I have been testing Haglofs women’s Spitz Down Hood jacket. It is a mid-weight insulated jacket with 800 CUIN fill power H DOWN Platinum, which is a water-repelling goose down that Haglofs reckon will “stay dry for up to 10,000 minutes with exposure to wet conditions”. The outer fabric is water-resistant and has a two-way stretch. The baffle pattern is meant to prevent cold spots.
Features include:
Sizes: XS to XXL
Hydrophobic 800 CUIN fill power H Down Platinum (90% goose down, 10% feather; PFAS-free DWR, traceable and bluesign® approved)
Shell fabric: 75% Recycled Polyester, 25% Polyester, 30 Denier, PFAS-free DWR
Pre-woven seamless baffle construction
Two-way stretch outer fabric
Adjustable, down-insulated helmet-compatible scuba hood with insulated brim
2 zipped hand pockets
1 internal zipped pocket
Down-filled adjustable hem
Hidden elasticated cuffs
Two-way front zip with down insulated placket
Drop hem
Weight: 550g
Price: £280
See: Haglofs
My thoughts: Haglofs women’s Spitz Down Hood jacket
First impressions are that I love the colour. The contrasting orange detail is also great. The fit is roomy. I am a UK10 and the small size leaves lots of space underneath for layers.
Also, the outer shell fabric is noisy. It feels durable and robust but it also has a rustling sound. I don’t notice this once I am out and about but when sitting, such as in my van, it is a bit irritating.
The quality of the jacket looks and feels excellent with plenty of attention to detail. You would expect this to be the case for the price tag, which is quite high for a mid-weight jacket.
While the jacket is 800 fill, it’s more what I would call mid-warm. It is fine for outer wear in the summer months but, in winter, I would want the extra warmth of a couple of baselayer and/or a waterproof shell on top.
Things I really like include the chunky plastic zip, which is also two-way. The rear zip guard is insulated and has a press-stud at the hem of the jacket to keep it in place.
The zip pulls are long and durable looking. I like the zipped hand pockets although it would be nice to have a soft-feel lining to the pockets for extra comfort. It’s useful to have an internal zipped pocket and it easily fits my max size mobile phone.
The hood is excellent. It is large but very adjustable and extends down over the forehead for a snug fit and warmth. The jacket can be zipped up high and there is a soft zip guard for the face, so it offers great protection from the cold and wind.
There are internal elasticated cuffs that help to keep the warmth in. My wrists are skinny so the cuffs are not neat fitting but I expect they could fit other women.
The length of the jacket is great and I like the drop rear hem.
When do I use the jacket? To be honest, it’s a jacket I reserve for local walks rather than hill or mountain hikes. It’s nice to have a jacket that is warm but smart. The jacket is a bit bulky to useful for stashing in my hiking pack. I prefer something lighter and that takes up less room.
It’s a jacket that is more useful in summer than winter because of the warmth-to-weight ratio although having a DWR treatment means it’s useful if the rain suddenly comes on.
Overall, it’s a good quality jacket with lots of features but on the pricey side.