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Fjallraven Greenland Wind Jacket - Durable and Useful Jacket 1
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Fjallraven Greenland Wind Jacket – Durable and Useful Jacket

Most wind jackets are minimalist in design and use fragile materials to save weight.  The Fjallraven Greenland Wind Jacket is the opposite of that idea.  

Sean Sewell
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Fjallraven Greenland Wind Jacket – Durable and Useful Jacket

Fjallraven Greenland Wind Jacket

Most wind jackets are minimalist in design and use fragile materials to save weight.  The Fjallraven Greenland Wind Jacket is the opposite of that idea.  Though it is a wind jacket, it has features that make it more functional than most in its class.

Durable, recycled materials for real-world use

The Greenland jackets made of 100% recycled polyamide.  Not only is it great that the jacket is made of eco-friendly recycled materials, but it is also actually durable too.  After two months of constant use, the jacket held up with ease.  From hiking and camping to city use.  Plus 3 cycles of washings so far.  It is still holding up just fine.

Dog-friendly jacket

We have two dogs (Chloe and Riley) and they get to go on almost all of the gear testing adventures.  Being happy and loving dogs, they like to be “paws on”.  They both have some decent claws and on several occasions have helped us destroy gear.  One time Riley jumped on a down insulated sleeping pad.  This resulted in an explosion of feathers in the tent.  Quite the scene!  The Greenland wind jacket was impervious to the most ambitious of attempts to rip the material.  If you have dogs or just value durability, this is good new.

Fjallraven Greenland Wind Jacket

Finally, a wind jacket with hand pockets!

We love ultralight wind jackets for emergency protection or streamlined missions, but we are often left disappointed when using them for casual use due to the lack of hand pockets.  This jacket has two zippered hand pockets AND two drop pockets.  This meant the jacket saw a lot more use than our other wind jackets.  Simply because it is really nice to have a place to put your hands or gear.  Bonus – the drop pockets can hold at least two beers each, in the upright position.  Of course, it can be any beverage for that matter.  This was a great feature around the campfire.

Fjallraven Greenland Wind Jacket

 

Final thoughts on the Greenland Wind Jacket

This jacket became a go-to jacket for urban and mountain use for several reasons.

  1. durability – if my dogs can not puncture the material, then you should be good to go
  2. hand and drop pockets – when not wearing a backpack, it is nice to use these
  3. aesthetics –  it looks good enough to go out in, unlike some trashbag looking wind jackets
  4. function and fit – not too baggy, not too tight
  5. eco-friendly materials –  I love this for lots of reasons, PLUS the material is not crinkly or shiny like some others in this category

This jacket might not be the right wind jacket for you if you are looking for an ultralight jacket (weighs in around 540 grams).  Though it does pack up relatively small to keep in your backpack.  This jacket can be a versatile option that serves both urban and mountain settings.  Plus it looks pretty dang cool.  MSRP $210

Fjallraven Greenland Wind Jacket

See also –

Fjallraven Bergtagen Long Johns – Long Johns for Cold Missions

 

Fjallraven Keb Eco-Shell – Recycled Alpine Protection

 

6 responses to “Fjallraven Greenland Wind Jacket – Durable and Useful Jacket”

  1. Sell Avatar
    Sell

    Hi Sean, thanks for the review. Have you tried the Abisko windbreaker as well and can tell me how it compares to the Greenland windbreaker?

    Reply
    1. Sean Sewell Avatar
      Sean Sewell

      Hello Sell, I did not test the Abisko windbreaker yet. But use the Greenland quite a bit. Sorry I am not more help with the comparison! Sean

      Reply
      1. Sell Avatar
        Sell

        No worries. I would love to hear your thoughts if you get your hands on one tough.

