Mountain Hardwear Blazar Pullover Review

Performance Comparison

Breathability

This could be the most breathable waterproof jacket available anywhere. It doesn't get any better. The author even used it for nordic skiing, a high output activity where most hardshells would be suffocating. Most of our testers used the jacket in colder temperatures. In warmer weather we prefer full-length zippers for improved ventilation.

Features

Like the company's Quasar, which we have been testing for two years, the Blazar has one internal stash pocket, an adjustable hood that goes best under a helmet, and very nice non-adjustable wrist closures. Simple and effective, though our testers prefer external chest pockets.

Mobility

The jacket is so light and so soft it feels like you're wearing a windbreaker. It is among the most mobile of any jacket we've tested and it

Weight

The Mountain Hardwear Blazar is one the lightest three-layer waterproof breathable jackets available. We've tested two models: one weighed 7.0 oz and the other 7.5 oz.

We cut off the jacket's “buttery cuffs” on the second model we tested and are very pleased with the change because it saves 0.6 ounces, or nearly 9% of the total weight!! and does not appear to negatively impact warmth or comfort. Cutting off the cuffs makes this jacket the lightest three-layer jacket in the world.

Durability

Through testing the jacket backcountry skiing, alpine climbing, mountaineering, nordic skiing, and backpacking, we've found that it's not durable. In fact, the Blazar is likely the least durable 3-layer waterproof breathable jacket we've ever tested. As you can see in the photos below, the jacket's face fabric pilled up after only one week of use. We believe this is unacceptable for a $450 jacket. One tester tore a hole in the wrist while on the North Cascades Torment-Forbidden Traverse. Due to its low durability, we do not recommend the Blazar and give it a 3-star rating.

No ultralight hardshell is very durable. But several others that weigh less than one ounce more (Haglofs Gram Comp Pull and Patagonia M10) have proven to be much more durable, and exhibit virtually no signs of wear, after testing for a similar duration in similar, if not tougher, conditions.

Versatility

The low weight and supreme breathability increase versatility, but low durability and the lack of a full-length zipper offset those gains. We give the jacket a 7 out of 10, which is the same score as other lightweight half-length shells.

Best Applications

Fast and light winter alpine climbing.

Conclusion

The Blazar is a fantastic jacket that's disappointingly durable.