Advnture Verdict
A very versatile jacket offering excellent maneuverability, that’s just as good when you’re out on the town as it is when you’re tackling a mountain trail.
Pros
- +
Stretchy
- +
Many colors and sizes
- +
Made from recycled materials
- +
PFC free
Cons
- -
No phone pocket
- -
Short cut
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Jack Wolfskin JWP Shell: first impressions
The clean-cut Jack Wolfskin JWP Shell is a jacket that’s just as good looking on a commute to work as on a weekend adventure. Fully waterproof and stretchy, it is designed to be the only raincoat you need in any given situation, whether you’re out on the town or out in the wilds. It certainly rates up there with the best women’s waterproof jackets.
It has two hand pockets (one of which doubles as a stuff pocket for the jacket when you’re not wearing it), an adjustable hem and a fixed hood with changeable volume. Reflective bits help keep you safe in poor visibility, and wrist velcro seals out moisture. The neck also zips up high, which adds warmth when it’s both wet and cold, and a cozy microfiber patch at the top of the zipper prevents chafing.
The jacket is cut to hip length, which works perfectly when you’re also wearing waterproof pants, or in light precipitation, but can otherwise leave you a little exposed in heavy rain. We loved the amount of stretch, which allows you full range of motion.
And both shell and lining are made from 100% recycled material, which gets a tick from us (see more eco-friendly outdoor brands).
• RRP: $130 (US) / £130 (UK)
• Waterproofing: Texapore Ecosphere Stretch 2L
• Weight: 360g / 12.7oz
• Sizes: XS / S / M / L / XL / XXL
• Colors: Night Blue / Frosted Blue / Crystal Blue / Tulip Red / Coral Red / Sorbet / Pacific Green / Bright Lime / Granite / Grape Leaf / Dusty Gray
• Compatibility: Hiking, climbing and general wear
Jack Wolfskin JWP Shell: on the trails
This twill-look shell isn’t shiny or loud, like some other rain jackets, so I didn’t feel self-conscious wearing this jacket to the office, meetings, meet up and more.
The pockets are sewn into the inner mesh liner, minimizing extra material, and keeping weight and bulk down both on my body and when the jacket was stored in my shoulder bag. And I loved the hip length cut when it wasn’t raining so hard I needed a jacket to my knees.
But the stretch was what sold me on this jacket. It gave me full range of motion while peak-bagging in New York’s Adirondacks. It’s got just enough give in every direction that, when I reached to grab a root and hoist myself up a steep section of trail, or while hanging a bear bag, it didn’t ride up or feel restrictive. The stretch was just as useful hailing a cab in NYC.
