Ortovox Piz Bianco Insulated Jacket - Men's for Sale, Reviews, Deals and Guides

10
out of 10
11 Positive, 0 Mixed & 0 Negative
from 11 Reviews
Retail Price:
$350.00
Used Value:
$210.00
Sale Value:
$315.00

Taking its trust in wool outside of the limits of a baselayer, Ortovox implements wool in some way or another into every one of its garments. The Piz Bianco Insulated Jacket utilizes the temperature-regulating benefits of Swiss wool in an insulating layer that can be worn on its own or under a shell. The Swiss Virgin wool insulation helps regulate your body temperature while transporting moisture away from your body, making it ideal for aerobic activities in cold and high environments commonplace to ski mountaineering and alpine touring. Ortovox updated the Piz this season with a merino wool lining to enhance temperature regulation, moisture management, and breathability. The nylon micro ripstop shell readily resists tearing, and it is fitted with a water-resistant membrane to protect from moisture. Its ergonomic fit helps to insulate and allows you wear a shell over this jacket when the weather turns foul.

Specifications

Brand:
Claimed Weight:
1lb 2oz
Fit:
regular
Hood:
adjustable
Insulation:
150g SwissWool (88% virgin merino wool, 12% polylactide)
Manufacturer Warranty:
5 years
Material:
[shell] 100% nylon, [lining] 100% virgin merino wool
Pockets:
2 hand, 1 chest
Recommended Use:
ice climbing, mountaineering

