Fjern for cheap (ish) waterproof jacket or Rab etc etc?

So I want a lightweight ish waterproof jacket for autumn / spring – mostly for dog walking but if it looked ok for casual wear / the school run etc that would be good. Won’t wear it on the bike I don’t think.

I had been thinking I’d get a black Rab Downpour plus 2.0 for around the £95 mark but with Black Friday etc it’s gone up to £105 / £112 in most places.

Got me wondering about other brands and found the Fjern Orkan for £139 which uses eVent fabric which appears to be better than the pertex the Rab uses.

Is it worth the extra (plus them not looking as good – best colours seem to be Navy with a dark red zip or Navy / Teal) for the better material and is Fjern an ok brand? Sounds Nordic but I think it’s actually a small uk brand.

Anything else to consider? Berghaus seems ok but my father in law wears their jackets and I don’t want to match.

I confused that brand with Fohn, so my reply not fully helpful. However, as an alternative have a look at the Fohn Supercell 3L jacket – £108 at Wiggle. 20k/20k and a decent weight fabric, feels like it’ll last. Fohn appears to be their own brand I think.

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/fohn-supercell-3l-waterproof-jacket-20

I bought one earlier this year. Worked very well at the Ft William world cup this year in prolonged heavy sideways rain!

I think Fjern is basically a Sportpursuit own brand. I have quite a few Fjern items and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them. When I was looking for a waterproof jacket this time last year I went with an ME Zeno (I think). It’s fine and seems waterproof so far but it’s very lightweight and doesn’t feel like it’ll last for years. So I kind of wish I’d bought one of the Fjern waterproofs.

Thanks both – that Fohn one looks similar to the Arab downpour – although has a higher hydrostatic / breathing rating.

I’m slightly leaning towards the Fjern at the moment even though I prefer the look of the Rab.

Yeah, Fjern is owned by Sport Pursuit. I’ve used a few bits including the Orkan. I’d say it’s very good value for money and decently specced, manufactured etc. Two things I’d think about. One is that eVent is a decently breathable fabric, but needs regular care to keep working reliably – ie: careful washing (follow the instructions on the label) and DWR replenishment. Gore-Tex and most other fabrics are a little more ‘knock-about’ if that makes any sense. The second issue is that the Orkan gets a helmet-compatible hood, which is good with a helmet, but less optimal on a bare head. Oh, it’s also cut slightly short in a modern climbing shell sort of way. Ideally I’d prefer a longer-cut jacket with a non-helmet hood.

I don’t know if that helps.

I haven’t used a Downpour Plus, but it’s a 2.5-layer fabric, which means the PU layer is protected by a print on the inside rather than a laminated liner fabric. It works okay, but doesn’t feel as nice, particularly against the skin. Pertex Shield is generally pretty good btw.

I’d be tempted to trawl through Sport Pursuit and see what they have atm. I think there’s a Berghaus sale, also Marmot, looking for a decent 3-layer fabric, non-helmet hood, walking-friendly design etc. I wouldn’tj get too hung up on fabrics, a lot of own-brand ones from the likes of ME, Berghaus etc, stack up pretty well against the premium Gore-Tex stuff, but are a lot cheaper.

Alpkit worth a look too.

Cheers – will have a look at what else is on there.

I tend to wash my royal racing matrix jacket as little as I can. When I do I use sports wash and then straight after a dwr to keep it beading well. From what I’ve read the Orkan / eVent stuff is the same.

Helmet hoods are a little annoying and I can’t believe many people need them.

Rab Downpour plus

Pertex Shield on a Downpour Eco failed pretty spectacularly after 5 months light use. As did my colleagues pertex Shield fabric’d Montane.

I think Fjern is basically a Sportpursuit own brand.

It wasn’t though… Started out as independent, but I understand hit hard times financially, Sport Pursuit bought it out… Either way, its good quality kit…

BUT… And this will either be a benefit or a big detractor, depending on the individual… Their clothing is of a VERY slim cut… If you’re BMI is in single figures, you’ll love Fjern products for actually fitting properly and not being incredibly loose. If, like many of us, your BMI is the wrong side of 25, you’ll have to breathe in heavily to get into the right sized item (which will then look like its bursting at the seams), or go up a size or two and it be far too long and loose in certain places just so it fits over your gut and chest acceptably!

Ive got 2 Fjern jackets and they’ve been great. Sale type prices at Sportpursiut means i run then for a couple winters as my ‘biblical mud’ jackets then retire them.

They’re still beading after 2 years winters, but i don’t wash them at all, just spray down with water and wipe off is necessary.

Their clothing is of a VERY slim cut… If you’re BMI is in single figures, you’ll love Fjern products for actually fitting properly and not being incredibly loose. If, like many of us, your BMI is the wrong side of 25, you’ll have to breathe in heavily to get into the right sized item

My BMI is into the TRIPLE figures, but an XXL is actually a good fit, and i reckon they quite similar to other brands.

I have a 2018 Montane Pertex Shield jacket – still going strong. On the strength of that I recommended one to Mrs DB in 2020 and it has failed spectacularly – the waterproof coated has completely delaminated in places.

My BMI is into the TRIPLE figures

Eh…? I don’t think you’ve grasped the concept of BMI… Over 25 is overweight… Over 30 is Obese… Over 40 is basically you need surgery to save your life! The scale doesn’t really go any higher…

and i reckon they quite similar to other brands.

