Columbia Labyrinth Loop Omni-Heat Infinity Insulated Hooded Jacket

A mostly excellent lightweight jacket. It works in a wide range of temperatures, is comfortable, warm, and highly water-resistant.

For whatever reason, I decided that I needed a new insulated jacket with a hood. I was trying to find a down jacket but ultimately decided on the Columbia Labyrinth Loop when it went on sale.

Fit and Comfort: Fit is nice. I'm short (5'4") with broad shoulders. The sleeve length is correct while the body fit allows for adding layers (though this is unnecessary as I'll discuss below). The fabric feels pretty nice where it touches your skin. The jacket is very lightweight in my opinion. Columbia does not list the weight.

Adjustability: The only adjustability is with the hood. It has elastic drawcords on both sides but I find the retention mechanisms a little fiddly. The hood runs large but does snug down pretty well.

Water Resistance: I've worn the jacket during snow and light rain and there was no leakage or wetting-out of the outer material.

Breathability: Here is the crux of the matter: the jacket is not very breathable. Why? Because of the Omni-Heat reflective lining (you can see some of it in my photo around the top of the jacket). This lining covers the entire inside of the jacket. While it functions great to keep heat in, it is very poor at letting moisture out. If you are using this jacket for vigorous activity, you'll quickly find the need to unzip or even take it off.

Warmth: For such a light-feeling jacket, it's usable temperature range is very broad, from 7F (-13C) up to low 40s F (4C). And all of that without any layer other than a long sleeved shirt.

Layering: On a cold day (about 7F/-13C) shortly after I bought the jacket, I thought a mid-layer would be a good idea. Wrong! This was for a dog walk in the snow and after about a mile, I started to feel perspiration and then I started to feel clammy. Upon returning home, the inside of the jacket was indeed moist—not good. That said, if you were engaged in something more static, like driving and doing errands, you could certainly add layers at lower temperatures.

Abrasion: So far, I haven't rubbed against anything so I can't speak to this, whether the jacket's exterior is tough or not.

Features: The body, front hand pockets and outer chest pocket all have a robust zipper (not the less expensive reverse-coil-type found on many jackets, even expensive ones). The sleeves have elastic cuffs. The hood has adjustable elastic drawcords, as does the hem (one on each side).

Construction & Durability: The shell is nylon. The interior is polyester. The insulation is recycled polyester, Columbia's "Omni-Heat Synthetic Down." So far, after about 3 months of use, I'm quite pleased with it. However, I have noticed that the top inside of the jacket (the neck when closed) is showing dirt from rubbing on my face when fully zipped, as does the very bottom where my hands hold the zipper together.

So with all of that in mind, I rated the Labyrinth Loop a decent 4 stars out of 5. With the addition of Velcro cuffs, pit zippers, greater breathability, and some slight redesign of the hood, it would be a definite 5-star jacket. The jacket retails for $165, which is a fair price, but you can get it on sale for as little as $83, which is a great price!

Background

I have had this jacket for a few months, wearing it in a wide range of temperatures. That versatility is a high-point for this jacket.