With only around 20 different products in their catalogue you could say that Jöttnar are, comparatively speaking, a small gear brand. But they’re certainly no minnows in stature, having built themselves a strong reputation based on the quality of every item they make.
All of their products that we’ve tested so far, including the Bergelmir Jacket, the Uller Yak Wool Baselayer and the Asta Gilet have impressed us, and this, the Jöttnar Fenrir Down Jacket, is no exception.
Behind the brand are two former Royal Marines who both spend many a Scottish winter climbing icy crags. They know what tough weather is and they know what kind of kit is required for it. And this really shows in their product design.
Take some of the little details of this men’s and women’s jacket for example. Its hem adjustment cord is shaped so designed so that there’s no risk of your climbing gear getting tangled in it – something that can happen with the commonly seen loop-ended drawcords. Then there’s the thought to the elasticated cuffs which have the right volume and stretch so that the jacket can be pulled on and over your gloves without having to take them off.
What about the core features of the jacket then?
We’ll start with the warmth-to-weight ratio. Expect an impressive thermal efficiency, thanks to the premium goose down fill that, with its 850 fill power rating, keeps the jacket’s weight down to just 300g (men’s medium).
“It’s a real premium design perfect for all-year round UK hiking and mountaineering”
Then there’s the wet weather performance. One of the problems usually associated with down is that it’s insulation efficiency can be affected by wet conditions. With the Fenrir, Jöttnar have taken a number steps to get round this problem.
Most notably, the down uses something called DownTek, a hydrophobic treatment that, according to Jöttnar, makes the down 10x more water repellent. It works well, but requires a bit of looking after to make sure it lasts. We’d suggest using a solution by Grangers, Storm or Nikwax when washing the jacket to make sure the treatment isn’t degraded.
Another step they’ve taken is to add a synthetic fibre insulation in the cuffs and on the collar – the parts of the jacket that tend to face a lot of moisture. It’s a type of fibre that will continue to insulate even if it gets soaked. A nice touch.
As tends to be common practice, Jöttnar have then finished the face fabric with a durable water repellent (DWR) treatment. Kudos to them for using one that’s free of any PFCs – chemicals, once commonly used in DWRs, that have been proven to be environmentally hazardous.
Final things worth noting about the Jöttnar Fenrir: it packs away into a little stuff sack that comes with it; it has decent sized pockets (all zipped); and the hood holds well thanks to the cinch at the back of it.
