Product Reviews

Overview

With the increasing disappointment in the North Face line of clothing and equipment I was on the search for a different company in which to purchase from. I have tried a lot of brands in which what would be considered “explorers” clothing such as Columbia and Patagonia. I have noticed that these brands were consistently down graded to expand their market and seemingly forgot their base that built them up. My Columbia jacket, in which I enjoyed, had literally fallen apart within a few trips to the wilderness. I began my search into other lines, such as UF Pro, 5.11 Tactical, Fjallraven etc.

As an overlander, adventure is the big thing.   Whether you are driving down trails or trekking in the back 40, there is fatigue that is taken into account. The last thing I need to worry about is my clothing, so comfort and practicality are very important. Some of these  requirements are,

• Comfort 
• Weight and bulk
• Ergonomics and
• Durability

Comfort

This jacket seems to provide it all. The jacket itself provides plenty of room to move around. Performing a self hug and the sleeves had barely moved up. The addition of extra materials on the back side will also keep you warm when you have to bend over. The slightly longer than waist does not restrict mobility to much while maintaining heat.  The shell is somewhat smooth so there is minimal chance of the jacket catching on items such as door handles or donning a pack and vest. Even when moving through bush it did not snag. The insulting material is a PrimaLoft, which is a very good material. PrimaLoft seems to regulate itself when it comes warmth. In warmer temperatures (0 to -10 Celsius), I would unzip it a quarter way down to vent. In colder temperatures the jacket was excellent in keeping out the wind.

The drawbacks I have found is when wearing a pack you were limited to the zipper for ventilation, especially when the cross strap is engaged. The jacket could use zippers in the underarm areas to assist in regulating body temperatures. I personally have found that underarm vents can greatly assist. Anyone who works or plays in the winter knows that sweating can present unwanted problems in cold conditions. 

With the jacket fully zipped up there is ample space for a light scarf and the design of the collar gets you bundled up quite nicely. Through the ranges of temperatures and wind conditions my core stayed nice and cozy.

Weight and Bulk

PrimaLoft is like the space age version of down, it is lighter does not gain weight if wet but still has the bulk. Depending on the grade of PrimaLoft you could look like Mr. Stay Puft from Ghostbusters. It is rather deceiving in a way but they really do not hinder much in the terms of mobility. Packability is another issue. A good insulator will trap pockets of air as the air acts as a warming transition from your body to the outside. This is what makes materials like down and PrimaLoft good insulators and regulators for temperature. The drawback is packability.  

Utilizing the hood as a sack I was able to get the size down to 11 inches (27 cm) x 7 inches (18 cm) by 7 inches 18 (cm). When utilizing a 5 litre compression sack, I was able to compact it 9 inches (23 cm) x 5 inches (13 cm) by 5 inches (13 cm).  

Ergonomics

When utilized with a tactical vest or pack this jacket is very intelligently designed. The top pockets are positioned in an access area and are somewhat at the right depth as well. Just remember to close your zipper if you are holding a smart phone. The pocket openings are conveniently located to the opening of the jacket and makes access easy. No more reaching around or down to access vital items such as a wallet or phone. The bottom pockets are deep enough to hold gloves, a toque (beanie, night cap) or light scarf.

The hood has a nice design that doesn’t entirely restrict peripheral vision while maintaining warmth. The hood draw string is located at the top and behind which is the only drawback I can see as I would prefer them located near the collar.

The drawstrings at the waist are conveniently located at the waist on each side. It would be nice if the tabs could be made bigger. 

The only draw back I noticed was I would prefer the chest pocket zippers to go the other way as if you should crawl forward they could open.  An addition of an interior pocket to keep electronics or a compass warm and secure would also be a nice feature. 

Durability

The jacket to date is durable. The fabric seems to have a rip stop material. I have done several walks with a pack and chest rig and there was no damaged caused by those items unlike a similar jacket I purchased from UF Pro which shredded almost right away. The only problem I see is the main zipper which is a two way. I have had some issues with the zipper failing in the future. This point is moot though as they have a warranty for the jacket that should cover this.  

Conclusion

I would rate this jacket 4.5 stars out of 5. With some of the points I have mentioned above, things can not be perfect unless we get it tailored made to our exact specs. This jacket performs well off the shelf and is well worth the money. 

About the Retailer

Located in the heart of the Parkland Region, Prairie Supply Co. deals with higher end outdoor wear. Although currently lacking in dedicated outdoor gear  for the self sufficient adventurer, they do have a nice clothing, footwear and equipment selection to get you started. The staff member I had dealt with was very knowledgable in the products sold.

