This is the first jacket that I have seen form Norrøna. They are a Norwegian company started in 1929, and they have really made some great, high quality apparel. Their designs and materials are tested and meant to be used in the high mountains and Fjords of Norway. Built for extreme weather like snow, ice, and very cold conditions, their pieces are durable and warm.
I was very impressed at the feel of this jacket right from the start. It feels tough on the outside, durable but yet soft and very stretchy. On the inside its plush, soft and warm. It’s like two jackets in one, a fleece and a softshell.
The Norrøna Lofoten Hiloflex 200 jacket is designed as a mid-layer jacket for skiing, snowboarding, and other high output mountain activities. It is breathable, but the outer face fabric is wind and water resistant. It is not waterproof, but it does have a DWR (durable water resistant) coating to help repel light rain or snow. The jacket also has a built in face covering that can help keep yo even warmer when on the slopes, or in cold windy conditions.
The hood is thinner, non-insulated, but wraps around your head nicely. A helmet or ski goggles can be worn over it. A nice feature of the hood, is that the fleece on the inside of the jacket, comes up high over the neck, then the hood starts above the neck. Typically the hood would start just above the shoulders. So that is a nice feature to keep your neck warmer.
This jacket has three pockets, a chest pocket, and two hand pockets. The chest pocket is a nice size, and the two hand pockets are lined with a light fleece feeling nice, soft and warm, another nice touch. At the end of the sleeves, the cuffs wrap around your wrists with a stretchy material that seals out the cold, and there are even thumb loops if you wish to use them. There is also an adjustment pull chord on the bottom hem to tighten the jacket up around your waist.
Overall, the Norrøna Lofoten Hiloflex 200 Jacket has a nice trim fit. As a mid-layer, it’s perfect. The trim fit allow for layers to be worn over it, and it’s ability to stretch and move with you makes it perfect for mountain sports where a lot of movement and mobility is necessary. I love the fit of this jacket. For me, the length, shoulders and chest were perfect! I did find that the sleeve length was really good, but when I used the thumb loops and reached out, the loops and sleeves were stretching a bit tight.
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