By Terry Doyle
For those of you not yet familiar with Finisterre, they are an UK based outdoor apparel company who pride themselves on fabric innovation as well as environmentally friendly and ethical practices. Finisterre was the first company in the world to make a fully recyclable waterproof jacket. I was sent one of the company's best sellers to test, the Etobicoke insulated jacket, and found it makes a great outerwear piece for the shoulder season.
Now in its fifth year, the Etobicoke jacket is made from 100% recycled and recyclable ripstop nylon with Primaloft Eco recycled synthetic insulation. As fall usually means rain in many parts of the world, the synthetic insulation will retain 75% of its warmth even when wet. The outer nylon fabric is treated with a DWR finish so will actually repel most water unless you are caught in an extended downpour.
The fleece lined collar and pockets add that extra warmth and cozy feel for chilly mornings. The insulated jacket packs up small into its own pocket, easy to throw in your pack or even useful as a pillow when camping. At 375 grams, you get tons of warmth without lots of weight.
The slim profile elastic cuffs keep the inner lining and extra bulk out of the way of anything you are working on with your hands such as cooking or trying to set up your tent. An internal zippered chest pocket is great for storing your wallet or electronics and the drawcord hem helps to keep the wind and cold out of your back.
The Etobicoke fit is very much snug with a slim profile. This makes the insulated jacket great for layering underneath a hardshell but if you are looking to wear numerous layers underneath, you may consider ordering a size up from the Finisterre size guide.
Bottom Line: The Etobicoke insulated jacket will keep you warm and dry on any outdoor adventure throughout the fall and even on into winter as a slim layering piece. This classic style jacket looks great not only on the trail, but around town as well.
The Finisterre Etobicoke insulated jacket comes in four different colors (blue, black, green, red) and retails for £135 or $215.