“When it’s cold, it’s time to add a jacket, how to choose a sports jacket?” This is a question that many friends have asked me recently. Some people want to withstand the wind and rain outdoors, some need to wear it for commuting, and some people are struggling with brand and budget. In fact, it is not difficult to choose the right sports jacket, the key is to understand your core needs – do you value functional technology, or fit wear, or cost performance? Today’s guide will explain the purchase of sports jackets from function, fabric, version to brand.
1. Understand first: Which sports jacket do you need?
Don’t look at the brand and price as soon as you come up, first clarify “where to use” to accurately match the type. In the years I have been doing procurement, I most often encountered customers buying the wrong type – a friend who ran a marathon mistakenly bought a heavy warm jacket, and ended up getting soaked after running 5 kilometers. Therefore, distinguishing the type first is the first step in choosing the right one.
1. Sports jacket type cheat sheet
type | Core features: | Adapt to the scenario |
|---|---|---|
Running jacket | Lightweight, highly breathable, and mostly with reflective design | Morning running, night running, marathon |
Training jacket | Four-way elasticity and wear resistance, which is convenient for limb extension | Gym strength training, exercise classes |
Windproof jacket | Windstopper technology is the main and has strong wind resistance | Urban commuting, cycling |
Softshell jacket | Warm and breathable balance, suitable for large temperature difference scenes | Hiking and outdoor camping in spring and autumn |
Waterproof jacket | GORE-TEX fabric, rainstorm waterproof | Outdoor cross-country, mountaineering, and rainstorm weather |
2. Core functions: Don’t pay for “useless technology”
The functions of sports jackets are all bells and whistles, but the core is just that. When I help my clients choose, I will ask them to sort them according to “scene priority”: for example, outdoor hiking prioritizes wind and rain protection and warmth and temperature retention, while urban commuting focuses on breathability, sweat wicking and lightweight.
For example, when purchasing for an outdoor club last year, I deliberately chose a style with breathable zippers under the arms – team members reported that when climbing a mountain, the zipper is opened and the heat dissipation speed is 30% faster than that of ordinary jackets. There is also a packable and storage design, which can be tucked into the side pocket of the backpack after folding, which does not take up space at all, especially suitable for multi-scene switching.
2. Fabric is the soul: how to choose technology and environmental protection?
Many people choose jackets only because they are “comfortable to the touch”, but in fact, the fabric is the key to determining performance. As a purchase, I can responsibly say that the cost of fabric can be more than 5 times different for the same type of jacket. For example, the same waterproof jacket, GORE-TEX fabric and ordinary coated fabric, can be seen in heavy rain for less than 1 hour.
1. Inventory of mainstream fabric technology
- GORE-TEX: The “waterproof ceiling” of the outdoor circle, the breathable film has 1.4 billion micropores per square centimeter, which can block rainwater and exhaust moisture, and professional mountaineering teams basically use it.
- Windstopper: Windproof artifact, breathable 2 times better than ordinary windproof fabrics, suitable for cycling, commuting and other windy but not rainy scenarios.
- DWR water-repellent coating: basic protection, water droplets can be formed in light rain, but it will fail if washed too much, it is recommended to reapply waterproof agent once a year.
- Graphene warmth: In recent years, black technology is 30% lighter than down, but the warmth is not bad, and it does not clump after washing, which is especially suitable for training.
2. Eco-friendly fabrics: “dress with attitude” is now popular
More and more brands are starting to make environmentally friendly fabrics, which is not only a trend, but also a reflection of quality. For example, Patagonia’s recycled ocean plastic jacket can recycle 10 plastic bottles each; there are also bluesign certified fabrics, which have almost zero pollution in the production process and are more skin-friendly.
Last time, I purchased employee benefits for the company, and deliberately chose a style with a carbon neutral production logo, and the employee feedback was “more secure to wear”, which is the added value. If the budget allows, give preference to environmentally friendly fabrics, which are both practical and socially significant.
3. Version and dressing: refuse to “wear into rice dumplings”
Choose the right fit, and the sports jacket can be worn from the outdoors to the street; if you choose the wrong one, no matter how expensive the jacket is, it will look like it is borrowed. I summarized a simple judgment method: “Sports scenes look at functionality, and daily scenes look at fit.”
