Stuart Forster reviews a Snugpak Torrent Jacket.
Disclosure: I was sent a Snugpak Torrent jacket to facilitate this review. Some of the links and banners below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
The Snugpak Torrent Jacket is an insulated waterproof and windproof coat suited for use outdoors. This is outdoor clothing suitable for everyday use as well as hiking gear.
Insulated waterproof jacket
Designed for use in sub-zero temperatures, the Torrent jacket is filled with Snugpak’s trademarked Softie® insulation. It is designed to provide comfort when worn in temperatures to -5°C (23°F) and for use in lows to -10°C (14°F).
Softie® insulation is made with superfine Polyester fibres that are bound with resins to create a down-like filling.
Light and windproof outdoor clothing
The outer surface of the Torrent jacket is made with Paratex Dry fabric, a Nylon-based product that is waterproof, windproof and breathable. The inside lining is Paratax Light, a lightweight fabric that’s windproof, breathable and designed to wick moisture away from the body of the jacket’s wearer.
The fabric is breathable. The manufacturer’s literature claims that the ‘high moisture-vapour transmission rate helps keep you dry when you’re active.’ I tested the jacket during brisk riverside and beach walks and stayed dry and warm while doing so. I ran and jumped about at the beach and found that my mobility was not restricted.
Jacket with a detachable hood
The jacket’s insulated hood is detachable so that it can be removed when not required. It’s a neat solution if you want to use the Snugpak Torrent jacket for everyday wear and only want to use the hood when it’s raining.
It took me just a few seconds to peel back the Velcro that secures the hood into to collar then unzip and remove the hood. Reattaching it was also a simple procedure, taking a matter of seconds.
Alternatively, if the weather is proving changeable, the hood can be rolled away. Doing that is easy. It involves peeling the Velcro and then stuffing the hood into a compartment in the collar, which is lined with soft, black material. A thin strip of Velcro then seals away the hood.
Outdoor clothing
The jacket features two large pockets with zips on the outside. The sizable pockets were large enough for me to put my hands in while walking on chilly days and to carry the bits and bobs that I like to have with me on a day-to-day basis.
There’s also a pocket with a zip on the inside of the left breast; it’s large enough for a smartphone or A5 notebook and a pen.
Ventilation zips are located on the armpits, on the outer side of the jacket. Testing the jacket on crisp winter days meant there was little point in using them, but they are likely to prove handy during walks in milder weather.
The jacket zips up to chin level when the hood is out. Drawstrings at the back of the hood and on its rim allow the fit can be changed so that it stays snug in buffeting wind. The hood has a flexible peak that helps keep rain off the wearer’s face but does not impinge on peripheral vision.
Importantly, the jacket is light in weight. The extra-large version of the Snugpak Torrent jacket that I can be seen wearing in the photos illustrating this article weighs 950 grams.
The jacket proved reliable and comfortable to wear.
Further information
Snugpak is based at the Waterloo Mills in Silsden, West Yorkshire. The company’s website lists stores stocking Snugpak products and online retailers.
The Snugpak Torrent jacket has a recommended retail price of £159.95 and is available in sizes from XS to XXL.
The jacket is offered for sale on the Snugpak website and via Amazon:
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