Fjallraven have long been associated with back to nature outdoors vibes but despite dipping their toes into travel specific kit before this is the first batch of clothing we've seen from them that's likely to compete with the kings of hot weather clobber - Craghoppers.
The Travellers MT collection consists of a range of shorts, trousers, jackets, hats and accessories, all optimised for sightseeing and trekking under the beating sun. Having said that - weather can change, evenings and mornings can be cooler and therefore any travel clothing needs to earn its place in often tightly packed suitcases and backpacks.
So, does the Travellers MT Jacket earn its place in ours? Straight off the bat this jacket is unmistakably Fjallraven, which is clearly a good thing as the Arctic Fox emblem is known as a sign of quality, sophistication and signifies the wearers' love of the outdoors. What sets the Travellers MT Jacket apart is the 'just so' styling, careful and considered use of materials and lack of superfluous features.
The MT Eco fabric is an ideal blend for hot weather travel - mostly fast drying, moisture wicking polyamide with a touch of cotton for softness and comfort. The cut is typical for travel and indeed Fjallraven - with practicality in real world daily use in mind, it's loose enough to let air circulate without being too flappy and baggy. Sections of loose mesh lining inside add a little warmth and the outer does a reasonable job of blocking chilly wind. In temperatures ranging from low teens (degrees Celsius) to low twenties the Travellers MT is all you need if you vary your layers underneath.
When you need to tear the jacket off and stuff it into a backpack the fabric comes into its own. It's lightweight and crinkle resistant so you can treat the Travellers MT with reckless abandon without fear of looking like a shaggy dog when putting it back on afterwards. It's also robust enough to take a knock or two and take our word for it, Fjallraven outdoor clothing is some of the best built out there so this jacket should last a good number of years.
Although quite minimalist compared to other travel jackets there are enough pockets and useful features for the average man or woman. The two hand pockets are zipped and hold plenty of kit securely and the two chest pockets are ideal for glasses, tickets and passports. There's just the one hidden security pocket inside the left side of the jacket.
We thought the stashaway hood was quite nifty and useful if caught out by some unexpectedly cold weather. It's made of a really thin layer of material so when stashed away in the collar and secured by the three poppers it doesn't look or feel out of place. Actually, we've found it provides a pleasantly warm and comforting backing to the collar when pulled up against the elements.
The two-way main zip lets you vent at the top or bottom of the jacket and a popper closure at each end secures each side in place and stops the zip creeping in either direction.
You'll find a pair of poppers at each cuff for adjustment and there's a slither of hidden ventilated fabric running up the wrist. There's also drawcord adjustment at the hem to seal out cold winds but also allowing you to tweak the look of the jacket slightly to your preference.
In summary the Travelers MT jacket looks good enough to be worn in the urban jungle and performs perfectly for adventure travel duties, whether sightseeing or trekking, making it a sound buy.
