“That looks so Northwest!”
That was my first response when I saw the Columbia Sportswear Suburbanizer rain jacket.
Seriously. Doesn’t it totally look like something you’d see someone wearing in Seattle or Portland?
Under normal conditions, I probably wouldn’t be wearing this jacket until March or April, but we’ve had unseasonably warm weather throughout February. (Sorry East Coasters who are buried in snow!)
Even though the majority of our days have been sunny, we have had some rain which has given me the chance to test out this new jacket from Columbia Sportswear.
For me, what’s most striking about the Suburbanizer is that it’s quite lightweight and, for a jacket that drops below the waist, it packs down pretty small. This bodes well for me being able to roll it up and tuck it into the bottom of a daybag when I’m traveling.
So, it’s practical for travel but it’s also functional (it’s water-resistant to be specific) and well-tailored. I really really like the fact that there’s a drawstring waist so the jacket doesn’t just hang down like most of the other rain jackets I’ve owned.
The cuffs are also adjustable with snaps so if you need to button up a bit in cooler weather, that’s easy enough to do.
Although I say I’m not a hat/hood person, the truth is, when the heavy rain does start coming down, I like to cover up as much as I can and the attached hood (with a mock collar) is handy.
There are three zippered pockets in the front. Two hand pockets and one chest pocket. This makes for plenty of room for a pair of light gloves, cell phone and a snack (I never leave the house without a protein bar or other snack. 🙂
Just to be clear, this is not a warm jacket. It’s definitely great for spring weather or when you’ve got something to layer underneath it. But if you’re in East Coast weather right now, buy it but know that you’ll likely need to wait until April before it’ll come in handy.
The Suburbanizer is available on the Columbia Sportswear site and also on Amazon starting at about $80.
Be Bold,
Beth
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Disclosure: Columbia Sportswear provided this jacket to me for review. Regardless, everything I have said in the post reflects my honest opinions.
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