NEWSLETTER SIGNUP
Jottnar was founded in 2013 by two former Royal Marine commandos and experienced mountaineers. They were inspired by their time in Norway's unforgiving arctic winters to create technical outerwear that could perform in the harshest of environments. It is likely that you haven't heard of the Jottnar brand but rest assured that this company has hit the ground running. Delivering high performance technical outerwear that rivals any of the current big name brands.
A secure fitting hood with three adjustment points keeps out wind, snow, rain and what ever else mother nature can throw at you.
The Asmund is a all around performer with the ability to cover many holes in anyone's jacket quiver. Constructed with micro-rip stop Polartec NeoShell the Asmund is extremely packable while being well equipped with a full length zipper and dual chest pockets. This combination of materials and design make the Asmund a top performer for almost any type of activity and can handle even the harshest of elements, all in an impressively lightweight and stylish package.
- Wire stiffened and moldable hood brim that is helmet compatible
- Micro-rip stop nylon face fabric in collar
- Anti snag split hem draw cords
- Corded glove compatible zip pulls
- Harness and pack friendly chest pockets
- Internal valuable pocket
- Scooped back hem
Jottnar is the one of only two brands (that I know of) that uses independent cord adjustments. This ensures that they do not get snagged on your climbing harness or anything else.
Secure cuff adjustments are beefy and ensure a good seal around your glove to keep out snow and wind.
Just enough pockets to carry all your essentials like a phone or radio are provided. Each one has a zipper garage to keep rain and snow out and your stuff in.
The main reason we purchase our technical shell jackets is to keep us dry from the elements and keep the wind at bay. While there are many jackets out there that do just that the real challenge is to accomplish this while remaining breathable and without compromising natural movement. First and foremost the highlight of the Asmund jacket is the performance of the fabric. The Polartec NeoShell is softer and lighter than most other jackets in this category which initially had me skeptical but a few rainy ski tours disproved any initial doubts. The Asmund beads water droplets while allowing moisture and heat to dissipate from the jacket. It does such an incredible job that Jottnar was able to do away with armpit vents all together with the Asmund, they just aren't necessary. The softness of the fabric also allows for this jacket to be packed down to a very pack friendly size and weighing in at 385g ( men's medium ) it is barely noticeable in a day pack. The Asmund is jam packed with features. The hood is equipped with a wide, moldable , wire stiffened brim that retains it's shape over time and boasts several draw cord adjustments. The hood has enough adjustability to accommodate a helmet but can be cinched down to go sans helmet and retains a functional flop free shape while a tall collar keeps the wind and blowing snow out of your neck. All the zippers are corded and easy to manipulate while gloved. The sleeves are very generous in the cuff. As I prefer my gloves under the jacket, the wide cuffs with generous amount Velcro is a fantastic feature and allows for comfortable tight fit. While there are no side hand pockets the Asmund comes with a generous inner valuables pocket that accommodates my enormous Motorola X smart phone as well as two large outer chest pockets which fit my programmable radio without issue. Jottnar has come up with a simple solution to the traditional hem draw loop snagging issue. They have split the loop for a genius fix to a classic problem. The hem itself has a “scoop” shape meaning that it is longer in the back which helped prevent the jacket riding up when skiing or touring with a heavy multi-day pack.
The Jottnar Asmund Jacket is super compact and easily fits inside the gaiter bag provided with the Jottnar Vanir Ski Pants (which we reviewed here) so it takes up minimal space in your pack.
PROS:
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CONS:
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Price: $430 US
Weight: 385g / 13.6oz (men's medium)
Sizes: S,M,L,XL
Fabric: Waterproof, breathable , stretch, 3 layer Polartec NeoShell
Waterproof/Breathable 2/2
Features 2/2
Packability 2/2
Fit 1.5/2
Quality 1.5/2
Did we miss something? Are we totally out to lunch? Let us know what you think. People like/dislike gear for different reasons so chime in below and we'll get a well-rounded evaluation.
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