WESTERN RISE AIRLOFT SHIRT JACKET: REVIEW
FOREWORD
Recently I had the pleasure of reviewing the Diversion pant from Western Rise, a brand that has been making big waves in the clothing industry by introducing brilliant performance apparel that looks equally great in the boardroom and on the hike.
I personally supported multiple Western Rise Kickstarter campaigns and was delighted when the company offered me the opportunity to review the recent addition to their product line and in my opinion a new staple in a men’s wardrobe: the Airloft Shirt Jacket.
Rain or shine, as a standalone outerwear or as a mid-layer, I have been using the Airloft shirt jacket for over 6 weeks and, oh my, do I have things to share.
Let’s dissect this product together and find out if it’s worthy to be in your closet.
WHO IT SUITS
Anyone seeking a versatile, modern looking piece of clothing for ever changing weather.
If you are practicing the “less is more” approach and hoping to downsize your closet.
Those who value comfort, mobility and durability of their garments.
Anyone already invested in Western Rise products would appreciate how well it goes with basically all of their product line.
WHO IT DOESN’T
Certainly not cheap, this piece might be outside of the budget for some folks, but considering the numerous use cases and universal look, it easily justifies its price and would most likely be cheaper than the sum of those pieces it replaces.
ABOUT THE PRODUCT
* PRICE: $198
* COLOR OPTIONS: Black, Olive, Blue Grey
* COMPOSITION:
• Exterior Fabric: 100% Primeflex® 50d 102gsm Polyester
• Insulation: 40g 3DeFX+™ Polyester
• Interior Fabric: 100% Polyester
First things first, I got the Airloft shirt jacket in size L and in the gorgeous Blue Grey color. For reference, I am 176cm, 95 kg and 33 years old.
I am currently in-between sizes and wanted a slightly relaxed fit (plus I do intend to lose some weight :)), so I picked Large over the Medium that I still wear some garments in. The fit was perfect: the length of the sleeves, shoulder length, chest, … It all felt like this piece was tailored to me.
The Airloft shirt jacket became available on the Western Rise website shortly after a successful campaign for the Airloft jacket ended. Perhaps “successful” is an understatement since more than 1700 backers supported the project, raising almost $360k (the original goal of $10k reached within minutes of the campaign ).
The Airloft jacket and the Airloft shirt jacket share a lot, not just the brand’s DNA and minimal timeless look but also the same fabrics and insulation. If you somehow missed out on the campaign for the Airloft jacket (that product is another exciting story I hope to share later!), the Airloft shirt jacket is available for purchase now, so there is no agonizing wait until your pledge is shipped months after the campaign is over.
COMFORT
Let’s just cut to the chase, the comfort of the Airloft shirt jacket is simply outstanding. There are multiple factors that combined make this hands down the most comfortable item in my entire wardrobe, such as:
Temperature regulation. Sure this could be added to the features list but the impact of this on comfort is undeniable. Almost magically the jacket adapts its warmth to the conditions I am in, which allows me to wear it in a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions.
The 4-way stretch. This is just a godsend and makes me not want to take the jacket off at all. It never limits the range of motion and ensures excellent mobility indoors and outdoors.
Breathable. I have pieces that are great and warm for cold weather but as soon as I am indoors I feel like I am standing beside a furnace and the heat is suffocating. The Airloft shirt jacket does not have this curse and the breathability in combination with the aforementioned temperature regulation makes me feel comfortable all day, every day.
To sum up, the Airloft shirt jacket has a unique combination of features that make it hands down the most comfortable piece of clothing I had the pleasure of owning. This is no small feat and a testament to Western Rise’s expertise and understanding of what modern clothing should look like and, more importantly, how it should perform in our demanding lifestyle.
DESIGN & FEATURES
The jacket has a seemingly simple tailored cut, but it looks modern and appropriate equally for a teenager or even your grandfather.
The closure is ensured by 7 high-quality metal snap buttons that have a matte black finish. These buttons are surprisingly strong and if you are someone who is used to closing the buttons by pushing them into your body, be prepared that it is not a pleasant experience. Also, if you have the habit of ripping the buttoned jackets off, these buttons don’t undo easily and I would advise against opening the jacket that way. Personally, I would prefer the snap buttons to be slightly less strong to make the opening and closing more convenient and effortless.
On the outside, the jacket features a single chest pocket with snap closure and pen slot, as well as zippered hand pockets that are nearly invisible, complementing a clean look. I love that the zipper pulls have a string with heat shrink tubing for easier operation. The chest pocket uses the same snap buttons like the rest of the jacket and is similarly hard to open and close.
On the inside, there is one hidden zippered pocket right behind the chest pocket, roomy enough for a wallet, a passport or other flat items. The zipper pull, however, is so tiny that I found it difficult to catch and operate. Perhaps it’s just me and my sausage fingers, but I wish the zipper pull was longer and easier to grab or just featured a string with a knot for easier opening/closing. Because the zipper was uncomfortable to operate, I barely used that internal pocket in my 6 weeks of testing, which is a shame.
The 100% Primeflex® 50d 102gsm Polyester used for the outside of the jacket not only has stretch but is also very water-resistant and feels quite durable. During my testing I had more than a few times when I rubbed the jacket against rough concrete or brick surface and I am happy to report the outer fabric still has no signs of use and is quite abrasion-resistant.
The quality across the board is superb, everything from the stitching and build to the materials and performance is making me enjoy wearing this piece more each day.
WHAT’S HOT
Brilliantly designed to work equally well in a wide range of temperatures and fitting perfectly for any age demographic.
4-way stretch, breathability and temperature regulation make the Airloft jacket the most comfortable and versatile item in my wardrobe to date.
The modern fit and lack of flashy branding make this jacket great for any occasion.
The thoughtful organization is greatly appreciated and I never felt like I needed more pockets.
Outstanding support of the Western Rise team throughout the ordering process and beyond.
WHAT’S NOT
The zipper pull on the internal pocket is tiny and hard to use, I wish something more grabbable was used.
The metal snap buttons are a tad too strong for my liking, taking more effort to open and close.
Available only for men, I can definitely see how women could be missing out on sizes and styles.
VERDICT
Western Rise struck a perfect balance between simplicity and features, creating a piece that quickly became my go-to jacket for any occasion and for a wide range of weather conditions and temperatures. I am amazed at how much value the Airloft shirt jacket has provided and how it simplified my life by reducing the decision fatigue of what to wear as well as making a big chunk of my wardrobe obsolete.
The asking price of $198 is not only fair, but seems almost laughable considering the things I got with this jacket. The time I saved not thinking about what to wear and the money saved from downsizing my wardrobe and not needing to buy more stuff.
To sum up: Western Rise did it again! Anyone looking for a universal, versatile, comfortable and damn good-looking jacket to wear all year round can finally rejoice as the search is over. Also, this shirt jacket makes an incredible gift. So there you have it, no more pondering what to get for a brother, son, father, grandfather, husband or significant other.
I can only hope that with time Western Rise expands its portfolio for women, so they can experience the joy of using these wonderful products.
DISCLAIMER
The shirt jacket was provided by Western Rise as a sample for review purposes, the content of this review was not shared with Western Rise before publishing.
My goal is to share an honest, unbiased review that is not tailored to keep the brand happy.
You can support my blog by using this affiliate link when purchasing the Airloft Shirt Jacket at no additional cost to you. Thank you!
