A good number of us who practise bushcraft have had experience of Fjallraven gear. More recently, this has not been altogether great, with frequent observations that their clothing is now worn on the terraces and in shopping centres rather in the wilds for which it was originally designed and made.
Certainly, my most recent pair of Forester trousers were a disappointment: flimsy fabric and poorly made. It did taint my view of the brand, along with its growing ubiquity among television presenters.
So, it was with some trepidation that I took the plunge and bought both jacket and trousers from their Numbers range. It would appear that the company is trying to hark back to their earlier, more glorious days with this range of clothing and I would like share my experiences of the two garments.
To begin, the jacket or Jacket No.68 as it is dubbed.
http://www.fjallraven.com/outdoor-equipment/jackets/jacket-no-68
I chose the light olive colour (for obvious reasons!). It is a very well thought-out jacket, littered with genuinely useful pockets. There are two cargo ones on the front with hand-warming ones behind; two angled chest pockets; two pockets on the rear of the jacket. All of these have either double or single press stud closures. Inside, there are a zipped pocket and a deep open one. The arrangement offers great versatility in stowing gear. I found the angled chest pockets to be really good as they are not set too high nor are they at an impossible angle to use efficiently. The rear pockets I was suspicious of but they have proved ideal for storing a small first aid kit and bits and bobs of food on longer days out.
The fabric of the jacket is their G1000. The main part of the jacket is in a traditional weight; there are reinforcements on the shoulders, cargo pocket lower edges and lower arms in a heavier-weight fabric that seems reassuringly robust. In use, it has proved that Fjallraven have returned to form, as far as I am concerned: the heavier weight fabrics (both of them) performed very well in woods and on hills throughout the winter.
The hood and collar arrangement is excellent, affording protection when the weather closes in but also giving you the chance to get the air to your head, if working hard. Related to that, the closure at the front is made up of a beefy two-way zip and storm flap, closed by press studs. I really like this arrangement as it allows you to ventilate whilst still keeping out the worst of the weather. The cuffs are cinched similarly with press studs.
I cannot fault the workmanship on this jacket at all - it is excellent. I have used it through this (extended) winter that we have enjoyed and found it to be a superb jacket: versatile, quick drying, largely wind proof and able to carry all my necessities with ease. That said, I did make a couple of modifications to the jacket: I added an elasticated drawcord to the bottom hem as there wasn't one and added another press stud closure just below the bottom of the zip to help ensure that it stays zipped up, particularly when moving uphill or raising my legs to clamber over things.
I like Ventile but do not like the hours it can take to dry out. With Jacket No.68, I might just have found a top that solves that problem to some degree. It is fair to say that I am a real fan of this jacket and now use it as my 'default' coat.
The Trousers No.26 (http://www.fjallraven.com/outdoor-equipment/trousers/trousers-no26 ) I like even more than the jacket.
I have never understood the company's - and other companies', for that matter - obsession with cramming in so many pockets to their trousers, each with its distinctive role. The No.26s have two front pockets, two back pockets (closed with a press stud) and one large pocket on the right thigh, again closed with a press stud. And that's it. As far as I'm concerned, that is more than enough.
They are made from the same, heavy weight (and so much more durable) G1000 that reinforces the shoulders, front cargo pockets and lower arms of the No.68 Jacket. While not the lightest fabric on the planet, it is very hard wearing - a usual characteristic when crashing about in the woods or wrestling manfully with brambles.
The cut of the trousers is spacious without being elephantine and, once the hems have been turned up to the required length from their raw original, they are extremely comfortable to wear both in a bushcrafty scenario or otherwise.
They have a button fly, which is, perhaps, the source of my only complaint. Other than that, I reckon that they offer a really good, well made alternative to the sort of Arborwear/Cactus Climbing work trousers.
The trousers came from Field, Moor and Stream in Hampshire; the jacket from Henry Brummel - an online fashion retailer. Perhaps that shows where some of Fjallraven's appeal now lies!
