Haglofs Mimic LIM Jacket review

A superlight insulated jacket made from recycled materials

I stumbled upon the Haglofs’ L.I.M Mimic Insulated Hooded Jacket purely by chance. I was looking for an ultra-lightweight mid-layer I could use during a planned follow-up to my 83 mile Ridgeway run. Unfortunately, the run didn’t come off due to personal circumstances, but the Mimic has more than proven itself on several hikes and runs, being used during activity breaks, and at the end of my hiking routes.

Given my often poorly planned and ill-prepared ski tours to places such as the North Pole, Lake Baikal, Alaska, etc, I find a good quality heavy down jacket wards off most cases of ‘death by cold’. However, for my current activities, I decided to dip my toe further into the world of synthetic materials, hence choosing the Haglofs’ Micmic.

Intro

Where does the Haglofs’ Mimic sit in the range?

Jake and I start our reviews by establishing where a jacket fits into a niche of outdoor activities. Whilst it would be easy to compare the Mimic to a jacket such as the Mountain Equipment Superflux, it would be unfair as ME’s offering, whilst also crammed with synthetic fill, is designed for extremely cold environments.

With that in mind, the Haglofs Mimic is a lightweight insulated jacket with 169g of graphene-enhanced Insulation Type crammed into the micro baffles. This proprietary fill, combined with a super lightweight 10D outer fabric, keeps the weight low whilst ensuring maximum insulation.

On a side note, Haglofs’ have coined the term ‘Less Is More’ to describe the products in this range, hence the abbreviation ‘L.I.M’ emblazoned on the jacket.

The obvious question is this: why do I feel the Haglofs’ Mimic has the chops to go up against bigger, more well-known (and sometimes expensive) brands? I’ll give you the answer by the end of this review.

At around £120, it’s a fairly priced investment I consider excellent value.

The minimal features are deliberate design decisions that keep the jacket’s weight low. At only 370g I can safely say it’s exceptionally light given the degree of built-in insulation. This latter aspect is achieved by the 169g of graphene-enhanced Insulation Type which boosts the warmth without adding additional weight.

Whilst the Mimic is not as pretty as other mid-layers such as the Rab Cirrus hoody, I feel it’s a more than capable competitor for your consideration.

Mimic Features

The Mimic is a simple jacket with none of the superfluous features found in some makes and models.

There are only two hand pockets which, at first, felt too flimsy for heavy items but over time I’ve found them more than capable of all the ‘hiking junk’ I shove in my pockets as I race over the hills. The hood, hem and sleeve ends are elasticed with no unnecessary toggles and tabs that add weight to the garment.

The Mimic is VERY packable. I’ll let the image below speak for itself!

Haglofs’ Mimic Specifications

The 10D outer fabric and nano baffle construction further reduce the weight with the latter feature ensuring even heat distribution and a reduction in cold spots.

The hooded version weighs 350g which suggests 20g of additional insulation in the hooded version.

The jacket’s outer is manufactured from recycled 10D ultra-lightweight, downproof mini rip-stop fabric. My preference is to choose products from companies that have a well-defined policy of using recyclable materials.

Review Criteria

When assessing the Haglofs Mimic, I asked the following questions@

• Does it work as lightweight insulation for active use?
• Does it work for layering with other clothes when static or in the bitter cold?
• How does it perform in the wet?
• Is it comfortable, and are the features suitable for the use for which it’s intended?

Field Testing Conditions

At the time of writing this review, I’d owned this jacket for 3 months and it’s seen extended use in late summer and early winter conditions. Whilst it hasn’t yet been tested in sub-zero conditions my experiences so far allow me to make a confident prediction about how the Mimic will perform in the depths of winter.

As I soon show, it has been used in nearly all weather conditions you can expect in the UK (a note for our American cousins – we do have some sunny days… occasionally!).

Performance

My first mistake: making an assumption about the insulation qualities of this jacket. I thought it would be an ideal additional layer to pull on whilst hiking in the cold conditions I associate with higher altitudes or when the sun sets.

Big mistake!

I hiked at a reasonable pace of 4kph for 10 minutes and by the time I came to a halt, I was a (not pretty) sweaty mass. For me, that one test speaks volumes. But don’t let that put you off. When I reduced my walking pace to a more reasonable 3 kph, I had that distinct, ‘cosy but not too hot’ vibe.

Where the Mimic does excel is as a layer I can pull on during a break in an activity.

It fits well underneath a rainproof, much like the Arc’Teryx Atom Lt.

Weather-resistance

I went walking in a light shower for about two minutes and was soon soaked! This demonstrates the jacket cannot repel rain. And that’s fine. If I wanted a super lightweight waterproof mid-layer I’d have chosen another make and/or model. Or doused the whole jacket with a water-repellant treatment.

The one positive I have to note from this test is that the Mimic dries fast.

Fit

The jacket is cut slim, with little excess material to billow out high winds. I know some hikers like to buy a little larger than necessary – I don’t recommend this approach – to accommodate a fleece under the jacket, but this defeats the very cosy insulation qualities of the Mimic.

Tip: the Mimic is best worn over a t-shirt or very thin mid-layer.

Materials

Insulation: Mimic PLATINUM Ultracluster Graphene mixed with Recycled polyester, light, lofty, synthetic fibre cluster insulation with a down-like feel (169g Size L)

Summary

Overall, the Haglofs’ Mimic Graphene offers great value for a relatively low price. it’s available for. It’s light and versatile and the slim cut makes me look and feel athletic. With the low weight and minimal design, it packs down small, it’s a convenient jacket to chuck in your ruck without worrying about adding much weight or bulk. And it works brilliantly for what it’s intended – an active but insulated layer.

Buy the Haglofs Mimic if:

• You need a lightweight insulated jacket to pull on when paused on milder days, or an extra layer in very cold conditions.
• You need something to keep you warm but not overheated while active on colder days.

Don’t buy the Haglofs Mimic if:

• You need a down jacket for super-cold environments
• You want a jacket that is water-resistant