Softshell Jackets

Sasta Roihu Trek Jacket | Review

A tough, water resistant jacket for year-round use, and one with some excellent eco-creds

Why We Chose The Sasta Roihu Trek Jacket: Durable, water-resistant, environmentally-friendly

Like most of the outdoor companies that come out of Scandinavia, Sasta’s environmental conscience is a natural part of their brand, it’s not something that’s been tacked on by marketing managers. That’s just one of the reasons why we like their stuff and why they’ve made it into our Outdoor 100 for three consecutive years now. Another reason we like this is because they make lovely kit. Kit like this, the Roihu Trek Jacket.

Who Is The Sasta Roihu Trek Jacket For?

This is one of those jackets for the occasions when you want something that’ll keep the wind off, that’ll withstand light to medium heavy rain or snow and when you also want breathability. You know those days when it’s windy and a bit wet and you feel really reluctant to put on your waterproof jacket and tolerate its clamminess? That’s where this type of jacket comes in handy. It’s the kind of jacket that on cold to milder days you can go all day in and not feel like you need to take it off.

“Sasta’s environmental conscience is a natural part of their brand, it’s not something that’s been tacked on by marketing managers”

Bushcrafters/survivalists etc will certainly enjoy what the Roihu offers. Hunters as well (hence the bright orange colour option). It would also be a great jacket for any hiking in cold to mild weather but only when there isn’t much of a risk of heavy rain. If the risk’s there you’d want to have a waterproof shell with you in your backpack.

Materials and Design

This is very, very similar to some of Fjällräven’s trekking and outdoor jackets; the Keb Jacket, for instance, or the Vidda Pro. Sasta have gone for a material that’s almost identical to Fjällräven’s G-1000 Eco, blending recycled polyester with organic cotton. A wax and Nikwax Cotton Proof treatment then creates a protective layer in the same way that Fjällräven’s Greenland Wax does, and you can restore it yourself when it starts to wear out as well.

It’s certainly a durable material; one that’s really going to last and last and that can easily see off thorns, branches or sharp rock.

It features a slightly peaked hood that holds well thanks to a toggled cinch at the back. There’s Velcro adjustment tabs on the cuffs and a toggled hem. As for pockets, there are two zipped handwarmer ones and two napoleon-style chest ones, all big enough to fit an OS map. Other details include a leather zip tab and a storm flap backed, two-way zip.

The Sasta Roihu Trek is incredibly durable. Photo: Mike Brindley

The jacket features a slightly peaked hood. Photo: Mike Brindley

There’s Velcro adjustment tabs on the cuffs. Photo: Mike Brindley

Tester’s Verdict

Will Renwick, editor of Outdoors Magic

“I’ve worn this in some pretty wet weather and it has actually held up surprisingly well. That said, it’s still not the kind of thing I’d want to rely on as my main wet weather protection when, say, hillwalking in the Brecon Beacons. It’s absolutely spot on if you want something to keep any fierce wind off and without making you feel like you need to it take off every time a bit of ascent comes along.

“I’m usually a men’s Medium and I found the M fitted me perfectly. There’s a good bit of volume to it, so you can easily get a layer of insulation underneath. I found it fine to wear over my Arc’teryx Cerium down jacket. It also fitted nicely over my Patagonia Synchilla fleece. That’s not to say it’s really bulky either, it’s still got a nice trim to it.

Adjustment’s there when you need to cinch in. Photo: Mike Brindley

“It looks like you’ll be able to pick this up from a number of places for less than £250 which makes it a touch cheaper than Fjällräven’s Keb Jacket of which it’s very comparable to. You do arguably get a bit more bang for your buck with the Keb though – stuff like under arm zips, more pockets and a wire stiffened hood.”