From my experience of Jacket No.68 and Trousers No.26, I think that Fjallraven are back on song, thinking about designing and making clothing for real use in the real outdoors. Since my days are now numbered, I have no hesitation in recommending both garments.
Certainly, my most recent pair of Forester trousers were a disappointment: flimsy fabric and poorly made. It did taint my view of the brand, along with its growing ubiquity among television presenters.
So, it was with some trepidation that I took the plunge and bought both jacket and trousers from their Numbers range. It would appear that the company is trying to hark back to their earlier, more glorious days with this range of clothing and I would like share my experiences of the two garments.
To begin, the jacket or Jacket No.68 as it is dubbed.
http://www.fjallraven.com/outdoor-equipment/jackets/jacket-no-68
I chose the light olive colour (for obvious reasons!). It is a very well thought-out jacket, littered with genuinely useful pockets. There are two cargo ones on the front with hand-warming ones behind; two angled chest pockets; two pockets on the rear of the jacket. All of these have either double or single press stud closures. Inside, there are a zipped pocket and a deep open one. The arrangement offers great versatility in stowing gear. I found the angled chest pockets to be really good as they are not set too high nor are they at an impossible angle to use efficiently. The rear pockets I was suspicious of but they have proved ideal for storing a small first aid kit and bits and bobs of food on longer days out.
The fabric of the jacket is their G1000. The main part of the jacket is in a traditional weight; there are reinforcements on the shoulders, cargo pocket lower edges and lower arms in a heavier-weight fabric that seems reassuringly robust. In use, it has proved that Fjallraven have returned to form, as far as I am concerned: the heavier weight fabrics (both of them) performed very well in woods and on hills throughout the winter.
The hood and collar arrangement is excellent, affording protection when the weather closes in but also giving you the chance to get the air to your head, if working hard. Related to that, the closure at the front is made up of a beefy two-way zip and storm flap, closed by press studs. I really like this arrangement as it allows you to ventilate whilst still keeping out the worst of the weather. The cuffs are cinched similarly with press studs.
I cannot fault the workmanship on this jacket at all - it is excellent. I have used it through this (extended) winter that we have enjoyed and found it to be a superb jacket: versatile, quick drying, largely wind proof and able to carry all my necessities with ease. That said, I did make a couple of modifications to the jacket: I added an elasticated drawcord to the bottom hem as there wasn't one and added another press stud closure just below the bottom of the zip to help ensure that it stays zipped up, particularly when moving uphill or raising my legs to clamber over things.
I like Ventile but do not like the hours it can take to dry out. With Jacket No.68, I might just have found a top that solves that problem to some degree. It is fair to say that I am a real fan of this jacket and now use it as my 'default' coat.
The Trousers No.26 (http://www.fjallraven.com/outdoor-equipment/trousers/trousers-no26 ) I like even more than the jacket.
I have never understood the company's - and other companies', for that matter - obsession with cramming in so many pockets to their trousers, each with its distinctive role. The No.26s have two front pockets, two back pockets (closed with a press stud) and one large pocket on the right thigh, again closed with a press stud. And that's it. As far as I'm concerned, that is more than enough.
They are made from the same, heavy weight (and so much more durable) G1000 that reinforces the shoulders, front cargo pockets and lower arms of the No.68 Jacket. While not the lightest fabric on the planet, it is very hard wearing - a usual characteristic when crashing about in the woods or wrestling manfully with brambles.
The cut of the trousers is spacious without being elephantine and, once the hems have been turned up to the required length from their raw original, they are extremely comfortable to wear both in a bushcrafty scenario or otherwise.
They have a button fly, which is, perhaps, the source of my only complaint. Other than that, I reckon that they offer a really good, well made alternative to the sort of Arborwear/Cactus Climbing work trousers.
The trousers came from Field, Moor and Stream in Hampshire; the jacket from Henry Brummel - an online fashion retailer. Perhaps that shows where some of Fjallraven's appeal now lies!
From my experience of Jacket No.68 and Trousers No.26, I think that Fjallraven are back on song, thinking about designing and making clothing for real use in the real outdoors. Since my days are now numbered, I have no hesitation in recommending both garments.