  2. Gregor Samsa Avatar
    Gregor Samsa

    Hello Sean,
    I ordered the Greenland Wind Jacket on sale. I was interested in reviews of the jacket. Yours were the only one I found. But the information you provided is exactly what I want to see in a review. You are obviously using the jacket and talking about all the important details.
    Also I liked your review a lot I have to disagree with you in one point. It annoys me to a point, that I am thinking about returning the jacket. For me the major “flaw” of the Greenland Wind Jacket is its hood. In your video you say it’s perfectly fitting around your face and would not let wind in.
    Well, in that video you are wearing a cap and I think this is absolutely necessary. I own three Fjällräven Jackets . Each of their hoods can be adjusted in at least two ways: Horizontaly at the back of the head and verticaly around the face. Some can even be adjusted in their volume ore “shaped” since the “brim” includes a wire that can be bended.
    All of these hoods I would consider the best on the market. They don’t hinder your field of view since they “move” with your head.
    Unfortunately the hood of the Greenland Wind Jacket does none of this. Is that because it’s only adjustable around the face? That would mean that all other Jackets with this kind of adjustment would have the same problems. They don’t. In fact I own jackets / hoodies by other brands that don’t even have one way of adjustability: Their hood might include an elastic band in the seam or the entire jacket might be made of a stretchy material. Wearing them might look silly, but these hoods at least work. They fit snuggly around your face just by light pressure, keeping the wind from getting in.
    The hood of the Greenland Wind Jacket hinders your field view from the sides when it’s loose. Therefor it doesn’t help that the hood moves with your head. Since it is not tightened it is floppy around my face and wind will get in. It also gets a little bit in my eye on one side, since it has no stiff brim. If I cinch the cord around my face it gets even worse because my eyes get both covered by the hood. It doesn’t even matter how tight or loose the hood is: If you look up just a little you don’t see anything except the inside of your hood.
    If you think you found that sweet spot where the hood isn’t too tight or too loose and might fit “OK” that’s where the hand pockets that you mentioned in praise in your video come into play. When putting your hands into the pockets their weight causes the hood to be pulled down right so that they cover your eyes. Reason is the non-flexible material the jacket is made of.
    So my questions to Fjällräven are: Why did they make the hood that voluminous? Is it intended to be worn with a helmet underneath? In an urban envirement? If not wearing a helmet do you really need to wear a cap instead? Well I tried that, too. But if you cinch the cord around your face it still has the tendency to push the hood down into your face, forcing the brim of the cap down.
    Why in the hell didn’t they include at least a stripe of Velcro material on the back of the hood and make it a more versatile peace of gear? It wouldn’t weigh anything but you would at least be able to hold the hood back to save your peripheral vision.
    Like I said: I am thinking about returning the jacket because of the hood. I also want to point out, that the jacket fits me right.
    I would like to hear from you if the hood does bother you at all. Do you have any other advice to adjust the hood or wearing a cap underneath?
    What is your conclusion about the jacket now that you have more experience with it? What about water repellency?
    And I also want to ask you about the temperature range of the jacket. You were talking about it in your video but because of the water noise in the background I couldn’t either understand the values nor if you were talking about Fahrenheit or Celsius.
    Regards
    Gregor
    P.S: Sorry for my bad english….

    Reply
    1. Sean Sewell Avatar
      Sean Sewell

      Hey friend! Thanks for the great insights in the jacket. I feel your frustration on the hood. Though it did not cause me as much issue as I almost always wear a hat when outdoors and hiking. I don’t use the hood for casual use though, so it did not cause me concern. I do agree that it could use more adjustments. I think many hoods could use more adjustments. Lol. Temperature range – I am using Fahrenheit over here. Temps I used the jacket in were 40-60s usually. Hope that helps! Thanks for taking the time to leave such a wonderful and detailed comment. PS – your English is fantastic 🙂 Take care, Sean

      Reply
      1. Gregor Avatar
        Gregor

        Hello Sean,
        thanks for your fast reply. Yesterday I received another Fjällräven Product: The “High Coast Wind Anorak”. So a potentialy alternative as a windproof Top. Guess what: The same issues. Only one adjustment on a voluminous hood. I agree that nobody wears a hood all the time but especially in a wind protective Garment you want a hood that works when needed. Both hoods are sewn out of three strips of cloth. I noticed that when I pinched the stripe in the middle (around two inches wide) together, the hoods fitted firmly around my head and followed every movement even when I looked up or down. Like I said: A simple Strap of Velcro should do the job and wouldn’t either break the bank for Fjällräven, nor would it raise the weight of the jackets.
        But is it my job, to invest in a product which is already highly priced only to make it work as it should?
        While being concerned if I was too “picky” I found a gear test of the “High Coast Wind Anorak” in the wellknown german“Outdoor”-Magazine. What was their conclusion? „Plus: protection from the weather, comfortable climate. Minus: Hood covering the eyes.” Well, at least I feel less paranoid. Finally I’ve contacted the customer service of Fjällräven, telling them about my issues with these two products, asking them, why they choose these construction, although they are obviously able to do it a lot better. In the reply I was told that the other Fjällräven Jackets I own were made for more rough climates in a under more “adventurous” conditions and that the two criticized Jackets were more meant for everyday casual use. I had to replay to this and argued that a hood is not a decorative element but should serve a purpose and this to give protect from the elements no matter if on an expedition or a walk with the dog. And why does the High Coast Wind Anorak has thumbholes if it’s just a casual item?
        In my opinion the postulate “form follows function” is still valid. Something man made that is only “nice” or beautiful but doesn’t work is a fail. There are a lot of guys and girls out there who argue that (sadly) Fjällräven only produces overprized fashion Apparel anymore. Why not proof these people wrong buy going the extra mile even on every day clothing and making it good looking and functional.
        The guy from Fjällräven agreed. If clothing doesn’t work you will hardly wear it. Then Fjällräven would miss its goal to bring people nearer to nature. He will talk to the designers, sending them a Swedish translation of the german gear test I mentioned. We’ll see.
        best regards to you
        G. S.

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