Outwear Ltd: Outdoor Clothing from Sasta, Crispi and Woolpower

Quality outdoor clothing has been a constant theme of this blog. There's something very satisfying about garments that are designed for a specific purpose: to reliably keep the wearer warm and dry. I was recently introduced to three brands new to me by their UK distributors, Outwear Ltd. They are Sasta, a Finnish family-run company making outdoor and work wear, Crispi which is an Italian footwear company and Swedish-based Woolpower which supplies mid and base layers made from sustainable wool.

From top left clockwise: Crispi GTX boots, Sasta Tervas red check wool jacket, Sasta Roihu grey wool jacket,
Sasta Peski blue Ventile parka, all trousers Sasta Naali, underwear and gloves from Woolpower

Sasta had a brief presence in the UK some 20 years ago, but have been largely forgotten here apart from a few who still wear their long-lasting products from that time. Their relaunch this year will be welcome to many who appreciate high quality outdoor clothing. They have their roots in the development of outdoor and hunting wear from woollen army uniforms. 

I tried two of their wool jackets, a Ventile smock and cotton Gore-Tex lined trousers. Worn in the wet and cold of a Cumbrian winter they quickly became favourites. The recycled wool cloth is warm, breathable, wind resistant and even stood up to an hour of fairly heavy rain without leaking uncomfortably.

I'm a great fan of both Ventile (the waterproof cotton cloth originally developed in the UK and worn by RAF pilots as survival suits) and over-the-head anoraks, so I found Sasta's blue Ventile Peski smock almost perfect. This is just the sort of thing that Edmund Hillary would have worn in Antarctica or on Everest and its classic utilitarian nature embodies what I love about traditional outdoor wear. It could be used for serious mountain walking, especially in winter, as it's a well-designed, stylish and practical garment that provides real protection from wind, rain and snow - or would double as an effective ski jacket. I tried the medium size which provided plenty of volume for layering without being over-baggy.

One sign of a well-designed outdoor coat is that the hood adjusts well and moves with you as you turn your head; some jackets, even pricey ones, have hoods that severely cut down your visibility by failing to move as you look round. On both the Ventile parka and the grey wool jacket, the hoods fitted and adjusted to perfection (the red check jacket doesn't have a hood). Well designed pockets and fastenings are also important and all three coats were ideal and practical for rugged outdoor use.

The Sasta recycled wool jackets are warm, windproof, showerproof as well as being stylish

The Sasta trousers, with a Gore-Tex inner lining, were among the best I've worn for outdoor wear. They are not over-trousers, but make perfect waterproof and wind resistant leg protection without being too baggy or restricting movement. 

All the Sasta garments worked well in damp and chilly conditions and I will be very sorry to return them whence they came. With their heritage in Scandinavian hunting and workwear they are practical and strong. The recycled wool jackets may not be for high level mountain use as they are heavier than clothing made for those purposes - they are made to be robust and well as warm - but for country walks and sports, camping and outdoor workwear they are perfect. I particularly liked the buffalo check Tervas jacket, with its nod to US mackinaw hunting jackets. It's good to see something a little different and stylish for outdoor wear.

When I first wore Sasta's garments on Instagram there was considerable interest from women and I'm pleased to say that they also offer a range for women.

The Italian Crispi boots were immediately comfortable. Designed with a mid-height ankle they are a very practical alternative to walking shoes in wet conditions. I was initially concerned that the sneaker style lacing would compromise water resistance but this didn't turn out to be the case and the Gore-Tex lining worked well in very wet boggy conditions. The Vibram sole is grippy and better than many on wet rock. This is a medium weight boot for all but the most rugged conditions, whether for work or walks.

The Crispi Monaco GTX boots are waterproof, well-designed and comfortable

Good quality base and mid-layers, like those from Woolpower, are essentials which are often overlooked. A cotton t-shirt is not going to provide the warmth and wicking qualities of proper undergarments. Wool provides exactly what is needed without the disadvantages of microfibre producing man-made fabrics which can also get very smelly when the wearer gets sweaty.

Woolpower is based in northern Sweden where extremes of weather make the need for warmth paramount. The merino wool ‘Ulfrotte Original’ material is a terry loop fabric to ensure comfort, flexibility and supreme warmth against the body. I tried a long sleeved crew neck undervest (which is made of a circular knit and with no lengthwise seams) and had a good long back so it stays tucked in, a pair of wrist gaiters (which keep the wrist and back of the hand warm but allow the fingers freedom of movement) and some very warm and comfortable terry knit merino-mix socks. 

The Woolpower crew neck has the name tag of the person who made it sewn into it and this pride in what they make extends to a record being made of the supply chain of the wool from sheep to manufacture. Using these products I was reminded why wool is so effective at keeping sheep warm and dry. All were flexible and remained comfortable whether I was climbing and perspiring or sitting in the cold admiring the view.

I was very impressed by all these brands from Outwear Ltd, who supply the professional outdoor worker and outdoor enthusiast with premium clothing. You will find many excellent products on their website. For more information, see Outwear Limited.

This is a paid collaboration with Outwear Ltd.