Särmä TST Woolshell jacket

We've played around with many wool-based outdoor and military clothes over the years, the Woolshell is a completely re-thought design based on experiences and ideas gathered from numerous projects. Functionally this is much like a modern tactical softshell jacket with its minimalistic and sleek appearance. Combining this functionality with high-quality natural wool fabrics makes this a rather unique garment!

Wool? As in old timey clothes?

Yes, but high quality wool, not at all scratchy and nasty. Proper wool is really a top material:

• Breathes, doesn't feel like plastic
• Won't soil easily, but cleans up nicely
• Is naturally fire retardant
• Forms on its wearer
• Relatively warm even if it gets moist, but won't really soak in water.

Good wool frieze is expensive and has some heft to it, that's why it's not nowadays used so much. It's still more than a viable application for temperate and cold weather clothing articles.

Modern, functional design

• Snug fit
• Adjustable hood
• Front zipper w. interior storm flap
• Underarm ventilation zippers
• Elastic draw cord adjustable hem
• Articulated elbows
• Elbow reinforcements w. pad pockets
• Hook-and-loop cuffs
• Loop for sleeve patches
• Four pockets:
  • Two zippered chest pockets
  • Two zippered upper arm pockets
• Materials:
  • Wool frieze: 70/20/10% wool/polyamide/Cashmere
  • Reinforcements: 50/50% cotton/polyester
  • Pocket lining: 100% polyester

The original idea for the Woolshell design began as a simple fantasy - wouldn't it be great to have a wool suit that could comfortably be worn under gear and shell garments without causing too much excess bulk? Basically, this would be a garment that could alternate between shell and mid-layer functions, with the fantastic properties of wool being the main attraction. This idea matured over the years and eventually ended up as an update for our legacy wool jackets and pants, tying these together with the current Särmä TST clothing system designs.

Besides the wool and its naturally fantastic properties the other big thing about the Woolshell jacket is the design. The snug fit minimizes excess material which means a decrease in weight and less uncomfortable bunching up under gear and shell clothing. The fit and low-profile pocket design result in a sleek garment, especially considering the main material! And when the going gets tough, that's when the underarm ventilation zippers and breathable materials kick in.

Sizing and fit

The fit tapers strongly at the waist and is fairly snug for a jacket, yet it's not like a shirt.

The recommended size has room for sensible layers worn underneath. If you wear very thick mid-layers, you may want to consider a larger size than recommended.

Below, you'll find measurements of the garment itself. The chest, waist, and hem are circumferences, the sleeve length is from the shoulder seam.

Woolshell Jacket (Metric)

Woolshell Jacket (Imperial)

Materials

High-quality European wool frieze

70% wool, 20% polyamide and 10% Cashmere wool, 600 g/m² / 17.7 oz/yd². The polyamide content is added to the mix to reinforce the otherwise not-so-wear-resistant natural wool, thus extending the life of the finished garment. Wool is an incredible material for outdoor clothing, keeps you warm, dry, and breathes better than anything. We're proud to say that this wool frieze is the best we could get our hands on. If you're going to make wool clothing, you better do it properly!

Reinforcements

50% polyester, 50% cotton, ripstop reinforced. Receptive to fabric wax, by the way!

Effective now, the grey ones have ink-colored reinforcements, as pictured.

Wash and care

As these are made of wool, they don't need to be washed very often - the best way to keep wool clothing clean is to simply brush off any dirt and if necessary wipe it with a wet cloth. If you must, we recommend dry cleaning. Machine washing at 30-40° degrees Celsius (86-104° F) with a wool cycle is also OK but don’t use a tumble dryer. Hang to dry. When drying, stretch the garment a bit to open up the fibers again. Use of wool care products recommended!

Sewn in Estonia

These are sewn in Estonia, by an experienced factory that has a long history of producing clothing for military, law enforcement, and emergency services.