CRAGHOPPERS MEN’S NOSILIFE ADVENTURE JACKET III

£120

Review by David Chandler

I acquired the first version of this jacket some years ago. I wanted a lightweight jacket for warmer conditions and have worn it a lot. Its third incarnation is a recent addition to the Craghoppers range and is quite a bit different.

Mk III is “the ultimate sun-protective travel jacket”. The fabric provides UPF40+ protection and there are two colour options – pebble or woodland green. Pebble is the paler of the two but is darker than I expected. There are odour control patches “in key areas” and NosiLife, Craghoppers’ anti-insect potion (permethrin), is built into the fabric and lasts as long as the jacket. The fabrics move moisture away from your body, “keeping you fresh in the most intense humidity”.

Craghoppers claim 10 pockets. There are two lower and two upper on the outside, all with double-poppered flaps (the lower two take a paperback Collins Guide), a zip-up pocket behind the upper left, two zipped hand pockets, and an inside ‘zip n clip’ security pocket, that swallows a fair-sized wallet or large mobile phone. Inside that pocket is an RFID protected, Velcro-fastening pocket that accommodates a passport. Pocket 10 is a removable drybag that fastens over a tape in the lower left-hand pocket. I found it got in the way so removed it. Then the tape got in the way – you can cut that out if it annoys you. The drybag accommodates a large phone and I could use the touch screen through the plastic.

This jacket feels a bit heavier than you might expect –

I weighed it at 676g, 24% heavier than my Mk I. It’s quiet and comfortable to wear, allows good movement (binocular raising) and the sleeves can be pulled up for cooling. I didn’t try it in seriously warm or humid conditions. I wore it with a T-shirt underneath in 18-19⁰ with a variable, gentle breeze. At times,

I felt a bit warm. I think I would find it too warm if the temperature was much higher, but would use it in cooler conditions with a warm layer underneath if necessary. It did well keeping the wind out on a breezy 10⁰ day. Your physiology, of course, is different from mine.

The zips are good and the main one has a protective placket. I sometimes found some of the poppers difficult to open – this improved with use. And sometimes flapping flaps made for clinking poppers (do the flap up or stuff it in the pocket). The large collar provides good sun protection. When it’s not zipped-up, it can get in a bit of a muddle with a binocular strap – wearing the strap inside the collar sorts that.

Polyamide outer, polyester lining. Craghoppers create products “in a sustainable, mindful way”. Wash ‘n’ wear. Made in Bangladesh. Guaranteed for life. 685g (quoted). S-XXL. craghoppers.com

VERDICT

The Adventure Jacket III is quiet and comfortable to wear, has good pocketing options, and allows good movement. I think I’ll use it from Spring to Autumn, as long as it’s not too cold or too hot.