The company is very selective in the brands they have for their sales floor as well. They offer a flat shipping rate at $25.00 Canada wide. If your travels bring you into the Dauphin area stop by.  For more information you can find them on the internet at www.prairriesupplyco.com

Overview

If footwear defines a person then these shoes do the trick. Not only very stylish, comfortable with minimal breaking in time compared to other more trusted brands such as my goto of Danner and Blundstones. Durability for daily trail walking is different however. My Danners and Blundstones on going upon years of use, and once broken are my goto shoes from formal and casual (Blundstones) to going deep into the back country (Danner). 

As an adventurer I needed a mid wear shoe and I have heard nothing but great things on Merrill. As an overlander, adventure is the big thing. When ever I do a normal commute from Dauphin to Winnipeg I bring my dogs so we can hike and stretch our legs. 

The last thing I need to worry about is my clothing, so comfort and practicality are very important. Some of the testing also incorporated a light pack. Like all my other reviews the requirements never change and are,  

• Comfort 
• Weight and bulk
• Ergonomics and
• Durability

Comfort

Initial trying of the shoe was phenomenal, it almost fit perfectly. I did not require much of a break-in time for these shoes nor did I have to upgrade the insoles. They were pretty much wear right out the store. The Intercept wears like a running shoe right out of the box. Whether doing a daily walk on the sidewalk or hiking on an established trail this is the shoe.

Weight and Stability

The shoe is relatively light weight and as I mentioned wears like a running shoe. The arch support is firm and though shoe at the mid point flexes enough to adapt to uneven ground so there was no rolling of the ankles. The flexibility of the at the mid point still gives positive support, however, I would not wear this with a heavy pack over rough terrain as ankle support is definite must. For day trips with a small pack and two huskies this a good, reliable shoe.

Traction

The shoe utilizes a Vibram sole and has good traction in most conditions. The soles are light enough to feel your footing on uneven terrain. Even when moving in mud, unlike more traditional soles the Intercept sheds it quickly. Under snow or mud these shoes do the trick. The only drawback and this was due to the winter that Manitoba had a continuous cycle of freezing and melting, they had performed very poorly on ice. Although I could feel my footing on uneven ice on the trail to try to establish grip, it was shaky at best. Outside of my Blundies, I have never slipped so much on ice. The difference is that Merrell still maintains its flexibility while my Blundies the soles tend to freeze. In comparison to my Danners in which I have a summer and a winter boot and they both utilize Vibram soles. The summer boot performs poorly in winter while the winter boot has excellent traction year round but gets hot if worn in the summer.  

Factors that effect Vibram is mostly in traction and the materials used. Though not a major drawback, just exercise caution if wearing the Intercept in a constant freeze and thaw cycle.

Durability

As comfortable as the shoe is their major drawback is durability. Running shoes such as New Balance generally as a rule have a 6 month life cycle of running, however, these shoes can then be moved to the everyday wear or gym shoe. Normally with my New Balance running shoes I can get a year or two of use out of them.

Considering the price point of New Balance and the Intercept the latter had about an 8-9 month life cycle. My Blundies and Danners are now 10 years old and the only thing I had to do was replace the sole. 

The sole was separating on the left shoe where the toes and foot meet. At that same spot on both sides on both shoes the were beginning to show tearing from the wear. This left me confused as I heard such great things about Merrell shoes and led me to wondering if this was a bad batch.

Conclusion

I would rate this shoe 3.5 out of 5. As I had mentioned traction was not a deal breaker and it would’ve cost .5 points. They big thing was durability. This shoe is not capable of mild adventures over extended periods. I would not recommend this shoe to adventurers as I see it more suited to the weekend warrior.

Due to the comfort of the shoe I would probably purchase them again if the durability issues were fixed, until then, depending on what you are looking for footwear I would think long and hard of what you want the Merrell Intercept to do.

About the Retailer

Located on 1st and Main in Dauphin in the old Western Grocers warehouse, they are Dauphins goto for sporting goods. With a good selection of hockey and golfing needs they also serve a variety of other sports to accommodate the weekend warrior. Their staff is hit and miss as every time I visit meaning I get a good, friendly, knowledgable staff or absolutely nothing.

Although product selection is good, availability on stock is also hit and miss when it comes to running or daily wear.

When visiting the store it is best you know what you are looking for before you buy. I can not review them on their hockey or golfing department as I only purchased the limited hiking and running gear they have available. If you are looking for serious high quality outdoor gear I would recommend elsewhere such as Wilderness Supply in Winnipeg or Prairie Supply Co. in Dauphin, but for the weekend warrior this is an average place to shop.