Making her first public appearance at Lakeland Bushcraft is wildelycreative talking about the Snugpak Elite Softshell.
Snugpak Elite Softshell
Getting ready for my next bushcraft weekend in Kent and feeling slightly deficient in the kit department, I got some great recommendations from Lurch. Lovely guy, a bit tall, but I suppose some of us have to be. He suggested a Snugpak Elite Softshell wind proof jacket to keep me warm and dry should the weather be typically English.
A bit wet and windy, perfect for trying out the Snugpak
Eager to try it out I headed straight for Castlerigg Stone Circle on the way back from Cockermouth. While it wasn’t a particularly cold day, the breeze was cool enough to warrant something other than the thin jumper I had on.
Clouds clung to the hill tops and the wind picked up somewhat on the exposed Castlerigg site. I was surprised. While the wind made it into the collar area, I imagined with a polo neck jumper underneath, this would stop. The extra layer of fleece inside the jacket provided just enough insulation to keep my torse and arms warm; but without a jumper underneath this Snugpak jacket is definitely not a winter alternative.
Inside the generous pockets I found the natty little stuff sack that would make this jacket a must carry for Spring, Summer and Autumn pursuits. (They’re also big enough to carry an A5 reporters notebook with ease.)
Luckily, or unluckily depending upon how you look at it, after five minutes being in the stone circle, the rain started. Drops beaded on the outside of the Snugpak jacket and there wasn’t any liquid penetrating through seams. Although I’ve yet to experience it in a real down pour, with the integrated hood I reckon it would be a great emergency backup. Incidentally, all folded away, the hood did provide some measure of neck protection, but not as good as a scarf.
There aren’t any inside pockets but I truly realised the jacket’s windproof abilities when I pulled the zip down to check. The wind whipped in, cooling me quickly so I didn’t check properly. There might be some there. (There aren’t, I checked in the comfort of home afterwards.)
Verdict
All in all a great addition to any walker/bushcrafter/camper kit bag – small enough to chuck in “just in case”, substantial enough to do the job. The only cold bits were my hands, face and legs. Better get a hat and gloves next!
