Waterproof Jackets

Haglöfs Grym Evo Jacket | Review

It’s pronounced ‘grim’ apparently. Luckily, that bears no relation to its performance, as we found out...

Why We Chose The Haglöfs Grym Evo: Durable, very protective, eco-friendly

Haglöfs have struck a balance here that isn’t an easy one to achieve: they’ve made a properly technical and highly functional jacket that won’t look over the top or deliberately ironic when worn in a casual setting. What’s more there are some brilliant eco efforts here.

The men’s and women’s Grym is a tough, hardwearing three-layer waterproof with a cut that will really help you through some stormy weather. Take the hem, for instance, it’s quite long, dropping down to completely cover your trouser pockets, thus going against the trend of recent years where alpine jackets are pretty much cut right on the waist. We like this, it means you don’t get any water run-off into your pockets and it just provides that extra bit of protection.

Then there’s the hood. It’s three-way adjustable and moves well with your head, and the stiffened peak provides a good amount of cover. You’ll feel like you can really hunker down in this when things get rough. Speaking of difficult conditions, there’s also a built in RECCO reflector in the jacket’s brim which allows swifter tracking in search and rescue situations.

The three-layer polyamide fabric has a hydrostatic head of 15,000mm and a moisture vapour transmission rate of >15,000 g/m²/24h. If you’re not completely au fait with what those numbers mean, in essence, it’s all good. To put it in perspective, Gore-Tex Pro measures 28,000mm and >25,000 g/m²/24h respectively. So the Grym Evo might not be as impenetrable (it’s still fully waterproof mind) but it’s breathability rating is more impressive. If you want extra ventilation you can just open up the sizeable pit zips – always a useful touch in our books.

“Haglöfs say that all of the Grym’s seams are ‘ultrasonically bonded’”

Interestingly, Haglöfs say that all of the Grym Evo’s seams are ‘ultrasonically bonded’ meaning that they’re joined by a machine that applies vibrations of such a high frequency that heat is generated and sets of polymers join to form a bond. The idea behind this is to get a super tight, protective and reliable closure that keeps the fabric completely smooth and flat against the skin – no niggles that’ll dig in. Nice touch.

Other features include two handwarmer pockets which have storm flaps that are sealed by poppers and internal pulls for cinching in the hem (bear in mind these pockets can’t be used while wearing a harness or hipbelt), Velcro cuffs tabs, and a pocket on the chest that’s not quite big enough for a map but fine for a phone and wallet.

Haglöfs say that all of the Grym’s seams are ‘ultrasonically bonded’. Photo: Chris Johnson

The hood is three-way adjustable, and moves with your head. Photo: Chris Johnson

The Grym Evo has some super robust, two-way zips. Photo: Chris Johnson

Last but not least, the eco-credentials, and fair play to Haglöfs here as it’s clear they’ve worked hard to make this as green as possible. The key aspect is their Haglöfs Eco Proof waterproofing which involves a durable water repellent coating with no nasty, environmentally hazardous PFCs, and the membrane itself is derived from previously recycled materials. As you’ll see on the website, this current model (as of SS19) hasn’t yet been given bluesign approval – the industry mark for high standards in sustainable production – but apparently that’s in the pipeline for AW19.

Tester’s Verdict

Will Renwick, Outdoor Magic Editor

“I like this a lot. Not just because it looks pretty sharp (in my humble opinion) but because it’s super durable and really, really protective – something I found out on a trip with it to the Norwegian Fjords.

“The hood is well-designed, the material can take a good scuffing, and I like that longer hem. I didn’t think that style was my cup of tea before this came along. And of course, kudos to Haglöfs for the efforts towards sustainability. It’s good to see the steps they’ve been taking right across their range.

“If I was being picky, I’d say that at 580g (size L) it’s slightly on the heavy side and I’d probably only want to use this as something I’d need to walk all day in as opposed to something to carry in my backpack just in case. That for me, writes it off as something I’d take on any multi-day trekking where I’m trying to go ultralight, but on the flip side, this would be a good fit for big days out on the hill, where you need something hardy, protective and reliable.”

Ash Routen, Outdoor writer and Arctic explorer

“I could wax lyrical about this jacket. Being triple-layered, it’s predictably tough, but what I like about it is its simplicity and functionality. In particular, I’m a big fan of the large storm hand pockets, the robust pit zips and neat sleeve fastening. I’ll be taking it on an expedition to the Canadian Arctic next year, so it must be doing something right.”

The Grym Evo features Haglofs Eco Proof waterproofing. Photo: Chris Johnson

It has a slightly longer cut than average. Photo: Chris Johnson

Trade Secrets

Robert Olsson, Senior Clothing Designer, Haglöfs

“The Haglöfs Grym Evo is designed for our harsh Scandinavian climate and the way we use outdoor clothing up here. We stay out in the mountains and forests for days at a time and will most likely encounter snow, wind and rain at some point. Our gear needs to be completely weather-proof as well as tough enough for the rugged nature in the Scandi outback.”