An ethical, windproof and water repellent down jacket for keeping you warm and toasty in the outdoors

If you’re looking for an ethical, economical and versatile down jacket then look no further than the Jack Wolfskin Tundra jacket. The jacket is great for anyone who loves the outdoors whether that’s hiking in the mountains, chilling by your tent or keeping the wind out on the beach. It’s lightweight, packs down small, really comfy to wear and a great colour. It is water resistant and managed exceptionally well in a 4 hour snowy hike, the coat kept me warm and dry. The outer part of the coat was damp by the end but this did not effect the warmth of the coat. The fit is great and it doesn’t restrict movement at all even with multiple layers underneath.

Jack Wolfskin DNA Tundra Hoody Down Jacket: the stats

Features of the Jack Wolfskin DNA Tundra Hoody W Down Jacket

Material

100% windproof, water repellent, breathable and it has great ethical credentials being PFC-free and made of recycled materials (polyamide and polyester). The insulation is 700 cuin fill power, synthetic mixed with 90/10 duck down in accordance with ethical standards (RDS certified). It weighs just 365g (size small).

Jack Wolfskin is also a member of the Fair Wear Foundation which is an independent, non-profit organisation that works to improve conditions for workers in garment factories. Fair Wear is active in 15 production countries in Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe.

Hood

The hood is lightly elasticated with no drawstring so it isn’t adjustable. The fit is loose but it’s a really nice fit with or without a hat due to the elasticated detail. It also moves with you so it doesn’t restrict your vision like hoods can sometimes do.

Pockets

The outside hand pockets are zippered. They are a good size but if you also have stuff in the inside pockets it can be difficult but not impossible to have things in both. Great for keeping your phone, small gloves and of course your hands! The position of the pockets is comfortable if you are keeping your hands toasty.

Internal pockets

The inside pockets aren’t zippered but are lovely and deep. But as mentioned, if you have stuff in the outside pockets it can be hard to fit things in the outside pockets. Great for snacks and also your phone if you need to keep it warm.

Hem and cuffs

There is no hem drawstring which I think the coat could have benefitted from although it is a slightly longer fit at the back which feels really beneficial for keeping the cold out. This is especially noticeable when wearing a rucksack as it means the coat doesn’t ride up and leave your back exposed.

The cuffs are lightly elasticated which I initially thought would be annoying, but it turns out that I love this! It means that layers don’t get stuck and it is easy to look at your watch and to tuck your gloves in. Also, as someone who has longer arms than the average person the sleeve length is great.

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Jack Wolfskin DNA Tundra Hoody Down Jacket review

I have been using the jacket for hiking, biking, camping, about town and when we had no heating at work for 10 days! Down jackets aren’t new to me but I’ve never had anything from Jack Wolfskin before. If I’m honest, I’ve never really associated them with high end outdoor gear and thought they were more of a fashion brand. But I am happy to have been proved very wrong! I’m really impressed by the quality and how this jacket stands up in some difficult conditions. I wore it on a 4 hour hike where it snowed constantly and it coped really well. I stayed warm and dry, even though the outside of the coat was damp by the end it didn’t affect the jacket’s performance. I’ve also worn it in 45 mph winds and I remained lovely and cosy!

The jacket is really comfy to wear, ease of movement is great with no rubbing and no build up of sweat which adds to the comfort factor. The fit is slightly loose around the stomach area but a really good fit across the shoulders and the arms. I thought the looser fit may be annoying but it means that wearing layers doesn’t feel restrictive. If I’m only wearing one layer underneath there is an occasional draft but this is easily fixed with a slight readjustment.

The sleeve length and width is great meaning layers don’t bunch up and the hood fits well with or without a hat. It works best when the jacket is fully zipped up and it’s obviously a little more snug with a hat. Plus, the hood moves with you so when you turn your head you can still see and don’t end up looking at the inside of your hood!

I demand a lot from my outdoor gear and the jacket continues to perform keeping me warm and dry in various conditions without showing any signs of deterioration. It is also great if you are flying with hand luggage only as it squashes down really small and makes a good pillow too!

I’ve had a few down jackets before, in comparison this one performs better in terms of water resistance, weight and size.

What I love the most about Jack Wolfskin Tundra Jacket

I love the feel of wearing it, it has a real ease of movement even when wearing layers. Plus, the instant warmth when you put it on is amazing! I also love the colour.

What I don’t love so much about the Jack Wolfskin Tundra Jacket

The only thing I’m not so keen on is the pockets which I definitely don’t hate! It’s just that if you want stuff in the inside and outside pockets at the same time it can take a bit of arranging and then can feel quite bulky. Maybe if the pockets were offset from each other it may work better.

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Verdict

The Jack Wolfskin Tundra Jacket is great for anyone outdoorsy – super warm and lightweight (365g). It performs really well in a lot of different weather conditions and it’s 100% windproof, water repellent, breathable and ethically produced.

It also offers excellent value (even at full price!) for such a decent and high performing down jacket. A great all round outdoor jacket.