Every year, shortly after I admit that summer is finally over and that yes, it is getting cold enough at night to merit turning on the heater, I start wearing heavier jackets. This year, it is has been The Lander Jacket from Toad&Co., a great mid-weight jacket that has left me rather impressed.
Let’s be clear, this is not a jacket to wear in sub freezing temperatures. But, it is an excellent choice for those crisp fall days or anytime (based on my experience) the temperature range is between 40-55 degrees. I actually think that with the right layering I would happily wear this jacket when it was 35 degrees, but I have not tested that out (I’m talking running errands or going for a short walk here, not sitting around watching a sporting event).
Made from 100% organic cotton, the Lander Jacket has flannel lining on the bottom half and more traditional polyester lining for the sleeves and shoulders. The theory for this is increased warmth around the core while letting you layer at will without losing mobility or feeling constrained. This worked well in my case, as long as the sweater (or whatever I chose to wear under the jacket) was not too bulky.
One other huge plus with the Lander Jacket is the hood, which is completely removable. I took mine off as soon as it arrived, but it is nice to have it hanging around for when I need that extra feature. I also like the hand warmer pockets (flannel lined) and the overall cut. It is a slim cut, military style jacket, which means that it stays close to the body (no puffiness here) and ends just below the waist. The jacket comes in two colors, dusty olive and soot, which translates to light green and dark grey. For what it’s worth, I like the dark grey. I mean soot.
I think the jacket looks sharp, is comfortable to wear and performs well in most weather conditions. I’ve worn it during a light rain and was pleased to find that I stayed fairly dry, but if it’s really coming down, you may want to invest in a good umbrella.
The good
- looks sharp
- warm
- works well with other layers
The bad
- not a good choice for a polar expedition, unless that expedition is in a climate controlled aircraft and you are flying over the pole on your way to Helsinki.
Available from Toad&Co for $169.00
Boring stuff: Toad and Co provided me with a free review sample. This in no way affected the opinions expressed in this review. All images via Toad and Co.