The new Jack Wolfskin Highest Peak jacket – closing the loop on recyclable outdoor kit

Things used to be simple for manufacturers of waterproof jackets. All you had to do was make a jacket that kept out the rain and it’d be a success. Oh, and it had to be breathable, too – nobody wants to get damp from their own sweat when hiking hard in the rain.

And of course it ought to be reasonably tough so it doesn’t fall apart the first time it brushes up against some rough rock. And lightweight, both for when you’re wearing it and when it’s packed away in your rucksack. It should fit well too, especially around the head, wrists, and hem. Price? Oh yes, it mustn’t be too expensive if you want to maximise its appeal.

Come to think of it, perhaps things were never particularly simple. But with an increasing awareness of what our actions – specifically those involved with the manufacturing and consumption of products – have on the world we’re living in , there are increasing demands and expectations put on manufacturers of outdoor gear.

Environmental responsibility, sustainability, and ethical production methods are as important as any of those other factors, and this creates a conundrum for outdoor brands: how to create modern, cutting-edge gear that performs brilliantly without negative effects on the environment.

Jack Wolfskin is one such brand, and it’s been rising to the challenge for some time now through the use of recycled materials and Bluesign approved fabrics; browse the Jack Wolfskin website and you’ll spot ‘Recycled Components’, ‘Sustainable’, and ‘Bluesign Product’ logos across many of its product pages. But it’s not resting on its green laurels and is continuing to look for new methods of production and fabric technologies to further improve its environmental credentials without diminishing the performance of its products. And the latest version of the Jack Wolfskin Highest Peak 3-layer waterproof jacket is a prime example of where they’re succeeding.

Jack Wolfskin Highest Peak

The Highest Peak is not a new jacket in the Jack Wolfskin range. It’s been keeping hikers dry and comfortable quite successfully for some time. So why change anything about it? Well, the truth is very little has changed, with the exception of one component – one very important component. So let’s take a look at the key features of the latest Highest Peak jacker, starting with that all important update…

Textile to Textile

Both the new and the previous version of the Highest Peak 3-layer jacket are made from Jack Wolfskin’s TEXAPORE ECOSPHERE PRO STRETCH 3L fabric. Now, we’ll get onto the technical performance of that material shortly, but for now we’re going to focus on the factor that’s changed between jackets: how it’s made.

The previous version was manufactured with recycled polyester from PET bottles – as many waterproof shells are these days. This is preferable to using new virgin materials, but it does rely on a constant supply of PET bottles and still leaves questions as to what happens to the jacket at the end of its life. The latest TEXAPORE ECOSPHERE PRO STRETCH 3L fabric is different. Instead of using recycled bottles, the outer material is made from previously worn garments and textile cuttings. In other words, the latest Highest Peak jacket is made from old jackets recycled into new material. And it’s not just the outer fabric, either. The membrane of the jacket is made from cuttings left over from the manufacturing process and returned to the production cycle – a zero-waste concept. The whole package is also Bluesign approved.

It’s Jack Wolfskin’s Textile to Textile innovation that’s the headline story here, though. It aims to create a closed loop system whereby old jackets can be recycled into new jackets which, at the end of their usable lives, can in turn be recycled. This circular system could help to drastically reduce the reliance on crude oil-based polyester.

But however green its credentials, a waterproof jacket succeeds or fails on how got it is at being a waterproof jacket. In this respect, the performance of the new Highest Peak jacket is every bit as good as the previous model, with most the technical design aspects carried over. Let’s give these a closer look.

Highly waterproof

The TEXAPORE ECOSPHERE PRO STRETCH fabric used in the Highest Peak jacket is completely windproof and extremely waterproof, acting as a barrier between you and the unrelenting unpleasantness of the weather. The 3-layer material – an outer face fabric, waterproof membrane, and a protective lining – has a hydrostatic head rating of 20,000mm, putting it up there with some of the highest performing waterproof fabrics available.

Highly Breathable

Walking in poor weather, particularly up hills and mountains, can be hard work. It’s easy to get warm and end up clammy and damp on the inside of your hardshell jacket. But the TEXAPORE ECOSPHERE PRO STRETCH fabric in the Highest Peak jacket has a Moisture Vapour Transmission Rate (MVTR) of 15,000 g/m²/24hrs. Bearing in mind that a MVTR of 10,000 is considered very breathable, the Highest Peak’s 15,000 figure is impressive.

Hood, hem and cuffs

These are all areas where the rain can get in and heat can be lost. Both the cuffs and the hem on the Highest Peak can be cinched in nice and snug to trap warmth and keep the weather out. The hood has two-way adjustability. A volume adjustment cord at the rear gets the perfect fit on your head, while the adjustment cords at the front help pull the hood in around your face for maximum protection.

Pockets and zips

A small inside chest pocket is the perfect place for car keys or credit cards, while the two waist pockets are waterproof lines and protected by waterproof zips (although we’d always be inclined not to rely on this too heavily and keep valuable items and electronics somewhere else). The main zip is also waterproof and backed by a chunky storm flap, while under the arms you’ll find pit zips to aid ventilation – perfect for when you need to dump heat quickly.

Price

The Highest Peak has more than a few premium features, and with the current cost of outdoor kit growing ever more eye-watering, we’d expect to find a big number on the Highest Peak’s price tag. However, the £220 figure is both surprising and pleasing. Granted, it’s not what you’d call a bargain price, but bearing in mind the functions and features you’re getting for this (and the fact that it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find a technical waterproof hardshell for less than £200) we’re of the opinion that the Highest Peak represents good value for money.

Verdict

Ask almost any outdoor enthusiast if green credentials are important, and they’ll tell you yes. But very few of those hardcore hikers will be prepared to pay over the odds for that environmental do-gooding, and fewer still will accept compromises in performance. There are no such concerns with the Jack Wolfskin Highest Peak 3-layer jacket. It ‘s performance numbers are all excellent, and its price is far from offensive. And the Textile to Textile recycling means it’s greener than ever. We’d call that a win-win for us and the planet.

To find out more about Jack Wolfskin's range of environmentally friendly kit and clothing visit jack-wolfskin.co.uk