Free Country 3 in 1 Systems Jacket Reviews
Helping You lot Ride Stronger, Look Better, and Experience Great!
Tested: Gratuitous Country Peak 3-in-1 Softshell Jacket
I strive to be as honest and transparent as possible. You should know that product reviews are not paid for, just I may earn a commission on products purchased through the links in this commodity. Learn more here.
Growing up in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, with nor'easters and lake-issue snow changing the weather conditions at a moment's find, yous could never have too many jackets. Except that, well, who wants to fill their entire closet with winter jackets?
That'due south why I've come to like the idea of more versatile jackets, such as this Free Country Top 3-in-ane Softshell Jacket.
In case you've never endemic a 3-in-one, it's basically two jackets put together. Or, if you're a "drinking glass one-half empty" kind of person, one jacket divided into two parts.
However you expect at it, you can wear the insulated liner, the water-resistant outer layer, or both together. Three dissimilar options. One jacket. Simple, correct?
These jackets are great because not but tin can they be adjusted to changing temperatures, y'all become two completely dissimilar styles! In this example, in that location's the greyness/black plaid inner and the white/gray outer.
Table of Contents
- What is a softshell jacket?
- A detailed look at the Costless Land Peak
- Fit and Sizing
- Style
- Versatility
- Protection and Warmth
- Quality and Features
- Durability
- Pricing
- My final verdict is…
What is a softshell jacket?
Many winter coats, especially those for skiing and snowboarding, are hardshell jackets. Information technology means the material is fairly rigid and has no stretch to it. When the chief business concern is protection and warmth, you kind of have to accept that.
My Billabong jacket is like that. It'south a corking snowboarding jacket, and information technology'due south very warm, but it's only mobile since information technology'due south large and roomy.
A soft trounce fabric, on the other mitt, offers much more flex for amend range of motion and more liberty of movement. The concept is crawly, because I tin get a smaller size jacket that doesn't agglomeration up, without worry of it being too restricting.
The fabric itself is actually 3 layers. There'southward a soft inner layer, a tough yet stretchy outer, and so a breathable membrane between them. Non much different than a difficult shell'due south construction. Except that the outer layer, or "soft shell," is very stretchy and flexible.
It's non going to be platonic for farthermost situations, simply for everyday use, I think softshells are a wonderful idea!
A detailed look at the Free Land Peak
Hither are my thoughts, categorized for your skimming pleasance.
Fit and Sizing
According to their size chart, I could fit a size minor, merely I was correct on the line, so I sized up to a medium. That's generally a good idea, especially if you'll be wearing winter base of operations layers beneath it.
If I'm wearing the whole jacket, the fit is peachy! The thing is, if I'k just wearing the outer layer, the medium actually feels like a large. I'd similar to go along the medium liner and pair it with a size small outer… unless I put the liner in, in which case I'd desire to go back to the medium outer to have room for it!
Then, information technology looks similar I'll either vesture the unabridged jacket or just the liner. Wearing the outer layer by itself just doesn't work out that well.
I should also point out, I accept to use the sleeve Velcros since the sleeves are so long. (That's great news for anyone with long arms.)
Style
The jacket definitely looks absurd, and I absolutely love that it'southward two completely different looks (the silver/beige and the charcoal plaid.)
The way is probably what I like most about this jacket. The inner layer is very stylish and looks like a casual coat, while the outer layer looks very outdoorsy.
And it's a perfect lucifer for the Pinnacle visor cap I got. It's my new favorite winter chapeau!! Information technology's warm, soft, comfortable, stylish, and fits perfectly!
The cap is as well reversible, so there'southward the black inside you lot meet here, while the other side is a charcoal gray in a sort of waffle knit pattern.
Versatility
As I mentioned already, this jacket is quite versatile.
I love the inner lining on its own. It's light and comfortable merely very warm at the same time. And then information technology was great for absurd to cold days, every bit long every bit it wasn't raining also hard.
The outer layer on its own was nice for cool days with light pelting, as long every bit I had a hat.
If I was wearing the entire jacket, and the temperature climbed in the afternoon, I could just nothing the layers apart, unsnap a few buttons, and I was down to i layer.
