Gear Review: TEREN Cloudland Shell

Outdoor enthusiasts probably don't demand more out of any single piece of apparel than hardshell jackets. A good hardshell has to be so many things. It has to be an barrier against wind and rain and snow, but stay breathable enough to remain on when you start busting a sweat, whether you're climbing or paddling or cycling (or when you drank too many beers and are about to get into an impromptu jiu jitsu match with your buddy around the campfire.)

It has to be easy to slip on and off, and light and compact enough to disappear into a pack, but durable enough to withstand rock scrambles and bushwhacking. It has to offer clean lines and dynamic movement, so it doesn't inhibit athletic performance, but also be spacious enough to accommodate mid and base layers beneath.

It needs internal and external pockets, and those that work with a pack waistbelt or climbing harness. It needs a hood that fits over a helmet without blocking headlamp beams, ventable armpits, and on and on and on.

A brand you may not have heard of—TEREN Designs—has tossed their hat into this demanding field, with the Cloudland Shell. Does it live up to the hype?

After several weeks of testing this hardshell in conditions ranging from persistent drizzle on forested trails to unexpected downpours around town, I have an answer for you.

Pros

• BREATHABLE: Damn this thing breathes well
• DURABLE: Build quality is bomber—zippers, seals, fabric—I really do feel comfortable bushwhacking and scrambling and romping around in it.
• WEATHERPROOF: It has a high-end rating for water and windproofing, made even more impressive by the breathability
• FEATURES: Well-designed pocket layout, comfy neck liner, articulated (3-way adjust) hood, dual-zip pits. Overall a nice array of technical features

Cons

• PRICE: It's not cheap ($499)
• FIT: It's a bit baggy / beefy for a technical performance hardshell. It leans rugged, and I get the sense TEREN is targeting more of the fishing, motorcycling, camping, hunting, survivalist demographic than the "athletic" or "ultralight" demographic. I wouldn't take this on a technical roped climb, high-mileage hike, or any adventure where I really needed to move fast and light.

First Impressions & Design Philosophy

Pulling the Cloudland Shell out of the box, the first impression is of substance and quality. The ripstop fabric feels robust and durable, not flimsy or overly "crinkly" like some ultralight shells. The zippers are all YKK, tracking smoothly and sealing tightly even when pulled from awkward directions. Every seam is well-taped, every pocket and pull-cord feels purposeful.

TEREN's About Us spouts some of the usual nonsense ("TEREN is more than a brand. It’s a lifestyle") but also lists three core tenets: Versatility, Innovation, and Quality. In the case of their hardshell jacket, the Cloudland, I'd say they live up to these.

The design shines through immediately, and it strikes a good balance. While packed with technical features, its clean lines and neutral tones make it just as home over a midlayer on a mountain pass as it does over a button-down on your way to the brewery. I appreciate that TEREN didn't go for any wacky neon color schemes here. It's just a cool, clean jacket.

A Note on Sizing

TEREN is an American brand (Chattanooga, TN), and at least in the case of this jacket, their "True to Size" feels larger than many European technical apparel manufacturers (and some American ones, too).

I wear an XL in almost every technical hardshell I've ever owned – Arc'teryx, Patagonia, BLACKYAK, Mountain Hardware, Black Diamond, you name it — and TEREN's XL does 'swallow' me a bit. It's also worth mentioning that I didn't really look at their sizing guide, so that's perhaps on me. So 1) I would do that, and 2) If in doubt, I would size on the low end.

Specs at a Glance:

• Price: $499
• Material: eVent Direct Venting™ 3-layer laminate
• Water Column: 20,000mm
• Breathability: 36,000 MVTR ( g/m²/24hr) (!!!)
• Pockets: 4 external zippered, 2 internal mesh baggie
• Venting: Twin-pit zips on either side
• Hood: 3-way adjustable, helmet-compatible

Performance in the Field: Unpacking the Features

A shell lives or dies by its performance against the elements, and this is where the Cloudland really stands out. There's no denying that this is an expensive shell, but when it comes to keeping you protected, the Cloudland is pretty damn bomber.

Waterproofing & Breathability (Incredible)

This shell's big selling point is its eVent® Direct Venting™ 3-Layer Laminate (Yes, unlike almost every other major hardshell out there, the Cloudland is not made with Gore-Tex. I'd say that's a good thing, this laminate is pretty impressive.)

In TEREN's own words, that "three-layer" component simply means the material is made of three separate layers. "The face fabric, membrane and backer are all bonded together to create a single, cohesive fabric ... this allows for moisture vapor to escape at the same time as preventing rain from penetrating, which keeps you dry on the inside."

