Gear Review: Hi-Tec Wind River Jacket

It’s no stretch to say the Hi-tech Wind River Jacket is a near-perfect combination of comfort, practicality and style.

The jacket is a winning combination of softshell and fleece. That makes it (1) warm (2) comfortable and (3) practical. That’s got to be a winning combination in anyone’s books.

231256_tsToss in a little styling to your profiling and all is golden with this jacket, which nonetheless can tackle some rugged outdoor use and still not need to be changed to go out for a casual dinner afterwards.

Let’s look at the details. The jacket is 100 percent polyester, with 260-gram Drop Needle Fleece and stretch softshell over the shoulder, according to the company specs. For the statistically minded, which I’m not, that tells me it’s fairly warm, durable and moves with me, which are all good things.

Toss in two zippered hand-warmer pockets along with a zippered chest pocket, and the company starts ratcheting up the practicality level. Add in a single-hand draw-cord adjustable hem, and you’re talking some serious convenience.

The jacket also has a full-zip front, which I like, and a stand-up collar to keep those cold drafts from skittering down the back of your neck or your chest. Another point scored for the jacket.

60547_alt01The Wind River is also machine-washable, which is very handy, and comes in a variety of colors, although the plain grey-black is striking on its own.

In warmer climates, this is the type of jacket that could easily serve snowshoers well, particularly racers. Most people, after all, make the mistake of dressing too warmly when they go out to galumph through the snow. As a rule of thumb, if you’re snowshoeing, and particularly when you’re breaking trail, dress as if the temperature is 10 to 20 degrees warmer than the thermometer says.

With a retail price hovering in the $100 area, it’s well-worthwhile to take a look at this jacket.

For more information on Hi-Tec, visit http://www.hi-tec.com.

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