this listing is for a vintage late 60's CLASS 5 MOUNTAINEERING EQUIPAGE insulated parka or jacket with removable hood. (marty mcfly wore a rust colored class 5 vintage puffy vest in the movie 'back to the future').
history of class 5 mountaineering from the internet:
"Justus Bauschinger (JB) is the name most often thought of as the founder of Class - 5.(which he abbreviated "C5")...Justus is the son of a German rocket scientist who came to the U.S. with the famous Werner Von Braun.....Like many of the other famous founders of Bay Area companies like Sierra Designs and North Face, Bauschinger cut his teeth by working for George Rudolph, who had founded The Ski Hut in 1935.... Justus was known as a very creative gear designer for The Ski Hut's manufacturing operation, which was named Trailwise..... In about 1966 he bought into a small retail group named "The North Face," which had a few stores in the Bay Area. But money got tight and things became more complicated. May,1968 marked the acquisition of The North Face by Hap Klopp, another old Ski Hut/Trailwise employee. Klopp went on to run the hugely successful modern "The North Face" up until 1989. JB became Head Designer at the new North Face, but that did not last. Bauschinger made a creative break and went on to found Class 5. But here the birth story diverges depending upon who is telling it. Some of his three original sewers tell me that they were co-equal creators of the tiny new company. They all came over from Trailwise with Justus. This could be why the early C5 labels are identified the sewers: May Chinn, Revelyn Lago and Barbara Guess .
photo #2 is a classic Class 5-flavored advertisement. The founder's sense of humor and considerable flair becomes obvious when one realizes that the "climber" and his dog are actually stretching out on a sun-warmed street in downtown Berkeley! The picture is a big spoof on the hardcore rock climbing scene!
color is green with tan lining
marked as a size medium (mens)
armpit to armpit across the front measures 23.5 inches
back length measures 31 inches
center back collar seam to end of cuff measures 35.5 inches
please compare these measurements with jackets you currently wear to decide if this will fit you. since vintage sizing can differ from modern day sizing, this is the only reliable way to determine fit
no fabric tag. outer shell feels like a cotton/polyester blend
tan lining feels like nylon
insulation feels like polyester
removable hood snaps off when not needed
internal waist drawstring
full length, 2 way metal ykk zipper in front
wind flap snaps over this main zipper
2 dual entry, flap closure pockets on the lower front (enter from the side or the top)
snaps at the cuffs
jacket weighs 2 lb 11 oz
no holes, stains or fraying. all stitching is intact. zippers in good working order. left cuff is missing a few of the adjustable snaps. hood appears to have been worn less than the parka (slightly less color fading than the rest of the jacket.) i have lots of photos posted including close up to show the overall condition
PLEASE ASK ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE BEFORE PURCHASING