The Eidfjord Jacket is a 3 layer waterproof shell from Bergans of Norway featuring a Toray demizax outer fabric - a polyester hybrid containing 30% plant material making it more environmentally friendly than normal fabric.
In use, the Jacket performs its main tasks of keeping out the rain excellently, be it stood still in the pouring rain at Keswick Mountain Festival or scrambling across coastal paths facing the driving Atlantic winds during a storm, we consistently came out of the other end dry enough not to change before sitting down for a well-deserved pint!
The fit is generous but well-tailored allowing you to layer up without compromising maneuverability. Good quality and easy to use cuff and hem fasteners allow you to cinch the jacket in during particularly bad weather. The hood is possibly slightly too generous, with a bit of fiddling we were able to get a reasonable fit but expect it to slip down over your eyes from time to time. On the other hand, we were able to use the hood over a cycling helmet, leaving us dry at the end of a 10 mile trudge through some particularly 'British' weather.
The ventilation in the jacket is more than adequate with huge underarm zipped vents, the material also seems to hold up to the manufacturers claims of breathability, with little perspiration build up even on big ascents. The underarm zips can be a little cumbersome to close if there is a sudden onslaught of bad weather but that's a minor gripe.
The mesh lining provides a comfortable barrier between you and the cold, clammy waterproof outer and probably adds a touch of warmth to the jacket too. The down side of this though is an addition to the already sizeable weight and bulk. At over 600g the Eidjford certainly isn't an ultra-light shell.
In summary, if you want a well-made jacket suitable for multiple activities that will keep you dry through the worst weather and you don't mind a weight and pack size penalty then you should consider the Eidjford jacket.
