Trew enough - this is one fine softshell jacket

Nonstop's Pete jumped at the chance to try a softshell jacket that claims to keep you warm and dry on the hill. Here's what he thought of the Trew Wyeast jacket...

Like many other snowboarders out there, I’m a kit-junky. It doesn’t take much to persuade me to try out something a little different. So when Trew approached me about trying out their Wyeast softshell jacket, I jumped at the opportunity.

I normally stick to two types of jackets – shells and down jackets. A good waterproof shell is great for the spring and also works well for the colder times, with a few layers underneath. Nothing beats a down jacket when the temperatures plummet though, it’s a luxury that I can’t help indulging in when I’ve got enough room to squeeze it into my travel luggage!

I’ve been through a lot of “hardshells” in my time, a lot of them gortex and generally with a waterproof rating over 10k. I guess because having a waterproof jacket is so important to me, I’ve never considered a softshell. Also, in a lot of cases, softshells can look a bit naff... but I’ll try anything once!

Within 10 minutes of getting my hands on the Trew Wyeast, most of my preconceptions of softshells were banished. First of all, it looks awesome; it's brightly coloured with a few nice little design features (the thumb icon on the shoulder is a great touch). Also, after chucking a glass of water over it, I could tell it has ample water-proofing – the majority of the water rolled off and the rest beaded up without soaking into the fabric. Not the most comprehensive waterproofing test, but it was a good start. The thing that really struck me about the jacket is its comfort. It’s super light and soft, with a delicate fleece lining. It feels more like wearing a hoodie than a jacket – the fabric doesn’t resist movement at all. It just didn’t feel right - how can snow wear be that comfortable?

To really test this jacket I had to get out to the mountains. So I spent a week in the alps, where I was lucky enough to experience a whole range of conditions – spring-style sunshine, heavy snowfall and icy winds. In the warmer conditions it was ideal, I have honestly never felt so free and comfortable in a ski jacket, even though I spent a fair amount of time rolling around on the floor, it kept me as dry as any hardshell would.

When temperatures dropped and the wind picked up, I felt a lot more exposed. I don’t think it has quite as much weather protection as a hardshell, but to be honest you couldn’t really expect it to. If you layered up enough underneath it I’m sure it would be fine.

Part of the style and appeal of this jacket is its simplicity. You wouldn’t look out of place walking down the high street in it. However, with that, you have to accept that it hasn’t got all the features that a full blown ski jacket might have. For example it doesn’t have a powder-skirt or elasticated under-cuffs. In most cases they’re not necessary and just get in the way anyway, but I did miss them a little when the fresh snow came.