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While you may not have been thinking about heading out on the hiking trails in the heat of summer, cooler temps are just around the corner. If that means you’re itching to get out there and do some exploring, then we’ve got a super quick roundup of three different items from Jack Wolfskin that could help you get out there – some layers and a bag.
The first thing you need to consider when heading out – especially as the weather is changing -are what layers you’re going to be putting on to be able to adjust your temperature as you (or the day) warms up. To start with what’s against your skin, we’ve got the Jack Wolfskin Tech T. This is a shirt made of jersey knit polyester, much like you’ll find on many athletic shirts now. You might balk at the synthetics, but they do make for breathable shirts, and ones that wick your sweat away. They’ve also tucked an anti-microbial treatment onto the fibers, which helps keep the stink down even as you get active. They’ve got minimal branding on the chest, and otherwise look much like a plain T you’d wear underneath, say, a flannel. They’ve got a number of colors available, and they come in at $29.95.
Now, for cooler mornings, you’re probably going to want to toss something over the top of that. Or, who knows, maybe there’s a chance for some rain falling from the sky. For that changing fall weather, something like the Jack Wolfskin Go Hike Softshell. Most of us probably have some sort of a soft shell kicking about, perhaps as a layer for under a winter jacket. The Jack Wolfskin Go Hike Softshell is meant for some more stand-alone duty.
As with the Tech T, the Jack Wolfskin Go Hike Softshell is made of polyester. This allows it to remain stretchy, and still fit a little closer to your body. Also, as with the Tech T, it allows the jacket to maintain some level of breathability, which is great when you’re getting active. It’s also windproof and water resistant, so if you get yourself caught in a small bit of rain, you’re good to go, especially with the hood that’s fixed on the jacket. It’s a little tricky (for me) to tell how warm of a layer this is (somewhere between thin hoody and heavy fleece, I imagine), but we do have a sample coming in for review, so we’ll be able to figure that out and tell you. It’s available in four colors for $119.95.
Lastly, if you’re heading out on the trail, you probably want something to carry your stuff. I mean, you’ll have a water bottle and some snacks, perhaps some binoculars, maybe some lighting, or even just a book to stop somewhere and have a quiet read in nature, or something to pack your jacket into when things warm up. For that, a good backpack is key. Sure, you could use your old school bookbag, but something specifically designed for the trail will serve you well. Something like, say, the Jack Wolfskin Crosstrail 24 LT. If you take this out with you, you’ll have a number of organization options. The photos show some of that, but here’s a text rundown of it:
- Main compartment with inner pocket (doubles as stow pouch for water bladder), separate front pocket with zip, elasticated mesh front pocket, 2 mesh side pockets, 2 waist belt pockets (one of which folds out as a bottle holster), internal lid compartment, key clip
- Equipped for hydration system (tube duct and fastener)
- Integrated rain cover in base compartment
In other words, it’s a more robust – in terms of capacity – option that your standard hydration backpack allows for. And sure, those lighter weight options are great for warm weather, but when it cools down, why not be able to carry more with you? The Jack Wolfskin Crosstrail 24 LT has a built-in hip belt which helps carry the load, and there’s a sternum strap coming from the should straps to hold things in place (and it has an emergency whistle built into it, should you need it). While fitting things into the 24L interior should hold a good bit, you’ve also got external attachment points to be able to hook things on.
The Jack Wolfskin Crosstrail 24 LT is made of a 210D ripstop nylon, and around back you’ve got a padded mesh that should allow some air flow to go through. Most of the materials used here are Bluesign approved, somethiing we’ve started seeing in other outdoors gear. This means that the materials and components (in a nutshell) are reducing their impact on the environment. Even how they’ve dyed the material – in a waterless process – has helped reduce the eco footprint of the bag. If you want to add one to your venture, it’s available in 3 colors for $119.95.
There you have it – a quick round up of three items you might want to consider for your hikes as the seasons change. You may have some of these already, and only need one or another, or are looking to expand your kit a bit. From what we’ve read on the specs and press releases, these seem like decent, affordable options. Then again, we’ve not experienced Jack Wolfskin in person – yet – to be able to assess the quality. We do have samples of the shirt and jacket coming in, so we’ll be able to give you a better read on what the brand has to offer. jackwolfskin.com
