Over the past several years, one name keeps popping up in discussions about the right clothing to wear for SAR when being transported via helicopter. That name is Massif. Massif has made a name for itself in the wildland firefighting world for creating useful Nomex fleece jackets and Nomex underwear.
Since Massif started filling the need in our community of having practical garments that fill technical garment needs while not melting in the case of an aircraft emergency, a couple of other companies have entered the market. Chuck Roast is one of te players and one I’m not that familiar with. The other is True North.
I currently own a True North Firefly that I absolutely love for all the right reasons: comfort, durability, visibility, and utility. When I was at the old True North facility in Seattle a few years ago selecting this pack, the guys were talking about a new product line they were in the process of developing that became DragonFur. I’ve seen the Massif jackets up close and have not been impressed with the cut of the jackets. Of course this boils down to personal preference a lot, but I want my fleece cut for a pretty close fit to minimize large pockets of air, while allowing enough room for base layers. If I had to choose one Nomex fleece garment to try, the Exxtreme Jacket is the one I would pick. At just under $230, it has comparable competition from both Massif and Chuck Roast. However, I have seen firsthand the workmanship and attention to detail the craftsmen at True North put into their line of packs. This alone is enough to convince me to give the DragonFur products a chance.
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