I should not be able to wear this jacket right now. That’s the thought that kept going through my mind on a Thanksgiving Day hike in Mill Creek Canyon. Temperatures were perfect for the Navigator Field Coat, a lightweight jacket from Tekkima. Bad sign for winter, but good for gear reviews! Here’s a breakdown of an ideal spring jacket that I just happened to be able to wear all winter long.
Waxed Cotton in the Woods?
It’s not breaking news that the retro look is in. And the Tekkima Navigator coat oozes vintage style. It also uses some vintage technology in the form of a waxed cotton shell. My initial thought was that this material was not optimum for outdoor abuse. During testing, I was proven only half-correct. The waxed cotton exterior does an amiable job in wet conditions, repelling light rain and taking quite a while (roughly 30 minutes) to become saturated in a heavy downpour. I have jackets that were marketed as “technical shells” that perform similarly. Another element that the Navigator battles with ease is wind. The coat was able to shield me from extreme gusts on the shores of the Great Salt Lake during a trip to the Spiral Jetty.
Now for the not so good part. While the Navigator Field coat does feature numerous pockets, it does not have any venting. Waxed cotton is not exactly breathable, and I found myself overheating while hiking up steep trails in the Wasatch. Also, the material picks up and holds plenty of dirt, dust, mud, debris or whatever else you splash on yourself during your adventure. Washing machines are not a friend of the cotton twill shell, so you’ll be doing plenty of spot cleaning if you want the jacket to look snazzy.
Killing it in the Streets
Looking snazzy is definitely something this jacket does well. While it has a few more zippers than I think are necessary, I have to concede that I like the look. If you embrace the throwback aesthetic, and don’t mind being confused for a Brooklyn barista, then this is the jacket for you. It’s an ideal coat for the day that includes everything from a jaunt through the woods to cocktails at the local lounge. Throw on a pair of sturdy boots and some selvedge denim and people won’t know if you are more likely to swing an ax or mix a Manhattan. The ultimate in duality, man.
Final Verdict
The Navigator Field coat has a lot going for it. It looks great, has some great features (attached hood, waist cinch, numerous pockets) and can hold its own against the weather. I’m just not sure this is your next piece of technical outdoor gear. If you need a jacket that will wick moisture, keep your temperature even, and fight off the elements, this ain’t it. So why would you buy this Tekkima piece? I would characterize this as ideal travel gear. Sometimes you’ve got to decide if you want hi-tech or around town gear, and the Navigator treads the line brilliantly. You probably won’t summit the Pfeifferhorn in it, but you also won’t need to change before you head out for a fine turkey dinner.