They aren't bullshitting here. The shell boasts pretty impressive stats: a 20,000mm hydrostatic head and a 36,000g/m²/24hr breathability rating.

To break it down for non-tech heads, the first metric refers to water column (i.e. waterproofing). It means that if you put a tube over the fabric, you could fill it to a height of 20 meters of water (~66 feet) before any water would start to leak through. It's worth mentioning that 20,000 is nothing to scoff at. 20,000mm+ is about as high as it gets.

The latter metric (36,000g/m²/24hr) also known as MVTR (Moisture Vapor Transfer Rate) refers to how quickly moisture can translate through the fabric. Specifically, it indicates to how many grams (g) of water vapor can permeate one square meter (m²) of the fabric (from inside to outside) in 24 hours.

Long story short, 36,000 is very, very good. I don't know that I've ever seen a jacket with a rating that high before, and it makes me strongly consider looking for eVent over Gore-Tex in the future. While no waterproof jacket can defy physics entirely, the Cloudland comes damn close, significantly reducing that "personal sauna" effect. You can really work up a sweat in this shell, and it'll vent extremely well. I was diving into long, hard hikes where I live in Alabama, and even during uphill climbs when I'd normally strip down to my undershirt, I didn't feel the need to take the Cloudland off.

But when you're cranking out serious heat, even the most breathable membrane needs help. Another nice feature of the Cloudland are two pit zips on either side. Both are easy to operate with either hand, because one zips up, one zips down. When both are opened, they create massive openings that allow for immediate and very effective heat dumping.

Fit, Articulation, Pockets, and Hood (Mixed Bag)

The Cloudland has a fairly athletic fit—it’s trim enough to avoid clunkiness, but with enough room for layering underneath. The articulated elbows and underarms allow for a good range of motion.

That said, I would say its definitely on the "roomier" side of hardshells. The tail is pretty long, and it's not a shell I'd wear with a harness. It leans more towards durability and performance than it does "lightweight." (TEREN doesn't list the product's weight on their site, which to me indicates its probably heavier than many of its competitors, and comparing it to my other hardshell's, I'd say that's accurate.)

That said, it really is durable. I don't hesitate to scrap this sucker up when I hike off-trail, and it never comes away worse for wear. I feel like it'll be in my closet for years and years to come, which to me (and I think the average consumer), is more important than a few ounces shaved off in weight.

The pocket layout is solid. There are two high hand pockets, placed to remain accessible while wearing a backpack hip belt or climbing harness, and two larger, lower pockets near the hips. All four are protected by YKK zippers. Inside are two mesh pockets, for a total of six storage spots.

The hood is good, too, although rather par for the course with other high-quality hardshells. It has a stiffened, laminated brim, and a three-point adjustment system (one on each side of the face, one on the back of the head) so you can cinch it down to fit around your helmet or hat or head. There's also a neck liner that wraps around the collar, so the jacket blocks wind and chill both with the hood up and hood down. All good stuff!

The Catch: That $499 Price Tag

There is no getting around it: this is an expensive piece of apparel. At $499, the Cloudland Shell is on par (if not above) the highest-level offerings from some of the most respected, tried-and-true brands in the industry.

With that in mind, this is not the shell for the casual day-hiker who only sees rain a few times a year. It’s also not for the ultralight fanatic for whom every gram is sacred (again, I'm not sure exactly how much it weighs, but it's definitely on the heavier side, and is built more for durability and performance).

It's also not for anyone on a tight budget. There are plenty of jackets on the market from really bomber brands for half the price that offer solid weather protection. You can snag an Arc'teryx Gamma, for example, at ($260) and of course there are plenty of cheaper options, like Patagonia's Torrentshell ($179), or ones that are a bit pricier but still $100 or less than the Cloudland (Mammut's Taiss HS ($389) and Black Diamond's Recon ($315) come to mind.)

I have all these hardshells in my closet. That said, if I was going to be in the backcountry for days or weeks on end and I wanted to bring one hardshell that would keep me dry, I think I'd grab my Cloudland.

THE VERDICT

So, is the TEREN Cloudland Shell worth it? The answer is yes, but only if you want to "shell" out the cash. (Hah. Hah.)

Don't expect a slim, trim jacket that packs down into a Nalgene, but if you're looking for serious weatherproofing, married to some of the best breathability (seriously) in the hardshell game, the Cloudland is worth looking into.