Sprayway Firebird Women's Jacket
12th Nov 2012
I don’t normally wear purple! This jacket was a bit of a step outside my comfort zone. Firstly because of the colour, and secondly because I am wedded to my ‘proper’ duvet jacket at this time of the year.
I have been nicely surprised by the Firebird. I have even got used to wearing purple!
The jacket uses Inso therm technology- Sprayway’s “exclusive 100 polyester insulation material offering an extremely high warmth to weight ratio”.
They’re right. It is warm, light and folds down well into a bag. The nicest features, for me are the lovely shaped hood, which frames your face and protects against the wind. There’s a strip of fleece around your face and in the pockets, which is very cosy. The drawcords are good for sealing out the cold and wind, and it’s a good fit.
Why am I converted to this jacket? It’s thin enough to wear under a waterproof (which my duvet isn’t). It’s warm, AND great for actually doing sport in. I have worn it cycling and walking, and for all the sitting and standing around before and after events and races. It is a great combination jacket- for being active in, without being too hot, but warm enough for standing around in 0 degrees (for a while).
Yesterday (11 November), I got up in icy conditions to go and do the Evil Sheriff Duathlon in Sherwood Forest. I was out from 8am getting ready, and must admit, I picked up the Firebird on my way out, by mistake. Driving to the race, I was thinking I would regret this. Not so. I prepared for the race, shoved the jacket into my transition area bag (my duvet wouldn’t have fitted in here!) – and off I went. Warm and ready. Brill.
Post race, the jacket kept me warm for a few hours, whilst I cooled down, the sweat dried, and I watched my friends complete the 10k. We sat around for the rest of the day, having a picnic whilst the kids played in the park. It was only around 3pm, when the sun dropped and the forest got really cold…I finally pinched my duvet jacket back from my husband!
That’s not bad, for a small, £60, lightweight jacket.
Features:
Zoned hooded insulation, lightweight, small pack size.
• Zoned insulation: hood 60g/sleeves 80g/body 100g
• Fixed, volume adjustable, lycra bound hood
• Two fleece lined hand pockets
• Internal zipped pocket
• Packs into pocket
• Drawcord adjustable hem
• Lycra bound cuffs
• Weight: 427g
Reviewed by Hayley Lever