Full Reviews

10
This is a great winter jacket. I use this most everyday throughout the winter, either wearing it or having it in my pack. It is warm, breathes well, and packs small. There is nothing better than putting this on when stopping on the summit or while digging a pit. It also looks great out on the town.
Steve Reynaud, backcountry.com
April 23, 2020
10
The best jacket I have ever had. Very warm and stylish.
AREK S., backcountry.com
April 9, 2019
10
I had a chance to put this jacket through its paces recently while snow tubing up in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. The jacket held up extremely well even in 20-25F weather and moderate snow flurries. I stayed bone dry all through. The hood is fitted and quite tight around the head. The overall quality of the jacket is superb and I love all the zippers/pockets on this jacket. Best of all, since this is a merino wool based jacket, there are no feathers poking through the outer shell (this is a big issue for me with Down jackets). Like I said above, the jacket will keep you very warm even in very cold weather. I wore a size M and was able to also wear a Patagonia micro light vest underneath w/o any issues. I spent most of time outdoors in just a T-shirt and this jacket, and it kept me dry and toasty throughout. The one nit I have is that the main zipper feels a lil 'light' and doesn't quite have the heft/feel that I expected. Guess this is to keep the overall weight down. Speaking of weight, this jacket is very light and packable (it doesn't come with a stowable bag though). I bought the Irish Green color and it looks absolutely fab! :) Do note that this jacket is of an atheltic fit. I was in between an M and an L, but I like a snug fit and chose the M. I had no issues with arm movements and was also able to wear a vest underneath this jacket like I mentioned above. In summary, I am extremely happy with this jacket and will recommend it very highly to anyone looking for a great jacket to wear on the mountains while pursuing snow activities of all kinds.
Kal Vissa, backcountry.com
March 16, 2019
10
I have the Ortovox Piz Boe and was looking for something a bit warmer for colder days. This jacket is the BOMB! Amazing warmth for weight, I think better than any down jacket I have owned. Fit is spot on. Very happy with another Ortovox product and am a believer in swiss wool!
Matthew T., backcountry.com
November 24, 2018
10
WOW! This thing is great. I've never gotten more compliments on the way a jacket looked before. Keeps you warm down to about 23*F, good rain protection for short periods. The wool keeps you warm and does not also immediately fry you indoors, very convenient. My first time with this brand. Perfect jacket to wear apres walking around town in the 25-45 degree weather, or for light spring skiing. Quality for sure. The onlything that's a bit awkward is it's not exactly outerwear, and it's not exactly a mid layer to run under a technical shell, although you could, it just seems more like something made to be worn on the outside. No idea how you couldn't say this runs small for americans, definitely a more fitted european cut. If you're athletically built or in between sizes like i am, def go larger, will not look baggy at all.
Kyle Bome, backcountry.com
November 19, 2018
10
This is my first piece of gear from this brand, as I had been looking for a new down jacket from companies like Patagonia and came across this brand. I'm a BIG merino wool fan, I have spent probably too much money on t shirts, base layers, etc on it, so when I found these folks making a jacket with wool instead of down I had to try it out. First the build quality is top notch and along the lines of Arc, Patagonia, etc. Very well made. Right now as I type this its probably 15 ish degrees in KC MO, and walking into the office I felt great in it. I got the dark navy and it looks great. Very easily could be used for casual day around town if need be. Interior is nicely done too with a nice interior packet on the right side and hip strings to adjust the fit at the bottom interior. Insulation feels very well done. Its a little heavier in weight vs down, but that does not bother me. I have yet to try and pack it down, but I can see it packing pretty tightly and being fine. For fit, I put true to size, but its definitely a slimmer fit. I have a bit wider shoulders from climbing and a medium is snuggish on me, but I like the fit, so just something to think about if you plan on layering underneath. All around I am very happy with this jacket and will be buying more of their products as long as they remain like this. Highly recommend anyone in the lookout for a new down jacket give these a try, I dont think youll be disappointed.
Stu, backcountry.com
January 9, 2018
10
I used this jacket for snowboarding at Tahoe. It's warmer than the standard 60-80g synthetic insulated jackets but probably not as warm as a down jacket. Great fit and very comfortable. I used it in the 30's while it was snowing as a mid-layer and had no problems with warmth. It's not as breathable as my other jacket (BD First Light Hoody) but it's definitely warmer. Overall great jacket.
Peter, backcountry.com
February 23, 2017
10
I love this jacket! It is my go to jacket for anything from windy spring nights to layering up and going skiing on the mountain. This jacket is not a waterproof jacket but it is water resistant so for light moisture it will handle it well and the wool insulates nicely even if it does get a little wet. As far as fit this jacket definately fits true to size but it is rather slim fitting. I normally get medium in jackets and can layer a fleece and some long sleeve layers but in this jacket I would have to size up if that was the fit I wanted. Since this jacket is not truly waterproof I went with a medium as I use it more as a mid layer on really cold and windy days when I need the best protection possible. One of my favorite parts about this jacket is the pockets. It has two hand pockets, 1 zippered chest on the inside and 1 on the outside and it also has a large velcro pocket on the inside that is large enough to fit a pair of ski gloves in so you never lose them if you have to take them off for whatever reason. Great jacket, would buy again for sure!
David Ronnow, backcountry.com
January 11, 2017
10
Fit: I am 5'8", 145-150lbs I selected the size medium as I am in between a small and medium depending on the brand and fit. This jacket fit me perfectly. For comparison a small Patagonia nanopuff is my normal insulation layer and it fits slim, if not a little tight. The Piz Bianco is a more robust jacket than the nanopuff, but I find the fit to be perfect for me. Large enough to toss over a shell or layer while belaying, slim enough to fit under a shell if you want to use as a midlayer. It also fits under a harness well, even though it is a somewhat puffy jacket. This does have a slimmer Euro fit so if you are in between sizes I would recommend sizing up. Functionality: As an insulation layer this thing is a heat factory. Living in the mild climate of the Wasatch, it's almost too much jacket for everyday backcountry skiing. However it is great for tossing on to quickly warm up at a belay station or lunch break. Pockets: Two zippered hand. One chest. Two Internal. Pockets are easy to access and the external chest pocket is easy to use when wearing a pack. One large internal pocket with velcro closure keeps a water bottle warm. Zippered internal chest pocket holds a key, cash and cards. Zippers: Zippers are often overlooked, but nothing is more frustrating than a zipper that doesn't€™ work smoothly or one that hangs up all of the time. All of the zippers worked flawlessly. They do zip from the opposite side compared to most other North American market jackets. Hood: Elastic band with pull closure on the back of hood for adjustability. Easy to operate with one hand. Small pull tab makes it a little harder to use with gloves on. Fits over a climbing helmet well, a little tight when putting over a smith Vantage helmet. Weather Resistance: Water resistant membrane sheds moisture really well. Water beaded up and ran off without soaking in. Obviously not fully waterproof, but I was pleasantly surprised at how well this performed in heavy snow fall.
Dan Gates, backcountry.com
January 15, 2015
10
I've had one of these for 2 years and it works really well! It blocks the wind really well, and has great mobility in the arms. I've used it around town as well as in the mountains as a layer for lunch/breaks. I'd buy this again
Jeff Sadler, backcountry.com
December 15, 2014
10
I've only had this jacket about 2 weeks, but as Southern Californian living and working temporarily in Southern Ontario, Canada, I've been trying cold weather gear that I've just never needed to own before. Even though winter hasn't really set in yet (according to the locals), for me 30F and windy is...brutal. It's damp, too. That being said, my latest test has this jacket pitted against a very popular brand 850 down jacket. While this jacket isn't as light by maybe an ounce or so, the breathability, windproofness, and overall warmth of this jacket wins hand down. I'm already a fan of merino wool, and this jacket takes it to the next level with its mix of fabrics giving it the extra windproof/water resistance that just plain merino wouldn't have. I've been comfortable in 20F and windy/damp conditions with this jacket and nothing else but a long-sleeve merino base layer. The hood fits great and keeps my balding noggin warm as well. I'm about 5'7"/155lbs lean and the small fits well with room for mid/base layers. The cut is slightly longer than a normal jacket which I like. Nice, solid triple stitched seams and , outside hand pockets are insulated, and the main zip works flawlessly.
Donald F., backcountry.com
December 12, 2014