Hooded Jacket Reviews
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The best places to see independent WeatherWool reviews, lots of them, with new ones coming out steadily, are Instagram, Youtube and the many websites and web forums. But I put a review here from time to time, and really should post more of them!
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28 August 2020, from Jim Bonney: Ralph, got the [Hooded Jacket] today. Wowzers. Like all of your products I've seen so far the craftsmanship, design and fit is outstanding. Thanks and stay healthy and sane, JB [The "healthy and sane" part is because of the crazy days of Covid-19.]
7 March 2019 ... Well, here's a crazy one from @SisterPearl:
"Hello, Ralph! I wanted to tell you about an unexpected use for my WeatherWool. Yesterday, I was hiking with the poodles along abandoned ski trails. We took the switchbacks uphill, and followed the ski trails downhill. Well, the snow was much more slippery than I had anticipated, and I found myself unable to keep my footing. Two of my dogs were bounding down the hill, but my third was sliding with me. So, in a pinch, I unzipped my [Hooded Jacket] and sat down in it, with my dog in my lap, and wrapped the sleeves around us like a safety belt. It became a makeshift sled, and we went down the hill that way! The wool was definitely tough enough to stand up to the snow, roots, sticks & stones, but smooth enough to keep us sliding down. Not a single bit of damage, and kept me dry, to boot! WOW!
It really was so much fun, I haven’t laughed from sheer glee like that in ages!
And yeah, WeatherWool continues to amaze me with it’s durability and versatility."
Prior to the sledding, @SisterPearl had sent us some other feedback:
"Hello again! So, yes, I spent the weekend hiking with the poodles here in Upstate New York, and wearing my WeatherWool [Hooded Jacket]! After wearing this now casually and in the great outdoors, I feel comfortable giving it a review. I should preface this by saying I am a “wool snob” — I know what quality is, and intentionally invest in both practical and beautiful pieces. I lived on the Aran Islands, and there learned first-hand the balance of fine craftsmanship with the performance of fine wool against the elements of the North Atlantic.
I also should be upfront that I work for a company that specializes in outdoor apparel and gear — our specialty is down, however.
So... the [Hooded Jacket]. It’s phenomenal. Really, really, really just outstanding.
The wool is superb. It really is so very soft and yet so very tough, and I know how difficult this is to achieve, so WELL DONE! Today, even in the cold, I lay on my back on a hill to watch the clouds for awhile, and the wool kept me warm & dry. Was later traipsing through marshy brambles, which normally stick in and sometimes tear at my clothes... but not this time! I could just carry on through, with the stickers easily brushing out of the sleeves. Those are things I could never do in a down jacket. The ribbed cuffs are brilliant, and no, I didn’t even think about needing mittens! The hood itself blocked wind, and it’s so easy to adjust. And the zippered pockets are super-easy to use, and hold exactly what I need for a few hours in the woods.
Three cheers for the double zipper on the main body!!! This was honestly the selling point for me. The bottom sweep of the [Hooded Jacket] is honestly too narrow for my hips (yes, I did check the measurements before purchasing), but being able to open the zipper from the bottom makes it easy for me to move in and wear the [Hooded Jacket] over heavier layers. If I have any suggestions for future versions of the [Hooded Jacket], it would be to widen the bottom sweep a couple of inches, to account for women’s hips, and maybe lengthen the torso a couple inches as well. Apart from that, I am so, so very pleased, and am thrilled to add this in to my everyday AND adventure wardrobe!"
THANK YOU @SisterPearl !!!!
From Matt Ballantine in Minnesota, January 2016
Ralph - Here are my thoughts on your WeatherWool FullWeight pants, vest and [Hooded Jacket]. Having spent the lions share of my 54 years outdoors chasing anything with fur, fins, or feathers and guiding others with the same passion I feel I have found a product that becomes immediately part of your gear. What I mean by that is how many times have you tried new wool or a synthetic and found the wind blows through or it is too noisy and you end up trying to make it work. This is what struck me about the WeatherWool ... I started wearing it and that was it, it worked! I have watched clients over the years really struggle to stay warm in Minnesota and I think there are three components to this; one moisture management from inside (sweat) and outside (rain, snow, sleet, etc., and usually all in one day in Minnesota), second the wind- it never seems to stop, and third having enough insulating qualities to keep warm. The WeatherWool accomplishes this better than anything else I have tried like KOM [King of the Mountain], SID [Sleeping Indian Designs], etc., and it is so cozy and comfortable against the skin. I'm not suggesting you leave the pack-able down jacket at home when you portage 7 times (talk about sweat) and then sit for 8 hours until dark in 10 degrees with a 15 mile an hour wind, but the WeatherWool will become part of the gear that makes this possible! I love the stuff and will recommend it to my clients and friends. Thanks for the dedication it must have taken to bring this product to market. Take care.
Sincerely, Matt Ballantine
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December 2015, Robert Gauthier, a dairy farmer and utility lineman from Millbury, Massachusetts wrote us:
Hi,
I got the [Hooded Jacket] last night, fits great, really like the color. I was surprised because, although it feels heavy in weight, the fabric is thinner than I had expected.
I wore it to dinner last night, and was very comfortable. Today I had it on at work. It was about 40 degrees with a stiff wind and ice melt running off the poles and wires. I was warm and dry with just a T-shirt underneath, all day.
The hood fits fine with room to spare over my hard hat. It is tricky to wear the hood underneath like I normally do though. The seams on hood prevent the suspension of the hard hat from seating properly on my head.
The only real negative I have noticed so far is that there is no protection for my neck. This isn't a huge problem, but I will have to address it for those occasional blizzards I'll be working 18 hour shifts in.,
I will email you again soon with more feedback, so for now I'll sum up how I feel about the [Hooded Jacket]. The quality of the construction, and materials are unquestionable, and I feel proud to wear a truly American product. Thank you.
Robert later wrote again:
Hey Ralph,
Sorry for being so slow getting back to you. Don't get me wrong here, I am very impressed with the performance of this [Hooded Jacket]. If I wasn't, I wouldn't be planning on buying more WeatherWool. The weather has been cold and very windy, most days gusting around 30. This morning was -5 and gusting, even my highland cattle looked cold! Put on a t-shirt, light merino base, my [Hooded Jacket], and a vest, I was good to go. Whereas, before I would be wearing at least thermals, a t-shirt, two sweatshirts, and a vest. For me, losing just one extra layer is a big deal. So, basically, your [Hooded Jacket] does the work of two cotton sweatshirts. And at the same time it wicks away moisture better than cotton ever could.
This is the most expensive [Hooded Jacket] I've ever seen, but it does what you guys designed it to do, and it's made in America. That makes it worth the money for me.
29 August 2020 --- Ralph