Disclaimer: I was sent this Jessica jacket by Protest Sportswear to review free of charge, but words and pictures are mine. This post contains affiliate links, see more information here.
You might remember Protest Sportswear from the summer, when I was lucky enough to squeeze in a pre-COVID holiday and wore my very first bikini thanks to Protest.
They came back to me and asked if I wanted to be part of their Autumn/Winter campaign, choosing from their newest ski jackets and snowboard wear for men and women, and as it’s getting a bit chilly for the bikini these days, I was happy to pick a coat from their range to review.
Protest ski jackets for women
The coat I chose was the ‘Jessica’ ski jacket in red, which is actually more of an autumnal rust colour. It is also available in a black or a dark green, but I love a bright colour in the winter when it’s dark and miserable. The Jessica jacket costs £159.99 from Protest Sportswear.
The coat is thigh-length with a high collar and a deep hood to keep you as warm and dry as possible.
Protest Jessica Ski Jacket
Perfect for skiing, snowboarding or just facing a very chilly and wet British winter in my case, the Protest Jessica jacket has 10K water resistance and 10g breathability. Basically that means that rain and water will be kept well out, but any moisture that builds up on the inside can escape.
Protest use a PFC-free, environmentally friendly waterproofing method which helps the fabric to repel both dirt and water.
In terms of performance, the seams are taped to help you stay dry and the large fleece-lined hood and high colour keep your face shielded and dry.
It has both a zipper closure and poppers at the front to keep the coat closed and the elements out.
Pockets
Pockets are one of my favourite things ever and a coat without sufficient pockets is a very sad thing indeed.
Fortunately the Protest Jessica Jacket has a tonne of pockets, both outside and inside, so you might not even need to take a bag with you.
There are two double pockets on the outside, both with zipped side pockets and poppered/velcroed top pockets which are large enough to fit a phone or wallet inside.
On the right inside chest there is a mesh pocket and on the left there are two velcroed pockets.
There is also a velcro pocket on the left hand sleeve for things you need to keep close to hand.
Fit
Although the site itself and various online sources say that a L is equivalent to a UK size 12, other online places put this nearer a 14.
Having tried this one out I would recommend that if you’re between sizes to go for the lower one as they do come out quite large. I went for a size L/40 which is a 12, and a M would definitely have been fine even with a thick jumper underneath.
How does it perform?
Well we haven’t had any snow here yet – thankfully, it’s only October – but it has been VERY wet recently and as someone who takes the dog out in all weathers, I can tell you that a coat which pretends to be waterproof and then goes through on the seams is only secondary to leaky shoes in the ultimate in misery competition.
The Jessica coat truly keeps the rain away.
The hood comes down to cover your face and you can zip it right up so if the wind and rain is lashing there is little chance of it getting in. The seams didn’t give at all, and the coat repelled the water rather than soaking it in, so was dry a few hours after hanging it up in a warm dry place.
It has definitely become my go-to dog walking jacket for this winter!
Protest Sportswear discount code
You can get 10% off at Protest using the code whingewhinge10 when you shop, valid until the end of February 2021.
Protest also do a range of ski jackets for men, as well as a lovely a range of winter fleeces, jumpers and even cardigans like the one below (which I LOVE and have worn almost everywhere, but is also out of stock now – sorry!).
