repellent YKK zips with a 2 way opening for harness compatibility and ventilation. They are neat & don’t feel like they’re going to fail any time soon!

Conclusion:

It’s a solid no-nonsense jacket which looks great, is well designed, functional, feels comfortable and a lovely trim fit.

Info from Tierra

Features

  • Minimalist, lightweight design with an athletic fit, tailored to sit close to the body but offers excellent movability.
  • Constructed with new generation Gore-Tex Pro 3L - extremely rugged, greater breathability and unparalleled waterproofness.
  • Exceptionally strong 70D nylon face fabric that has a soft-to-the-touch, quiet finish.
  • Cut longer at the back for increased weather protection.
  • Fully adjustable, helmet compatible hood for a tight fit around the head.
  • Wired hooded peak reinforced with a robust, non-PVC sheet adhesive.
  • RRP £430


For more information Tierra



7 Aug, 2013
How much does it actually weigh?
7 Aug, 2013
//tierra-products.com/products/roc-blanc-jacket/ 500 grams.
7 Aug, 2013
Thanks Toby, I had a look at the website and read that. Be good to hear what they weigh on the scales though - 1/2kg seems too much of a nice round number :-)
7 Aug, 2013
It is quite a round number isn't it? but I've found that most stated weights are within 10% of what my postal scales weigh for outdoorsy clothing. Marmot were very wrong though on one jacket's weight some seasons back - I think often it's just the intern or whoever entering the info on the website who makes a mistake rather than any attempt to pull one over on us! ME had a few that had to be those sort of mistakes on their sleeping bag website when they updated it this year. 500 gr is also not super light by modern standards, but I think there are disadvantages in super light jackets for hard mountain use anyway.
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