First Impressions
Free Country. Every heard of them? Me neither. But when I was contacted by them a fews months ago, I was intrigued. Mostly because their website showed some good-looking softshell jackets at unbelievably low prices. Seriously, think about 60-70% off your typical-big-outdoor-gear-brand. How could you go wrong? You couldn’t. So we had to give one a try. Enter the Free Country Bristol.
Features
The Bristol arrived at GearGuide in an understated black and lead pencil (deep gray) color combo. It reminded me of my trusty The North Face Apex McKinley. Lost somehow long ago and sorely missed, the Apex McKinley (discontinued and replaced in TNF’s line by the Apex Bionic Jacket) was a sleek softshell with multiple interior and exterior pockets, and a fused fleece lining, everything we look for in a versatile piece of outerwear.
The Bristol effectively mimics the Apex McKinley and frequently sells for $50 online. That’s more than $100 less than my old trusty jacket. But there are some compromises that come with the hefty discount.
Specs
Exterior Fabric: 93% polyester, 7% spandex
Interior Fabric: 100% polyester
Weight: 32 oz
The first compromise is in the weight department. The Bristol comes in at two full pounds, about 30 percent heavier than the Apex McKinley. The Bristol also lacks the detailing of the more-expensive jacket. The lining is sewn in vs. fused to the softshell fabric. The cuff adjustments are fabric strips instead of heavy-weight molded polyester. There are fewer interior pockets too.
However, performance of the Bristol holds up reasonably well to that of the more expensive products. It demonstrated solid wind resistance. Water resistance was good as well, but slightly below that of others in the category.
Fit
No complaints about the fit. The Bristol fits loosely and there was no need to size up or down.
Final Verdict
Tough to call this one. If you have a limited number of ducats to spend on a softshell, the Free Country Bristol presents a fine option. Could you trust it on the ski slopes in a major storm? Probably not. But keeping $100 in the pocket is not a bad thing, especially if all you need is an around-town option. They’re available at more bargain-oriented retailers and online at Amazon.