Product: 686 GLCR Advance Thermagraph Snowboard Jacket 2015
Price: $300.00 (USD) recommended retail
My rating: 9.6/10
Hello and welcome to my 686 GLCR jacket review.
In this review I will assess how good the GLCR is as a snowboard jacket based on a number of factors including:
- Waterproofing
- Breathability
- Functionality; and
- Value for Money
O.k. let’s get straight into it.
Waterproofing
Waterproofing is a factor of two different things. Firstly the waterproof rating of the fabric of the jacket and secondly how the seams of the jacket are sealed.
Learn more details about what makes for a good snowboard jacket here
Waterproof Rating
686’s GLCR jacket has a waterproof rating of 20,000mm. That’s about as good as it gets and it’s unlikely that this jacket will ever leak water no matter what the conditions.
That is of course if it is fully seam sealed…..
Waterproof rating score = 20,000mm = 2.0/2.0
Seam Sealing
And it is! This is really important for waterproofing. My own snowboard jacket is 10,000mm and fully seam sealed and it’s never seeped water in the 3 years I’ve owned it.
Since the GLCR is 20,000mm and fully seam sealed it should be an extremely water tight jacket.
Seams sealed score = fully sealed = 2.0/2.0
Breathability
Being water tight is one thing but snowboarding is an action sport and you do sweat and get hot out on the mountain. So breathability is also very important or it could make for an uncomfortable day out there.
The GLCR has a breathability rating of 15,000 grams. This is near the top of the scale (usually a snowboarding jacket will fall somewhere between 3,000g and 20,000g).
Breathability score = 15,000 = 1.9/2.0
Insulation
The GLCR comes with 80g of extra insulation in the form of Thermagraph – don’t ask me what Thermagraph is but it sounds flash!
Either way with 80g of the stuff this will be a toasty warm jacket. Great for those who ride in colder conditions or who feel the cold more than others.
Insulation score = 0.90/1.0
Powder Skirt
Yes the GLCR does come with a powder skirt. Whilst most do this is a great thing to have to keep the snow out of your pants!
Powder skirt = yes = 1.0/1.0
Hood
Always nice to have a hood on colder, windier days – even if it doesn’t get used that much it’s still good.
The GLCR is hooded and the great thing about the hood is that it has stretch panels so that you can stretch it over your helmet too!
Hood = yes (helmet compatible) = 1.0/1.0
Venting
The GLCR comes with underarm zips to keep the air flowing and help with the breathability of the jacket when it’s warmer. Most do have this but not all.
Venting = Yes = 0.25/0.25
Pockets
The GLCR has 2 hand pockets, 1 sleeve (lift pass) pocket and 2 internal pockets including a media pocket with headphone port.
However, it appears that these pockets aren’t very practical according to the user reviews at the link below.
Personally, I think it’s pretty harsh to give such an otherwise outstanding jacket such a low rating based solely on the pockets, but there you have it. And for this reason the GLCR doesn’t get full marks for pockets.
However, it still has pockets and everything else about the thing is nigh on perfect.
Yes – 3 external & 2 internal = 0.15/0.25
Style
Style is certainly important (more so to some than others) but it is subjective so I have only allocated half a point towards the final score.
My opinion: I think it’s quite stylish. The biggest drawback is that it seems to only be available in black and mint green/black. If that’s the colors you were after anyway that wouldn’t be a problem but if you didn’t like either of these then it’s a problem.
Style score = 0.40/0.50
Final Score
I’m expecting a big score. Let’s check it out in the table below.
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing (material): | 5.0 | 2.0/2.0 |
| Waterproofing (seams sealed): | 5.0 | 2.0/2.0 |
| Breathability: | 4.8 | 1.9/2.0 |
| Insulation: | 4.5 | 0.90/1.0 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 1.0/1.0 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 1.0/1.0 |
| Venting | 5.0 | 0.25/0.25 |
| Pockets | 3.0 | 0.15/0.25 |
| Style | 4.0 | 0.40/0.50 |
| TOTAL | 9.6/10 |
Wow! That’s the highest score I’ve seen through this rating system.
For reference, of 10 jackets I have put through this rating system (costing between $300& $350) the average score was 8.6/10.
There’s one more thing we haven’t considered. Is this jacket value for money?
Value for Money
Considering snowboard jackets can cost upwards of $600, the $300 price tag on such a highly rated jacket is, in my opinion, really good value for money.
I mean, I paid around $250 for mine 3 years ago (before I knew as much about what to look out for) and whilst it has served me well this one rates much higher for not that much more in cost.
By the way, whilst snowboarding jackets can cost up to $600 I would never pay this. There are always jackets that you can find in the $250 to $350 range that will be as good or better than those overpriced ones.
It’s just a matter of doing a little bit of research (as you are doing by reading this review!)
Where to Buy
I found the 686 GLCR Advance in a couple of different online stores that you could check out if you are interested in this jacket (links below).
Note: There is also a 686 GLCR Hydra Thermacore – they don’t make the names very clear! – so don’t get confused. Although that wouldn’t actually be a bad choice either just having a quick look at it. It’s a very similar jacket but just looks a bit different and comes in a tighter fit.
>>686 GLCR Advance Thermacore at evo.com
>>686 GLCR Advance Thermacore at Backcountry.com
Thanks for Reading
Thanks for reading this review and I hope this has helped with your research. Please leave any questions or comments you might have in the comments section below and I will respond as soon as possible.
I don’t get their Thermal Rating (TR) system. This jacket is 80g and rated as TR5. Parklan Field is 60g and rated as TR7. Do you know the logic behind their Thermal Rating system?
Hey – thanks for stopping by. That’s a very good question.
I see the Parklan Field is 60g “Polyfill” as opposed to the GLCR’s “Thermagraph” insulation. Don’t quote me on this but my impression is that it’s because the GLCR has the Thermagraph technology which strategically places the insulation. This might sacrifice a little bit of warmth but allows more flexibility and lightness. So even though it’s 80g it’s only placed in certain critical spots as opposed to the Parklan’s 60g Polyfill which might be right through the jacket.
Check out 686’s Tech Page if you haven’t already. This has info about their Thermagraph insulation tech (second box down on their tech page) and their Thermal Rating system (a bit further down the page).
Personally I like to use undergarments (merino or polypropylene) to regulate my temperature and keep the jacket as light and flexible as possible but everyone is different in that respect.
Thanks for visiting and let me know if you have any other questions