Why We Chose 66˚ North’s Vatnajökull Insulated Jacket: Efficient insualtion, good sustainability, packable

As you’d expect from an Icelandic company, 66˚ North make outdoor gear that will perform in some seriously chilly weather. The Vatnajökull collection is particularly impressive, and would look just as at home on the bustling streets of Reykjavík as it would on a wind-shredded plateaus in the backcountry. 

Named after Iceland’s biggest glacier, we’ve gone for the Vatnajökull women’s insulated jacket here, an item that, thanks to its Polartec Power Fill fibres, brings supreme warmth and packability to the table. 

Who Is The Vatnajökull Jacket For

The Vatnajökull is one of those mid layers that can be worn all year-round. In summer, it’s that layer to keep in your bag to pull out when you’re, say, stopped for a sandwich on a windy summit. Then, when the colder months come round, it’ll serve well as part of a layering system. It’s actually cut to fit under hardshells like the Hornstandir or the Snaefell, for example.

In terms of activities this is suited to, we’d use this for anything from hiking and cycling to skiing and everyday commuting. 

Materials

Aside from the 100% recycled polyester shell, the key material used here is Polartec’s Power Fill insulation. It’s made from 100% recycled post-consumer materials and has some seriously impressive warmth retention abilities. Without getting too technical, it’s basically made up of a matrix of polyester fibres that are bound together to create thousands of tiny little insulating air pockets. These fibres are hollow, so they keep the fill’s overall weight down nicely, and the way they’re uniquely bonded together also makes the fill super durable, essentially eliminating the need for extra linings and fabrics to keep the insulation in place.