Sierra Designs Savage Jacket
First Impressions
Sierra Designs products just keep getting better and better. Today, they’re more stylish and more innovative than ever before while still delivering consistently high outdoor performance. Case in point, the company’s new Savage softshell jacket. It’s sleek, with styling that works anywhere and features the coolest use of fleece insulation we may have ever seen.
Features
The Sierra Designs Savage Jacket was an instant hit at GearGuide. Out of the box, the Savage initially looked like other softshells. On closer inspection, however, it radically departs from the traditional.
To start with, every seam is welded, not stitched. That construction technique combined with Sierra Designs choice of Vapor softshell fabric make the Savage a very capable, waterproof softshell jacket. In our waterproofing test, we found not a single leak after hours of saturation.
Specs
Construction: Stitched, welded seams
Fabric: Vapor Softshell
Weight: 26 oz
What really won us over, however, was the Savage’s styling and crazy cool use of fleece and fur insulation.
On the styling side, photos just don’t do justice to the Savage. Put it on, however, and the Savage shows off an understated sleekness and almost urban aesthetic. Our sample came in black and definitely didn’t scream “I’m a ski jacket.” Rather, you could wear the Savage almost anywhere – around town, out to dinner and of course on the slopes – and never feel like you looked out of place.
Turning to the Savage’s interior, Sierra Designs employed a dark gray synthetic fur in places where extra warmth is needed (down the back, across the shoulders and the upper arms). Where slightly less insulation is necessary, the company places waffled green fleece. This approach has been tried before (see last year’s review of Mountain Hardwear’s MCZ Jacket), but it’s never been done as well as it has been here. Everyone that tried the Savage loved it because of the interior treatment.
Rounding out the jacket are a series of performance features including a helmet-compatible hood, four pockets (two handwarmers, napoleon and single interior pocket), and full side zips for ventilation.
Fit
Perfect. The fit is trim but not binding. The Vapor softshell had plenty of give. Adjustments are found at the waist and hood, and at the cuff, for a customized fit.
Final Verdict
Dynamite. We love the Sierra Designs Savage Jacket for its go-anywhere style and innovative approach to insulation. It’s sleek, not bulky, and delivers waterproofing that competes with the big boys. The Savage does lack a few of our check list items – there’s no goggle pocket, for instance – but that’s a small compromise for such a great softshell jacket.