A good winter jacket is always an asset in the cold winter months. I was lacking one, when Trespass approached me to choose one to test from their range. As we were moving to Sweden I opted for one of their down-fill coats, preferring a longer cut of the Trespass Glacial down coat.
The Glasgow -based company ships to countries Europe-wide. Unfortunately, there was a glitch with the orders the week I ordered, so I got the jacket a week late, missing the -20C. However, I have more or less lived in my coat since, in the fluctuating -10C to the around freezing temperatures.
My jacket is an XXL which is equivalent to a generous size 18, I’d say. It’s a bit tight for my frame around my bottom half, where I measure more like size 20+. However, the Glacial is a very good cut, because it isn’t restrictive for movement. I can drive in it comfortably, ice skate and go for long forest walks, scrambling over big rocks, which happens most weekends and during the week too if I have a chance.
I love the length of the jacket: The Trespass Galcial is 3/4 length, with a two-way zip, so one can open it up from the bottom to still hop on a bike and allow to cycle comfortably, or just to sit on a terrace on a sunny cold winter day enjoying a lovely coffee.
This Trespass model has 2 pockets on each side- a patch pocket which has flaps and a button to close it and two deep, warm, fleece-lined slide-in pockets. My mobile phone (especially the phone battery) really appreciates this pocket for the warmth and the depth. Even though this pocket has no closing, so far, nothing has slipped out, because of its a well-designed size and shape.
I like the hood of the jacket: it’s adjustable and has a little fir trim. It keeps the snow (and rain) well out of my face and is an easy hat substitute when I dash out the door on a school run too quickly forgetting my hat.
The other real strength of this jacket: The 70% down and 30% feather filling (as I was reliably informed by a little tag on the new coat.) It makes the Glacial jacket fabulously warm! I love the Glacial for its warmth. I’ve stood chatting in front of the school yard for half an hour in -5C or less, wearing only a t-shirt underneath, while others were prancing around to keep warm I was toasty. The only area I started to feel the cold was around my bottom, where the coat is slightly tight for me. (And that’s as expected: the insulation here is compressed and not as effective, due to it hugging my body too tightly.)
The jacket is not waterproof and this has to be its weakness. However, from this weakness it gathers a great strength: it is highly breathable; Even after strenuous activity sweat soon evaporates, whipping moisture away from the body and keeping it warm.
Winter is changeable in most places and I certainly look for a coat that will get me through most of it. I’ve been caught in light sleet in this coat and it kept me dry enough and certainly warm.
On a day of persistent rain last week, my coat got rather wet, wetting through and leaving a feeling of damp on the inside, yet it was still warm. I then hung it over a chair in front of the radiator and it dried out perfectly overnight.
This jacket looks great for day-to-day wear, if anything that would be my criticism: from an outdoor brand like Trespass I’d expect some technical features, at least some inconspicuous reflective piping.
Overall, the Trespass Glacial is a great jacket for cold climates, where keeping warm is more important than staying dry from rain. It is an excellent all-rounder for day-to-day wear with an excellent cut for the active person. The price varies on where you look, but at the lower price it is certainly worth it!
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