Härkila Freja Lady Jacket and Trousers

Aided by Clare Baker, Charlotte Peters sees Härkila’s latest stalking gear for women put to the test in the Highlands

In Norse mythology, Freja was a warrior goddess. By naming its new woman’s stalking jacket and trousers after such a character, Härkila is making a very positive statement.

Stalking kit designed for the female form isn’t always easy to find, so I was keen to review the latest Härkila offering.

Fittingly, the parcel containing the Freja jacket and trousers was delivered to the Argyll estate stalking lodge in the Highlands where I was staying. I had asked fellow house guest Clare Baker (who runs Arcklebear Gundogs) to hill-test the kit while I tracked behind with our photographer. This was because Clare is tall, blonde, willowy and Amazonian and I am not. She had also booked a stag the following day and so it was the perfect opportunity to put the Freja kit through its stalking paces.

Although Clare hadn’t stalked in the Highlands before, she has shot red and roe deer in her native Gloucestershire. She also shoots game regularly and her grandfather is a gamekeeper.

Next morning, Clare stepped out of the lodge after breakfast in full ‘Freja’, ready for some practice on the rifle range. She said that she liked the cut of the jacket instantly and loved how it and the trousers felt, particularly noticing the fabric’s softness and lack of rustle.

It was a fresh 7°C at the range as Clare lay down to take aim. She said that it was “very easy to move around” in the outfit. The ground was dewy but any water just rolled away once she stood up.

“i bent the wired peak hood to shield my eyes”

sights. She took the shot, making a clean kill just below the shoulder.

With the keeper’s guidance, Clare took care of the gralloching, splattering the trousers and jacket with blood, before loading the quarry onto one of the ponies and making our way back down.

That evening we discussed what we’d thought of the Freja kit. Clare said: “When I was crawling through the heather with my rifle I could move easily but was protected against the spiky heather stalks, and no heather stuck to me.

“I bent the wired peak hood at one point to shield my eyes from the sun. The jacket was comfy, a nice fit and waterproof, as were the trousers – there were no tight bits. The hand pockets were in a good place and a good depth and the zipped phone pocket was handy and felt secure. I just had a shooting shirt on but was perfectly warm, dry and not too hot. I wasn’t cold either, even after 20 minutes lying on damp moss.

“I have to say I didn’t particularly like the cut of the trousers – they were a bit low at the back for me. I prefer a higher waistband but they were okay.

“I liked the length. I am 6ft tall and the jacket sleeves were bang on fit and the trouser length worked well with my boots. The bottom buckles pulled tight and stayed