Last updated: 17-Aug-18
As insulated jackets have become lighter, they have become more useful, especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors. For ultra runners, who can easily become chilly before or after training and races, there are many benefits to owning an insulated jacket, especially if they are easy to carry and warm to wear.
The Jack Wolfskin Argo jacket is lightweight and combines down-filled warmth with a windproof and water-repellent outer fabric.
Jack Wolfskin Argo jacket – Features
- 90/10 goose down with 800 cuin fill power
- Water-repellent HyperDRY down
- Windproof, water-repellent and lightweight Pertex outer fabric
- Breathability thanks to “Airtastic” material
- Integrated hood with elasticated edge around the face
- Two side pockets
- Stuff sack
- Men and women’s designs
- Weight: 220g (men’s large)
- Price: Around £240
Photo credit: Jack Wolfskin.
Pros: What’s good about the Jack Wolfskin Argo jacket
This down jacket feels light and puffy and easily lives up to its high warmth-weight promise.
I particularly like the look of the Jack Wolfskin jacket and, although I am testing the practicalities, it’s great that it also fits nicely.
I am a UK10 usually and the Jack Wolfskin 10 fits perfectly. It’s not too tight and nor is it too big. I like it when a manufacturer gets the sizing right.
The fit is meant to be neat and flattering and it comes in lovely bright colours, for both men and women.
The length of the jacket it good with arms and torso hems giving good coverage. The back hem curves slightly lower to keep your bum warm.
The addition of thin lycra cuffs adds comfort at the wrist and a toggle elastic torso hem allows for fit adjustments, depending on the weather.
The lightly elasticated hood adds to wind and weather protection. When the jacket is fully zipped up and the hood is up, I felt super cosy. In more severe weather it is possible to add a waterproof jacket over the top because the jacket is still fairly slim-line in style.
There is a fairly good level of water repellency afforded by wearing this jacket alone. The outer layer has been treated with DWR coating, so light rain rolls away.
The down itself is also water repellent although you would not want to be out in torrential rain for long in this jacket. It would keep you warm for a short spell but not for hours.
I love the small wolf paw logo design. It’s a small detail but if looks matter to you, then the logo will, too.
The jacket packs down into a small stuff sack. This is really useful if you are carrying your kit with you or you want to have minimal luggage. I am amazed just how small the jacket becomes when packed away.
Photo credit: Fiona Russell.
Cons: What’s not so good about the Jack Wolfskin Argo jacket
These are very small points because the jacket is really lovely. But if Jack Wolfskin want to make it even better they could add a softer fabric lining to the hand pockets.
It would also be nice to have a section of softer fabric at the top of the zip. There is a small zip cover to stop the zip scratching your chin when it’s fully zipped up but many jackets designers also add a fleecy patch.
A two-way zip would be a bonus as well so it could be opened from the bottom as well as the top.
The Pertex fabric is quite see-through. It doesn’t seem to detract from the fabric’s ability to repel water and wind but I wonder if it will be as durable as other fabrics. Only time will tell.
A zipped inner security pocket would have been useful although when you look inside the jacket at the back of the zipped hand pockets there is a space for popping flat bits and pieces, such as a small map, a race number before it’s attached or tissues. They are not top zipped though.
£240 is the full price of this jacket and this is at the high end for a lightweight down jacket. I would have liked a few more features, as suggested above, for this price tag.
Conclusion
The Jack Wolfskin Argo jacket is one of the pricier ones tested but it ticks most of the boxes for being lightweight and warm. It also packs up super small for stowing in a rucksack.
| Score | |
| Design | 8/10 |
| Features | 7/10 |
| Performance | 9/10 |
| Value | 7/10 |
| Total | 7.75/10 |
Other jackets you may want to consider:
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer jacket
Arc’teryx Cerium LT jacket
Berghaus Furnace hooded jacket
The North Face Tonnero Hoodie jacket
About the writer: Fiona is a keen runner, preferring off-road and hilly to flat and road. She lives in Scotland where the weather is fickle so needs to be prepared for all conditions.
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For more jacket reviews have a look at:
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer
Helly Hansen Verglas
Falke Hybrid
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