REVIEW: Claw Gear CIM Jacket

When it gets cold, it's the right clothing that gets you through the winter. If you're active, you don't need as much. But as soon as it gets static or even slower, that changes. And the amount of clothing is also proportional to the decreasing temperature. So, making snowballs in deep snow already requires an extra layer. From Claw Gear there is now brand new the Combat Insulation Medium (CIM) Jacket that we are allowed to introduce to you.

The overview: Here we have the CIM in RAL7013, the color of the Austrian Armed Forces, but it is also a very compatible color that can be combined with Flecktarn, for example. The jacket is cut rather hip-length and looks sporty, although it bulges. That's no wonder, after all, it's filled with Climashield Apex. Or to put it in the comparison category: it is a very warm jacket, but not as warm as the Carinthia MIG – HERE in the review – with which it is very similar in cut, but rather like a Carinthia LIG. Or in the T-shirt category: when it's around zero degrees, it's enough to wear a T-shirt under the jacket.

The hood is sufficiently large to fit under a helmet. But you can also pull everything together (re. u.), so that it fits snugly. What is different about the CIM from a MIG is the large visor that protects the face from storms. Unfortunately, no wire is integrated, so you cannot experiment with the shape of the visor. The collar is lined with nice warm fleece, a real asset in a winter jacket.

Inside view: Mesh pockets keep things in place, zippered, so nothing gets lost in the field. Included is a cable tunnel so you can store an iPod or similar device in the pocket.

There is velcro on the upper arms. Who can live without patches? And a hand-sized pocket for storing utensils. Under the armpit, not visible, is a ventilation opening that can be unzipped. You can adjust the jacket according to the temperature.

On the chest, there are two huge, deep chest pockets. The fabric is nylon with ripstop structure. It is very water-repellent, but ultimately not waterproof, but breathable. Keep in mind: it's a winter jacket. In the temperatures where you wear the CIM, it shouldn't rain, otherwise you'll sweat more than it will rain. When you reach deep into the pockets, you get to the strings ...

... that allow you to adjust the hem. This is a great feature of the jacket, as if it's loose, it lets in air from below. The adjustment is located in front on the right and left next to the zipper, making it not as easily adjustable as with a Carinthia MIG, where the adjustment is at 4 and 8 o'clock, behind the hip.

The T-shirt test worked great for us. This excellent T-shirt is also available at Claw Gear.

CONCLUSION: The CIM from Claw Gear is a solid solution for winter. It is not as warm as its similarly looking partner from Carinthia, which we see as an advantage at the common temperatures. The CIM also has a reduced infrared signature, making it also suitable for official use.

The Claw Gear CIM Jacket costs 279.90 Euros.