Despite being a small brand, Fjern have made a big impact on us recently, with their range of clothing rivalling big names like Rab and The North Face for performance and quality. Their Orkan waterproof jacket is a classic active shell for whatever the weather throws at you, think lightweight, durable and high performing.
Like other clothing on Fjern's roster the Orkan looks lovely, and that's partly down to a great cut. We would describe it as athletic, there's room for layering without the jacket being too baggy and it is slightly tailored for a flattering look. And it's in part this cut that makes the Orkan a joy to wear in soggy downpours.
Anecdotally the eVent membrane is more breathable than an equivalent Gore-Tex fabric, but just as waterproof and durable. And the stats don't lie. The Orkan boasts a 20k waterproof rating and 26k breathability, that's well towards the top end of what you might expect from a lightweight waterproof jacket.
On the move the Orkan feels about as airy as you could hope for, there are also a pair of two-way pit zips to help vent out moisture on strenuous walks. As with all the other zips these are water resistant so there's little concern about rain creeping through, and there aren't any storm flaps to ruin the clean lines.
The two hand pockets can swallow a map each and are slightly raised to help clear hipbelts and harnesses, making the Orkan suitable for backpack wearers and climbers. Inside there's a phone pocket with a hole for your headphone cable - it's a shame the pocket is way too small to fit my Samsung Galaxy S10e, older iPhone users might have better luck. Your phone is better off stored in the mesh dump pocket which is tall and thin rather than shallow and wide.
Coverage from the Orkan is great, the dropped hem comes down to mid-bum level and the tapered cuffs sit nicely over the backs of the hands. The hood is helmet compatible for climbing and cycling and the adjusters work well to reduce the volume when you're hiking and not wearing a helmet. The wired peak is effective at keeping rain off the face and the chin comes up just below the nose with a nice fleecy backing.
Overall the Orkan is one of our favourite waterproof shell jackets of the year so far, unfortunately all this performance doesn't come cheap but as a genuine alpine shell the £300 price tag is fairly consistent with the competition.
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