1. How to choose the version? Look at the figure and look at the scene
Fit | Fit for the figure | Core strengths |
|---|---|---|
Slim tailoring | Thin and tall, muscular | Reduces wind resistance, suitable for running and cycling |
Loose Oversize | All figures | It looks good in layering, and the urban functional style is the first choice |
Asian fit | Medium build, short torso | The shoulder line fits well, does not weigh on height |
Lengthened | Tall | Good warmth, suitable for outdoor hiking |
2. Color and style: Wearing the right thing is a trend
This year’s color trend is clear: Morandi color is the most suitable for commuting, low saturation does not pick skin tone; fluorescent safety color is just needed by night running parties, which can be seen clearly from 30 meters away; If you like outdoor wind, seasonal camouflage is more recognizable than ordinary camouflage.
In terms of dressing, I recommend the “layering method”: wear a quick-drying jacket inside, wear a softshell jacket in the middle, and cover the waterproof hard shell on the outside. For daily commuting, a short box jacket with jeans and a pair of Martin boots will have an urban functional wind.
4. Brand and budget: spend every penny
Many people are entangled in “buying big brands or domestic products”, but in fact, the quality of domestic professional lines is not inferior to international brands at all, and the key depends on the budget and scenario. I have been doing procurement for so many years, and I have summarized the “three-stage budget rule” to help you match accurately.
1. Brand and price band matching table
Budget range | Recommended brands | Core strengths |
|---|---|---|
Entry-level (300-600 yuan) | Li Ning basic model, Pathfinder | Cost-effective, meeting daily commuting and light exercise |
Mid-to-high-end (800-1500 yuan) | Anta Champion, Kyle Stone, Adidas Terrex | Mature technology, suitable for moderate outdoor and professional training |
Professional (2000+) | Arc’teryx、Patagonia、Salomon | Top fabrics for extreme environments such as high mountains and heavy rains |
2. Money-saving tips: Identify discount nodes
As a purchase, I know when is the most cost-effective time to buy: 618 off-season clearance to buy waterproof jackets, the price can save 40%; The first launch of new products on Double 11 is suitable for buying technology models, and accessories are also free; If you don’t mind code breakage, outlet professional-grade jackets are often 50% off. Remember to pay attention to brand member days, and sometimes you can superimpose employee in-house purchase coupons, which is more cost-effective.
5. Procurement perspective: How to choose sports jackets in batches?
Hello everyone, I am Yigu, and I have been engaged in outdoor products procurement for many years. Buying sports jackets in bulk is completely different from individual purchases, and the core should focus on “three matches”: first of all, the scene and function matching, such as wear-resistant and reflective strips for construction site procurement, and focusing on breathability and lightweight for running groups; secondly, budget and quality matching, no need to blindly pursue big brands, the professional linear cost performance of domestic products Kaileshi and Li Ning is very cost-effective; Finally, the size coverage matching, Asian versions should have more M and L sizes, and Oversize versions can be selected one size larger for more versatile. In addition, when purchasing in bulk, be sure to ask for fabric test reports, especially waterproof and environmental protection indicators, to avoid stepping on pits.
6. FAQs of frequently asked questions
- Q: How to clean a waterproof jacket? Will it destroy the waterproofness? A: Wash by hand or machine with neutral laundry detergent (choose gentle mode), do not use fabric softener. After washing, dry and dry at low temperature for 10 minutes to restore the activity of the waterproof coating, generally more than 20 times without affecting the waterproof effect.
- Q: How to choose a soft shell and a hard shell jacket? A: Choose a soft shell for a large temperature difference in spring and autumn, which is warm and breathable; choose a hard shell for extreme environments such as heavy rain and high mountains, which is more waterproof and wind resistant. For daily commuting, you can choose a combination of “soft shell + thin hard shell” to flexibly cope with the weather.
- Q: Is the quality of jackets made of recycled fabrics reliable? A: Reliable. The strength of recycled polyester fabrics is 15% higher than that of ordinary fabrics, and the products certified by bluesign have washability and breathability standards, so you can buy them with confidence.
- Q: What kind of sports jacket is suitable for small people? A: Give preference to a short box type or Asian version, with a length of 5 cm below the waistline, and avoid elongated models that weigh on the height. Choose a solid color or a combination of light top and dark bottom to make it visually taller.
In fact, when choosing a sports jacket, it ultimately returns to the word “demand”. Know whether you are using it for sports, commuting or outdoor adventures, and combine it with your budget and style, and you can find exactly the one that suits you. I hope this guide can help you avoid minefields and choose a sports jacket that is comfortable and worry-free.