It is possible they’ve changed their fit in the couple of years since I last bought a product from them for sure, but my experience is they are VERY much more slim/athletic fit (and I found plenty of anecdotal evidence saying the same, annoyingly after I’d made my purchases!) than other similar brands…

I have quite a few Fjern jackets, including the Orkan, and they have all been really good.

For biking I use the Fjern Skjold which has been perfect in crap / inclement weather. Lighter, more packable and cheaper than the Orkan. Only thing missing is pit zips.

Not sure about my BMI but At 5’10” & 11.5st the medium fits perfectly

BMI is sat at about 24.5- I’m 5’9 and 11 stone 12 ish. I do some weight trading and my fat scales say I’m 18.5% fat. So you’d think the medium would probably fit in Fjern?

I’m a medium in Rab – the large is too big. But the sizing of clothes is all over the place – I’m a 32” in Fox mtb shorts, Large in Endura shorts, medium in Fox t shirts, XL in Rivelo road tops etc etc.

I’ve got an Orkan. Initially bought for walking but I’ve been using it on the bike recently. It’s kept me warm and dry in that type of driving, unrelenting rain that makes you wonder why you bothered getting out of bed. From the waist down, soaked. Top half warm and dry. If not a little sweaty.

As breathable as it is for walking (very), no chance of it keeping up with my sweatiness on the bike but then nothing does. Pit zips are massive and work.

I bought it at the same time as a Mountain Equipment Rupal which is 3l Goretex with the plan to send one back. Ended up keeping both.

The Orkan packs down smaller than the ME. Whether that’s down to the eVent fabric or not, I’m not sure.

Definitely a worthwhile purchase IMO.

The hood struggles to stretch over my helmet though (Medium Speedframe, small jacket). That may or may not bother you. I mean, it’s unlikely to bother you that it doesn’t fit over MY helmet, but if you find it doesn’t stretch over yours then it might?

With the zip pulled up at front and the adjusters pulled right in on the hood, you’re very well protected.

Mines been through the wash a few times using Liquid Soap Flakes and still seems to be shedding water. Haven’t had to apply any additional DWR yet.

@bens – sounds decent.

What size have you got and how tall / heavy are you if you don’t mind me asking?

5’7 and about 10.5st.

Ok, maybe 11…

Small jacket still leaves enough room for an insulating layer underneath. It’s not too floppy worn over just a base layer though.

The arms felt quite long trying it on at home but practically speaking, they work well on (and off) the bike. It wasn’t quite as fitted as I would have liked but for an all round jacket, I’m happy with it. I think bike specific stuff is generally quite a slim fit (particularly in size small) so this seemed a bit big but in reality, it’s fine.

No way to stow the hood but this seems pretty standard nowadays. And to be honest, if it’s wet enough that I’m wearing a full waterproof, a slightly flappy hood is the least of my worries. Concentrating on staying upright and trying to see where I’m going through the rain distracts me from the sound of the hood flapping.

BMI is sat at about 24.5- I’m 5’9 and 11 stone 12 ish. I do some weight trading and my fat scales say I’m 18.5% fat. So you’d think the medium would probably fit in Fjern?

5ft10 and 14st4 here… I literally can’t fit into my large Fjern gilet any more, it bursts at the seams! Length wise it’s perfect, but despite the fact that all of their competitors I’m a solid large (as I am in Fox MTB clothing etc.), I’d need XL at least in Fjern now but it’s cut very long… Really lovely gear, but I think I’m just too rotund for it!

I’d say you’re a comfortable large myself… But again, this is based on my 2yr old purchases, and if they’ve changed their sizing and cut then my advice is of course, out of date…

@mboy

Cheers – having checked the size guide I think large is probably the option. Says 40-42” chest and 34” waist for that size. The medium sounds tight – might struggle with the chest size on that one.

BMI is sat at about 24.5- I’m 5’9 and 11 stone 12 ish. I do some weight trading and my fat scales say I’m 18.5% fat. So you’d think the medium would probably fit in Fjern?

I’m similarly sized with broad shoulders, ‘athletic’ probably. The medium Orkan was fine on me, I’d say the fit is comparable to Montane or Rab’s slimmer stuff. I suspect the Large would be too big unless you have barrel-shaped build where your abdomen is close to the same size as your chest.

I’ve used a few Fjern things and I wouldn’t say the fit has been overly slim. It’s not ‘generous’ in the way that something like Regatta or Sprayway tends to be and not boxy like Patagonia’s current fit.

Mediums are fine for me, about 5’10” and a little under 12 stone, that’s a gilet, Breen insulated jacket and two stretch fleeces. The only exception is the Grenser softshell which is a very slim fit and I can just get a thin mid layer under it.

Pertex Shield on a Downpour Eco failed pretty spectacularly after 5 months light use. As did my colleagues pertex Shield fabric’d Montane.

Well now I’m slightly worried, I’ve just bought Rab Downpour (non pro and no eco I think) for riding. It’s the perfect weight for what I wanted, a light colour, £55 delivered and running it under a tap water just ran off it. Fingers crossed it holds up OK.

Ooo, bit stumped if medium or large in that case. Maybe I’ll have to order both if I go the Orkan route and see which fits.

Cut is one thing to think about but you’re not going to find many success stories about eVent jackets lasting more than a few months. I wouldn’t buy one

I think I’ve read too many verging reports on eVent so I’m going to swerve that material. Just ordered the Rab Downpour 2.0 plus and see how I go with that.

The material sounds similar ish to my Royal Racing Mayrix jacket and I’ve got on well with that. Just the current one isn’t a good colour for casual wear with florescent yellow on it – or I’d have been tempted to get another of those.