Reviews

Passenger Ashland Jacket | Review

A lightweight, good value down jacket with a peak to pub versatility

I’ve been using the Passenger Ashland (Northstar in the women’s version) over the course of a chilly and wet autumn, most notably with a trip to the Highlands of Scotland where I wore it on a hike through Glen Nevis and in Glencoe. In short, I’ve liked using it. It’s not super technical – not the kind of thing you’re going to wear to the top of a 4000-metre peak in the Alps –but it’s comfortable, cut well and has a good quality feel to it.

What Is the Passenger Ashland Best Suited To?

At 400g, the Ashland is at the lighter end of the scale. For me, it’s been warm enough for active use on cold days and I can see it as being spot on for summer camping trips. On super chilly days it’s slim enough to fit underneath a bulkier layer of insulation.

OM Editor Will using the Passenger Ashland, in a size M, in the Scottish Highlands. Will is 5 foot 10. Photos: Dave Macfarlane

I’ve also just liked wearing it just day-to-day too. I’ve been happy to wear it on hikes, on dog walks and on one of my increasingly rare forays into the city too!

Handily, Passenger also sell a vest version of this and I can see that pairing really well with a thick layer of insulation to make for a proper winter suit of armour.

Passenger Ashland Fit

I’m 5 foot 10, I have an average build, and I tried this in a size Medium, which is my usual size. I found it fitted me well and it was comfortable. I wouldn’t size up or down. I wore it over a lightweight fleece and didn’t feel too squeezed, though you might want to size up if you want to pair this with a bulky layer underneath it.

Materials

Passenger have used Downlite’s responsibly sourced and fully traceable down here. This means that the down feathers used were obtained in a humane and sustainable manner, ensuring that birds were not subjected to live-plucking or force-feeding and were treated ethically throughout their lifecycle.

Pros: Uses ethically sourced down, durable construction, nice cut
Cons: There are warmer and lighter jackets

The shell and liner fabrics are made from 100% recycled polyester that has a brushed look to it. It seems pretty durable. I didn’t find myself worrying about snagging it on any branches or rough rocks.

It has a DWR treatment, which is PFAS-free, and this, I found, does help the jacket to repel light rain and drizzle, but, like most down jackets, you’ll want to throw a waterproof shell over it when the rain really sets in.

Details

The hood has a flexible peak and it’s adjustable thanks to a cinch cord which is located at the back – and you can get a nice, reliable fit that lets the hood move with your head. The cuffs are elasticated and hold comfortably while also accommodating gloves. There’s also adjustment at the hem, so you can lock in warmth and keep out draughts.

The handwarmer pockets are zipped and they have a soft and comfortable lining. I found them to be big enough for a pair of large winter gloves and they can be accessed while you’re wearing a backpack with a hipbelt.

Verdict

While £180 is by no means cheap, I think it’s still good value for a down jacket that’s made in an environmentally responsible way. Looking into Passenger’s ethics, I think you can rest assured you’re buying from a company with a good sustainability ethos, particularly evidenced by the fact they ensure one tree gets planted for every order that’s placed with them.

As I said in the intro, it’s not anything super technical, but it does hit a nice sweet spot, being a jacket that has a day-to-day casual look but that can still deliver the goods when you’re hiking up Helvellyn on a brisk October day.