Active Gear Review is supported by its audience. If you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Initial Take On The Jack Wolfskin Hybrid Jacket
It’s stylish, warm, and very lightweight. “Puffy” jackets have always been light and fluffy, but this Jack Wolfskin Hybrid Jacket upon first impressions seems to be one of the lighter ones I’ve ever tried on. I like the initial look, and can’t wait to see what she’s made of.
Sizing
This was a tricky one for me! Using their size chart, I landed right in the middle of a Medium and Large. I decided to go with a size large. Initially, I did have intentions to use this as a winter running and cross country skiing jacket. Therefore, a tighter fit would have been great. On the flipside, the lure of using this as a more passive recreational jacket won over. The large will provide more space for layering which will benefit me in the long run. That said, I think I would have been happy with either.
Technical Specifications And Features
- Weight: 470 g (size M)
- STORMLOCK RIPSTOP: very light, very breathable, windproof fabric with ripstop reinforcement threads and water repellent finish
- FINE OXFORD STRETCH DWR: very light, bi-elastic, soft textured fabric with water repellent properties
- 90/10 duck down fill (700 cuin fill power; RDS certified)
- MICROGUARD STRETCH (25 g/m²): very lightweight, stretchy, synthetic fibre insulation
- fixed hood
- 2 hand pockets
- special sleeve cut for extra freedom of movement
- adjustable hem
- reflectors
- pack bag included
Features
The Hybird is 100% PFC Free. No perfluorocarbons used to help that tiny little bit towards reducing those greenhouse gasses. That might be the one thing that put me over the edge when comparing brands. Plus, it’s made of a natural high quality down that is responsibly sourced.
Stormlock ripstop sounds impressive and I hope she holds up over time. Let’s just say that I am not gentle on my gear, and I have plenty of duct tape scars on down jackets to prove it. I really don’t mind, these jackets last for years, and even a little scratch does not effect my ability to put them to full use. I won’t take these out into the woods to chainsaw and chop wood, because I would certainly rip them to shreds. For most other outdoor adventures, I will be quite happy to sport the Jack Wolfskin Hybrid jacket.
They included a pouch in the pocket for storage if needed. It shows how small the jacket can be stuffed and stored if for instance you’d be traveling. That might make for a good little pillow, I suppose. My beef is that it was loose. Maybe Jack Wolfskin can incorporate that pouch into the coat itself. How about it folds in on itself into the pocket? Food for thought!
Taking The Jack Wolfskin Hybrid Out For A Spin
Being that we were in the midst of a good winter cold snap, the Jack Wolfskin Hybrid’s arrival was perfect timing. Earlier I talked about sizing and wanting to wear this as a winter running or cross country skiing coat. It definitely worked great for that with temperatures hovering around 0 degrees. I kid you not, with a little effort, I created my own little thermal heat source.
The jacket is a fantastic insulator. That is good for REALLY cold temperatures, or when one is not working out hard. I will not wear this jacket for my active adventures for anything over 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Hence, I am now glad I went with the slightly larger size to accommodate my more passive winter activities. This layer will be great for hiking or a walking.
The hood is really a nice fit as well. I am a fan. I have had down coats where the hood does not come up high enough, and it gets uncomfortably tight real fast. When zipped up all the way, it came up high enough to block the wind from hitting the back of my lungs with every breath. I am pleasantly surprised how the coat hanger loop is on the outside. Makes so much sense!
Material selection. The body core has the 700 down fill to seriously capture every bit of heat, and keep it close. The arms and hood are not down filled, but I never had any issues with cold.
Final Thoughts on the Jack Wolfskin Hybrid
All in all, I am very satisfied with the range of uses and warmth this jacket provides. I was able to use it casually, and during my very active sports when the temperatures really dropped. As far as size goes, my large is slightly big on me, but I am glad I went that route. This jacket is too warm for higher heartrate activities like running, snowshoeing and cross country skiing. The Jack Wolfskin Hybrid is a very suitable jacket for keeping one warm for pretty much anything else winter related.
One thought I did have is that Jack Wolfskin could throw one more jacket into the line up. It could have a more breathable material on the back to allow for a sweat release if the activity levels happen to ramp up. Other than that, this coat will keep you warm, dry, and protected from the wind. I like it. Check them out.
MSRP: $119
For more information and purchase, please visit amazon.com/jackwolfskin.