The Fjällräven Abisko Eco Shell jacket review
It has been two years since my first product review for We12travel. Back then I tested the Fjällräven Eco Trail jacket. I took it with me to Patagonia and wrote this review. I was truly happy with this jacket because after Patagonia, it traveled all across the world with me. From Alaska to Tasmania to Canada and to Nepal, just to name a few places. Just open my Instagram feed and you will always see pictures of me in the bright pink jacket.
So it was about time to test the newest jacket in the eco family, the Fjällräven Abisko Eco Shell. Eco Shell is by Fjällräven itself developed shell material that perfectly protects you against wet and tough climate during warmer weather. The material meets high standards when it comes to sustainability and has been impregnated without the use of fluorcarbons.
The best place to test a jacket like this is of course Iceland, where it can be rainy, sunny and stormy in less than a day. Two days before I took off to Iceland, the Fjällräven Abisko Eco Shell was delivered and I was happily surprised that I got the red version. In the past I always chose darker and safe colors such as black or blue but I love the bright color of this one. However, don’t worry if you are not a fan of red, because it is also being made in tarmac and black.
In The Netherlands it was some 25 degrees celcius on the day of departure, so a little bit too warm to wear the jacket. However, once I got out of the plane, I realized this jacket was going to protect me from the weather non-stop. Upon arrival it was some 5 degrees and raining, as it did for most of the week.
During the rest of my vacation I wore the jacket pretty much every day. Just while visiting various sights, but also during the hikes I made. I climbed to the top of Mt. Hatta, hiked up Mt. Esja in a thick fog and got lost in the lava fields of Landmannalaugar. Over there, I warmed myself up in the hot springs and upon leaving the warm water, I just wore this jacket and a bright pink towel, to protect me from the gushing wind. It must have been a funny sight, seeing me run across the campsite to get away from the cold in just my bikini and jacket.
After having been in Iceland for about a week, I have to admit that the Fjällräven Abisko Eco Shell is yet another great jacket that serves its purpose well: performing in tough weather conditions during cool summer days. It’s not a very cheap jacket (some 400 euros) and even though I did not have to pay for the jacket, I would have done so without hesitation because I know that it is a great investment because it did protect me against wind and rain non-stop. And trust me, after having been to Iceland some eight times, I can guarantee that the weather doesn’t get a whole lot more unrelenting than over there.
The Fjällräven Abisko Eco Shell is well designed for females, it has an even better fit than the Eco Trail jacket I used before this one. The hood can be adjusted as well as the sleeves. The pockets are super easy to open and close. The only minor thing I missed is that there are no zippers underneath the arms, which I always prefer to open up when hiking in the mountains, to be able to make my body breathe a bit better.
By now the jacket has also traveled with me to Patagonia. I hiked in Parque Nacional Chiloé and learned to snowboard on an active volcano in Huilo Huilo eco reserve. How cool is that? It kept me dry, warm and protected me well against the never ending Patagonian winds.
Final thoughts about the Fjällräven Abisko Eco Shell
I have been a fan of Fjällräven for many years and even though their gear does not come cheap, I can guarantee you that you will be 100% satisfied about their stuff. I have various items by them (yes, I also buy things occasionally!) and have never before been disappointed. The fact that it’s all durable and sustainably made makes it even better and more worth investing in a product for the mentioned circumstances. While planning my upcoming round-the-world trip this will certainly be one of the main items I will pack.
Interested in buying this jacket? Check out all the Fjällräven options at Amazon.com.
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For We12travel I occasionally test outdoor gear. Here are some other products I reviewed:
– The North Face Fastpack GTX II hiking shoes
– The North Face Cesium Anorak summer rain jacket
– The Keen Wanderer WP hiking shoes
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Thanks for sharing!