I think the Campfire Puffy is as close to a perfect jacket as I’ve ever found. I am a helicopter pilot and always wear Nomex when I can for fire protection, but cold weather fire resistant clothes are a bit of a challenge. This jacket nails what I’m looking for - it’s definitely windproof, it’s very warm, and it’s waterproof. I’ve worn it working in a northwest fall/winter and it’s perfect as a stand-alone layer down to freezing. The outer layer has survived some pretty hard environments for me already so I’d say it’s durable too. Some caveats (none are dealbreakers to me):
1. The fit. It runs skinny in the waist, so I ended up having to get a larger size than I wanted to be able to layer. I wish it would have run looser in the fit knowing that in really cold environments you will have a fleece or thick wool layer underneath.
2. It is waterproof, but not like true rain gear. The water resistant coating washed off after a spin in the laundry (no surprise, easy to just reapply some) but I’m very glad that it truly has a waterproof layer somewhere in there that means even with the repellent gone, the jacket will not let moisture through it. I’ve had it drenched, weighing 30lbs due to water absorbed in the outer layer, and I’m still dry underneath. It definitely dries quick too.
3. The hood is puffy, which is awesome for warmth, but bad if you leave it off when it’s raining (it doesn’t fit over a helmet). It will absorb water and start getting the inside of the jacket wet. I wish it was storable in the collar or removable.
This is a great looking jacket and I’m really glad someone went after a Nomex jacket other than the aviation/military clothing companies. The Campfire Puffy knocks the pants off my other Nomex jackets, some of which were $750+, and none of which are waterproof *and* warm. Great job by Teren, I hope they keep going down the Nomex road.
