The new Norrona Falketind Alpha 60 jacket, for men and women, makes use of Polartec Alpha for a design that is lightweight, insulated and breathable. In addition, the jacket has Polartec Power Stretch in the side panels for freedom of movement.
The jacket is aimed at walkers, trail runners and skiers. It can be worn on its own or as a mid-layer under a waterproof shell.
Other features include:
Polartec Alpha is a synthetic product that keeps you warm even when wet. It also dries quickly.
- Warm and weather protective collar
- Thumb loops
- Two hand warming pockets
- One-hand elastic adjustment in hem
- Packs into a pocket. Technical details:
- Soft brushed chin protection
- YKK water resistant zip
- Weight: 220g
- SRP: £159
See Norrona.
Norrona Falketind Alpha 60 jacket.
On test: Norrona Falketind Alpha 60 jacket
The jacket does feel very light for an insulated jacket. The UK12 fits me across the shoulders very well and the arm and torso length is excellent however it’s a bit roomy on the waist and hips for me. Perhaps the UK10 would be better.
I like the stretchy side panels and the design of the jacket is god. It looks god as well as being a practical product.
The thumb loops are not comfortable. The wrist cuff seems a little narrow and when you have the loop over the thumb the whole set up digs into the skin around the back of the hand and the thumb area. I would not use this because of discomfort. It might be the fabric softens and loosen with age but at first try it’s not nice.
The zip also looks to be flimsy. I find that too many jackets end up with broken zips. I know zips are expensive but a broken zip renders a jacket un-useable so I’d prefer to pay a bit more for a more durable and robust zip. Two-way would have been useful, too, rather than one-way.
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- View of inside of jacket.
Also, when I first received the jacket I thought it had been worn several times before. The inside of the Polartec Alpha looks a bit worn and fluffy. I am assured it is a brand new jacket and the labels are still intact so it must be. It is the inside of the jacket so it doesn’t really matter but I do like things to look brand new.
However, on a positive note, the jacket performs really well. Despite being lightweight it offers a surprisingly good level of warmth. I would wear it over a long-sleeved lightweight baselayer when working hard in the hills and mountains, such as walking uphill or back country skiing. Breathability is excellent and I didn’t feel damp and sweaty at all while wearing it.
It keeps out the wind and even made me feel relatively warm when the rain came on. I added a waterproof shell for better protection in heavy rain but for light rain it still did a good job.
I am big fan of lightweight and insulated mid-layer jackets and it’s exactly the product I would pop into my rucksack when trail running, walking or skiing as an extra layer, if I wasn’t already wearing it.
So, despite all my niggles about the jacket I do really like it and found it to be a useful item. Let’s hope the zip is long-lasting, especially as it costs a rather hefty £159.