I have been so excited to share more about the Outdoor Vitals LoftTek Jacket. Unfortunately, our winter weather has been really weird this year and it’s taken a lot longer than I anticipated to put the jacket through all of its paces (snow, extreme cold, rain, etc).
With that said though, I have experienced everything while wearing this jacket that I needed in order to form a thorough review and opinion. So, let’s dive straight in and explore the Outdoor Vitals LoftTek Jacket together…
Outdoor Vitals LoftTek Jacket Review
The Outdoor Vitals LoftTek Jacket has been a permanent staple in my wardrobe since November (or so) of 2019. This jacket has been a fantastic layering piece of clothing, which has come in handy for our ‘hot-then-cold’ winter this year.
If it’s feeling warm (50º or higher) I toss a tee shirt or flannel underneath the jacket. Just the same, if it’s feeling rather cold (40º or below) I wear a heavy fleece button-down, hoodie or something along those lines under the jacket. These combinations have been perfect for me.
Outdoor Vitals Nova Pro Jacket
2023 UPDATE: I recently got ahold of the updated Outdoor Vitals Nova Pro Jacket and I’m really liking it! You can read a bit more of my thoughts about it here in my Best Winter Bushcraft Clothing Article.
Wind Protection
One of the most important parts of any jacket for me is protection from the wind. Not only is a stout wind uncomfortable when you’re spending extended periods of time (or nights) outdoors, but it can also be dangerous in terms of frostbite & hypothermia. (do a quick google search on “hypothermia wind chill chart” to learn more)
In regards to wind protection, the Outdoor Vitals LoftTek Jacket has been fantastic. It has full protection from the waist, throughout the body and around the neck area. I have been stuck in many stout winds with this jacket and it has never once been uncomfortable.
Bonus points for the LoftTek Jacket: This jacket has ventilation zippers in the armpits and down the sides to keep you from overheating. I absolutely LOVE this feature.
Thumbholes & Handy Features
As I mentioned above, the ventilation zippers are awesome. But the handy features don’t stop there…
The Outdoor Vitals LoftTek Jacket has nicely sized thumbholes at the bottom of each sleeve. These are fantastic for trapping air for warmth and keeping the wind from whipping up into your sleeves.
They work with bare hands, as well as heavy winter gloves. Again, this is a feature that I absolutely love and use all the time while wearing this jacket.
Get This Jacket at OutdoorVitals.com
Fit of Outdoor Vitals Jacket
Outdoor Vitals recommends (at the time of this writing) to order 1 size larger for this jacket because of its athletic fit. And they are absolutely accurate on this recommendation.
It is a really nice fitting jacket and certainly leans more towards the athletic fit (which I like, being a thinner guy). There are also drawstring adjustments at the waist, around the neck and in the hood. So there is some versatility to tighten or loosen it up if needed.
YKK Zippers for the win!
If you’ve followed me for any length of time you know I loveeee YKK Zippers on clothing and bags! They are high quality, they never snag or come ‘off track’ and they have great water resistance. Honestly, YKK should just contract me to create marketing materials for them at this point. They are the best zippers on the face of the planet. Good job on choosing the best here, Outdoor Vitals.
Water Repellent Jacket
We’ve had an unusually wet winter this year, so I’ve had plenty of time in the field and around town in this jacket while it’s been pouring. During a fairly steady rain or snow, you will not feel any moisture on the inside of this jacket. It does a very nice job in this regard.
If it’s a straight-up downpour, the jacket will eventually soak through. But the synthetic fill that Outdoor Vitals have used is quick-drying and still retains its warmth. If I experience a soak through I typically take the jacket off for an hour or so and toss a blanket around me until it dries out.
Warmth vs. Weight & Size
The Outdoor Vitals LoftTek Jacket is very compressible, making it the perfect jacket to toss in your hiking or bushcrafting pack. Even though it can be compressed very small it is very warm with the layering methods I mentioned at the beginning of this article. I have worn this jacket in temperatures around 0º (f) so far and it has performed perfectly.
Outdoor Vitals LoftTek Jacket Conclusion
To close things out, this is a fantastic jacket that I have really enjoyed wearing so far. It has done its job perfectly in the field and around town over the past few months. I have no plans of finding another down jacket…This will be my go-to for many more cold seasons to come.
Available to Buy Here: OutdoorVitals.com
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