CAMP Flash Competition Anorak

If you're looking at this, then I'll be you are already the target audience and you understand why this is a compelling piece- ability to take on and off without moving is amazing, all while preserving breathability in the back (or at least backpack compatibility).

I am a big fan of skinning/running in light windshirts (e.g., patagonia houdini) as they're fairly breathable and still serve the windbreaker function, all while being super light. You can skin in this- it will get a bit clammy if you're really going at it, but breaths fairly well and the zipper provides for excess moisture venting/temperature control. And beyond ridge lines, it's great for fast descents- for example, resort laps on windy cold days when you go fast heading downhill and don't want to freeze your @$$ off. I also agree with Jonathan that it's great for days when a lycra suit isn't quite enough and you want a little more optionality.

It's obviously meant primarily to be a wind shirt and will not be great for stopping moisture beyond that, due the back being open.

However, I am detracting a star because while light by design, it comes at the price of flimsiness that can be frustrating- the first time (literally) I opened the package and the pouch, one of the velcro strips came off from the folding pouch cover. I replaced it with some fresh velcro and it works well even without it but having something break before you even put it on is annoying and always a bummer. Would like to have seen the velco be a little more reinforced.

Plus, from a distance, when worn centered in front it looks a little like a cod piece. This is a pro or a con, depending on your point of view and personal sense of style

But- bottom line, it's a one-of-a-kind purpose-built piece for speed-oriented people who hate fiddling with stuff you don't necessarily have to fiddle with. What's not to like about that?

First off, your friends WILL laugh at you, and mock you, and say " hey - you lost the back of your jacket". And then they'll ask where they can get one; because this thing is freakin' genius.

Being able to take it on and off while moving is a game changer, and makes coming in and out of the wind while climbing ridges SO much more pleasant. Not only that, but it's super easy to micro-regulate your temperature just by un-zipping the ample front zipper (big enough to easily put the jacket on and off with a helmet on), or by simply un-hooking the rear Velcro.
It's very windproof, but not insanely breathable. Which isn't a terrible thing, since it creates just enough of a micro-climate to warm you up without having to add a mid-layer. I also haven't noticed a lot of wind getting into the "gap" along the edges of my pack - I think the key is to really reach back and attach the rear Velcro underneath the bottom of your pack. It's more waterproof than it looks, but in rain or wet snow, you'd want a more "traditional" jacket.

My only complaint is that the Velcro on the flaps that secure the back is weak, and wore out very quickly, but it was easily replaced with more robust Velcro from a fabric store.
It also doesn't play perfectly with rando-race style shoulder-strap mounted water bottles (not enough forward room), but I've found that unzipping the front and pulling the bottle into the gap works fine. I've given some thought to attaching strong magnets to the shoulder strap of my pack and the water bottle holder, and simply having my water be able to dis-connect and re-attach over the jacket.

I just hope Camp comes out with the same concept in a micro-puff warm jacket. I'd be first in line to buy one, and proudly rock the ultra-dorky "double front fanny pack" look.

Overall: Five Stars for a unique design that allows you to don and remove a highly water-resistant windshirt without removing your pack. Only caveat is that it’s not an all-purpose windshirt for touring, since removing your pack is more cumbersome once the Flash Competition Anorak is already being worn. Plus for two-person team races in cold and/or wet weather, unless you and your partner get the black color, then you might have trouble regrouping because almost everyone else will be wearing the same orange Flash Anorak (seriously).

Background on product familiarity: For three seasons so far, pretty much whenever I’ve worn a lycra race suit for training or racing, I bring along the Flash Anorak, usually clipped around my waist. I’ve also used it a few times for touring situations with more regular clothes. Sizing for CAMP clothing is somewhat of a mystery, but the size Medium seems to have just the right relatively loose fit on me (at 5’8” 145lb, with 37” chest and 33” sleeve).

First, the first impressions out of the box: The weight is unexceptional (since some windshirts weight less than half this), but the design is truly unique, as it can be donned and removed without accessing your pack. And in nifty little attention to detail, small covered slits are provided so that you can poke through your hydration tube and bite valve from your pack underneath.

The buckle for the elastic waistband is small, but still okay as it needs to be accessed only at the very beginning and end of any outing. The partial zipper is fairly long, which is a plus for venting, although combined with a relatively high collar, unzipping it from the very top is a two-handed operation (as otherwise the material is too floppy to unzip with one hand).

Second impressions, in use: The ability to don and then remove your windshirt while still skinning (slowing down only slightly and briefly) is not only a major timesaver for races, but also helps to remove another little annoyance while training. And the extra protection from the elements is just perfect for when your lycra race suit isn’t quite enough, with good breathability. The hood fits fine over a helmet. For touring though, I use other windshirts when I might need to access my pack for other reasons, since otherwise I would first need to remove Flash before removing my pack.

The only problem with donning the Flash Anorak is that the design entails lots of Velcro, which can lead to some brief entanglements. And when I wore it over just a regular shirt for a long tour in a wet snowstorm, I was definitely pushing its water resistance limits.

Third impressions, for long-term durability: My only problem so far has been that the rather small yet critical Velcro tabs in back started to curl up, hampering closure with cold number fingers. I solved this just by sewing on larger more aggressive Velcro from a hardware store.