Jack Wolfskin Highest Peak 3L Jacket
Jack Wolfskin’s Highest Peak 3L Jacket is a full-featured raincoat with pit zips, Velcro cuffs, a high collar, taped seams, and hood adjustments. And by using its proprietary fabric recycling process Jack Wolfskin has created a water resistant, windproof, and breathable coat made from 100% recycled and PFAS-free fabric.
Jack Wolfskin Highest Peak 3L Specs
MSRP: $239.95
Weight: 13 ounces for a women’s medium; 15 ounces for a men’s medium
Fabric: Texapore Ecosphere Pro Stretch 3L, Jack Wolfskin’s proprietary three-layer fabric that’s waterproof, windproof, and breathable.
About the Highest Peak 3L
The Highest Peak 3L jacket is a solid three-season rain and wind outer layer that doesn’t skimp on features. The two hip pockets are large enough to hold a phone and gloves, and have a solid inside lining. The hood has an easy-to-adjust tightening cord in the back of the hood, and two draw cords adjust the hood’s front opening. All the zippers have pull cords, making them easy to use while wearing lightweight gloves. The coat kept me dry and warm during hikes on several rainy, windy, and cold March hikes.
Highest Peak 3L Features
Weather Resistance: The Highest Peak 3L uses Jack Wolfskin’s Texapore technology to create a waterproof, windproof, and breathable rain jacket. All of the coat’s outer layer, membrane, and inner layer are made from recycled fabric without creating any waste, and are free from PFAS (so-called forever chemicals).
Why Three Layers?: Three-layer rain jackets provide the highest level of protection again rain and wind, and are more durable than two- or 2.5-layer coats. They also tend to be stiffer, heavier, and more expensive than two- and 2.5-layer coats.
Zippers: Robust zippers with pulls that can be grabbed while wearing lightweight gloves. The main zipper has an inner storm flop, and the pit zippers and outer pocket zippers have overlapping storm flaps.
Pit Zips: The 10-inch-long openings provide good ventilation, and the cord on the zipper pulls makes them easy to open and close.
Cuffs: A three-inch strip of Velcro gives the cuffs a wide range of adjustability.
Hem: Drawstrings inside the coat’s hem seal the bottom of the jacket against my hips.
Pockets: The two hip pockets are big enough to hold a phone, lightweight gloves, or trail snacks. The inside chest pocket can hold a car key, lip balm, or ID card, but not much else.
Hood: The cord at the back of the hood is easy to tighten and release, and when combined with the collar pull cords at the front of the coat, I can seal the hood around my head to keep out rain and wind.
Layers, Layers, Layers: What do the numbers used to designate coat layers mean?
- Two Layer: Typically an outer fabric that’s paired with an inner water resistant, breathable membrane. A hanging mesh liner is often added to protect the membrane against wear and tear. The two-layer design is mostly used for lower-priced coats, with limited water resistance and breathability.
- 2.5 Layer: Similar to two-layer coats, a water resistant, breathable membrane is bonded to the inside of the outer fabric. Then a printed or sprayed-on layer is applied over the membrane. These coats are lightweight, packable, and have a wide price range.
- Three Layer: Again, the membrane is attached to the inside of the coat’s face fabric. Then a full inside liner is attached to the membrane. Three-layer coats provide premium weather performance and durability, with a stiff feel.
Sustainability: Jack Wolfskin takes its commitment to the environment up a notch with the Highest Peaks 3L, the company’s first jacket sold in the U.S that is made from recycled fabrics.
Instead of recycling single-use plastics such as water bottles for fabric, Jack Wolfskin takes used polyester textiles and factory scraps, removes non-textile material such as zippers and Velcro, and spins the discarded textiles into new fabric.
The result is what Jack Wolfskin calls a Textile to Textile recycled jacket.
Warranty: Jack Wolfskin’s clothing comes with a limited lifetime warranty that covers defects in materials and workmanship; equipment has a limited two-year guarantee; and footwear carries a limited, one-year guarantee.
Highest Peak 3L Pros
Weather Protection: The three-layer configuration of the Highest Peak 3L is top of the line for durability, and rain and wind protection.
Pit Zips: 10-inch-long ventilation zips that are easy to open and close.
Hood: The drawcord at the back of the hood is easy to grasp in order to tighten or loosen the hood.
Pockets: The two side pockets are deep and hold an array of gloves, snacks, or a phone.
Taped Seams: Extra protection against rain and snow.
Highest Peak 3L Cons
Inner Chest Pocket: Good size for a car key or ID card, but too small for gear accessories I would like to stow there. A larger inner pocket would make up for lack of an outside chest pocket.
Overall Value
The Highest Peaks 3L is a robust hardshell jacket for three-season use, possibly crossing over into winter adventures in moderate conditions. Everything about the coat speaks to its versatility, from rainy days to wind-swept summits. And the price is low compared with many similar coats.
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This product was donated for purpose of review.