Protection and Warmth
This jacket is surprisingly big and heavy when it'due south all together. In a skilful way! The liner past itself is super hot on a 45 degree day, and with the outer layer on top, I'g squeamish and cozy for hours at 30 degrees. I even spent a couple hours in the jacket standing still in 25 caste conditions, and though I got pretty chilly, the jacket was working!
Taking on windy, wet weather is a unlike story. The air current- and water-resistant shell works well… for a curt menstruation of fourth dimension.
If you're outside for 10 minutes, water volition bead upward and roll right off. And in a snowstorm, it'southward fine and neat. In pouring rain, though, the jacket will become soaked on the outside and won't "resist" water whatsoever more. (Always call up that h2o-resistant does NOT mean waterproof!) I never got wet inside the jacket, but that'southward because I knew when to seek shelter!
All in all, you go a warm jacket that's cozy at freezing temperatures, resists low-cal rain, and provides moderate wind protection.
Quality and Features
The textile itself, for the outer vanquish, seems to be high quality. And there are plenty of welcome features, such as adaptable Velcro cuffs, multiple internal and external pockets, and zippers for security (all four pockets on outer shell are zippered.)
Both the inner and outer layers have zippered breast pockets. So you lot always have at least i zippered pocket, no matter how you're wearing the jacket. On the outer layer, I really like the zippered patch pocket on the left sleeve – it'south hands attainable without removing backpack straps!
Unfortunately, you lot tin tell this isn't a superlative-of-the-line jacket like you'd get from Columbia, Mountain Hardwear, or Arc'teryx. Information technology's the piddling things. Some of the zippers are gummy or just not that smooth, and the one on the plaid puffer'southward chest pocket frequently catches on the material beside it (since it'southward kind of going for that "hidden zipper" fashion.)
But hey, those other brands toll wayyyy more than! (The new Mountain Hardwear Compulsion jacket is $650.)
Durability
Nosotros're only a few weeks into the winter weather, and so I can't say too much here.
Unfortunately, I've already had i attachment point that ripped, and it was an important one in the sleeve. I volition have to re-sew together that, considering without information technology, the sleeves get turned inside out and are hard to get back in club. It doesn't make me happy, but I've had the same thing happen on other jackets in this price range.
I feel like the materials themselves volition prove durable, just if a zipper breaks or more threads come undone, I won't exist surprised!
Pricing
I got this jacket costless to review. Lucky me! As I write this, it's at present $90 on special (with the retail price listed at $200.)
That's quite a bit higher than a Wal-Mart jacket price, but it'south far lower than anything from The North Face. I don't fifty-fifty recollect an REI brand jacket can exist found for under $100.
Thing is, I know from feel that Columbia jackets in the $100-200 range are very high quality and worth the coin. REI jackets seem to exist good, too, and if you e'er have a problem, they honor their warranty.
Free Country… I just don't know if it will stand the test of time. I'd however be a fiddling hesitant to spend $90 on one.
Now, if you can find this jacket for $50 or so (since I've seen them run some skilful sales,) it'due south well worth information technology. Especially if you lot're looking for something coincidental.
My final verdict is…
If you're spending $100 or more on a winter jacket, I suggest going with a well-known brand such as Columbia, from a reputable retailer such equally REI.com. They'll have style, simply more chiefly, be very durable and dependable on your crazy wilderness adventures.
But for under $100, the Free Land Peak is a good choice that offers versatility and style. It'due south great for coincidental wear and would be alright for occasional skiing in mild conditions.
Official website: world wide web.FreeCountry.com
Product Review Details
Company: Free State
Product: Free Country Peak iii-in-1 Systems Softshell Jacket
Reviewed by: Coach Levi
My Rating: out of 5
Date final updated: 2013-11-27
Obtained Production: Free sample from company.
CoachLevi.com Advertiser: No.
Click here if you would similar to get your product reviewed on CoachLevi.com.
Levi Flower is an experienced endurance athlete who has been grooming and competing for over 17 years. A former Cat 1 road and mountain bike racer (professional class on the regional excursion), he is now a cycling coach (United states of america Cycling Level 3 Certified) and sports nutrition passenger vehicle (Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certified).
You may also like
Source: https://coachlevi.com/product-reviews/free-country-peak-3-in-1-softshell-jacket/
Post a Comment for "Free Country 3 in 1 Systems Jacket Reviews"