As of September, 2016, the ZeroGrand Metro Coat is Discontinued
REASONS TO BUY
Lightweight
Waterproof
Warm
Sleek
Form-fitting
Stylish Cole Haan design
REASONS TO AVOID
Non-detachable hood
Thin insulation
Clingy when saturated
Mountain Hardwear ZeroGrand Metro Coat Review
Credit: Mountain Hardwear
Our Verdict
Our Analysis and Test Results
Mountain Hardwear teamed up with Cole Haan to design a casual, lightweight winter coat that offers many technical features. The shell is waterproof and insulated with 100g of Termal.Q Elite synthetic insulation. It weighs only 1.3 pounds, which is about half the weight of most of the other models in this review. The outer polyester fabric has a matte finish and works perfectly with the three color options: Black, Stone Green, and Mountain. This jacket is simple - in a way we like!
Performance Comparison
Simple and sweet, this jacket is packed with technical features that makes life easier in the city, and more enjoyable in the mountains.
Credit: Chris Whatford
Warmth
As the old saying goes, you can't judge a book by its cover, nor should you judge this jacket. Its lack of down and lightweight appearance may deter some, but this jacket is still relatively warm for its weight. It doesn't have the same thick insulation as the Patagonia Downtown Loft Parka or The North Face Arctic Down Parka, but it did do a good job keeping us warm, especially on the go. Its slim fit and 100g of Thermal.Q Elite synthetic insulation make for a lightweight jacket, and it's warm enough for mild winter climates or spring/fall weather. We stayed warm while going for a walk and running errands around town, but on stormy days we needed something more. If you live somewhere where winter weather generally involves months of below freezing weather, a jacket like our Editors' Choice winner, the Canada Goose Kensington Parka, is definitely a better option.
There's not a lot of insulation is in this jacket, but looks can be deceiving. While not as warm as any of the other models that we tested, this lightweight jacket still provides a good amount of warmth for its weight.
Credit: Chris Whatford
Weather Resistance
The "Stretch Ozonic" waterproof fabric repelled water fairly well. Water initially beaded up and rolled off the fabric, but after an extended time in the elements (heavy/moderate rain), the shell became saturated and felt heavy, clingy and uncomfortable. The good news is that synthetic insulation tends to retain more loft (and therefore warmth) even when wet, but if you live in a seriously rainy climate then a better option would be our Top Pick for Wet Climates, the Patagonia Tres Down Parka, or the Arc'teryx Patera Parka.
Lightweight and waterproof, this jacket did a great job at repelling water. Initially, water beaded up and rolled off the shell, but after an extended time in steady rain this jacket became saturated and felt clingy. In a light rain or snow this jacket's waterproofing held up fine.
Credit: Chris Whatford
Style
This jacket has a smooth, clean look, and is perfect for a fast-paced city. Its mid-thigh length is practical, functional, and stylish, and overall this jacket has a professional look to it. We received multiple compliments from testers and friends about the clean, smooth look and flattering fit.
Smooth, clean and simple - we loved the design of this jacket! It has a professional look to it, but is loaded with technical features. The best of both worlds: functionality and style.
Credit: Sierra Purcell
Comfort
Considering that this coat isn't stuffed with down, it's still quite comfortable, though it didn't give us the "walking around in a sleeping bag" level of comfort like the Marmot Montreaux did. This model is very lightweight, weighing only 1.3 pounds, which is less than half the weight of the Canada Goose Kensington Parka. Some may find this more functional and comfortable than traditional down jacket.
Features
This jacket may look simple, but it has a lot of technical features. The breathable stretch fabric gives this jacket a smooth, clean look, and the Thermal.Q Elite insulation mimics the structure of goose down. Knitted cuffs also help keep precipitation out and heat trapped in.
The knit cuffs are a great feature - they trap heat in and keep cold air and precipitation out.
Credit: Chris Whatford
The hood isn't detachable, but it is stowable. A nice feature is the brim on the hood. It helped keep our face dry and protected in wet weather. There's a waterproof flap over the front zipper that helps keep precipitation out. A two-way zipper gives you better mobility. Two exterior fleece-lined pockets with zippers are warm and protective, and an interior fleece-lined pocket keeps electronics or valuable safe from stormy weather.
Whether you want to change the look of the coat, or it's nice weather out and a hood isn't necessary, there's an option to stow the hood in the collar. It isn't removable but it does compact nicely.
Credit: Katie Walsh
Durability
Despite being lightweight, this jacket is highly durable and breathable. Its smooth fabric leaves no room for snags on stitching. Tested in rain, snow, and everyday use, this jacket did a good job and held up well.
Best Applications
This jacket's simple style is perfect to wear to a business meeting, or out for dinner afterwards. It's not quite warm enough for severely cold winters, but perfect for milder climates, city life, or shoulder seasons.
This light jacket is still warm enough for milder winter days, and has ample mobility and comfort.
Credit: Sierra Purcell
Value
With a price tag of $400, this jacket lands in the middle out of all the jackets we tested. If you're in the market for a stylish winter jacket that's lightweight and highly functional, then this is a good buy. For $100 less, you can get our Best Buy winner, the Marmot Montreaux, which is a very warm down parka.
Conclusion
Loaded with technical features, and oozing with sleek simplicity, the Mountain Hardwear ZeroGrand Metro Coat is a great winter jacket for the right environment. We were impressed with the warmth of the lightweight Thermal.Q Elite insulation — it's not as toasty as some down jackets that we tested, but still fairly warm considering its weight and thin insulation.
—
Liz Williamson
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