I was excited to be able to review the SALEWA Ortles Hybrid Jacket. A good outer layer can make such a difference when hiking, especially in wet weather. SALEWA provided a sample at no charge for review, however the thoughts and opinions are my own.

When I opened the box that the jacket came in my first thought was, “This thing is tiny. How is it supposed to keep me warm?” But it does its job well.

The SALEWA Ortles Hybrid Jacket is water repellent, windproof and breathable – perfect for tackling big mountains in cold weather. It is also quick drying, lightweight, strong and stretchy.

Unfortunately I don’t live in a region where mountaineering, skiing, or ice climbing happens, but I was able to test the jacket on my nightly walks when the temperature dropped to near the freezing mark, and during hikes in chilly weather. It performed perfectly.

There are several things I really love about this jacket.

The fit

I tried it on, and it fits great. It almost feels like it was custom made for me. But I know it’s just the stretchy material. And when I say stretchy material I don’t mean like bad spandex. The two-way stretch material conforms to your body, instead of your body being stuffed into it.

I also love that I don’t feel bound up or confined in it. At risk of sounding cliché, I have to admit it doesn’t really feel like I even have a jacket on, except that I’m warmer.

When I read that the jacket is stretchy, I thought, “My body type is not athletic. I’m going to look like a whale.” But I really like the way it fits me, and it is very figure flattering.

The material is super soft and silky, which I really like. I love putting my hands into the pockets to feel the softness.

The warmth and breathability

The SALEWA Ortles Hybrid Jacket was designed to move in. And even if it is freezing outside, you generate heat when you move. But the SALEWA Ortles Hybrid Jacket does an amazing job of venting you body heat when its needed.

I also love that it zips up to my nose. In really cold or windy conditions, I like to keep my face covered some of the time. Because the jacket zips up to my nose, I don’t have to worry with a face mask, which can be difficult if you want to take it on and off. And neck gaiters seem to slide down on me. This is much more convenient.

Big pockets

I love the pocket on the SALEWA Ortles Hybrid Jacket. Because the jacket is made to stretch around your body, the pockets also stretch to fit whatever you put in there – your hands, phone, keys, etc. With some jackets I feel bulked out and weighted down when I put things in my pockets, but not with the Ortles.

There are two pockets where pockets should be for your hands. There is also a pocket on the left side of the chest, which is designed so you can easily get in and out of it while wearing a backpack. I love that.

And the Ortles has another pocket on the inside. This pocket also zips for security.

Packs into the hood

To save space in your pack, you can roll the Ortles up into the hood to condense it down. If you are like me and want to organize your pack, this is a great feature.

Water and wind

Because SALEWA designed the Ortles Hybrid Jacket to be worn in the snow and ice, it is water repellent and windproof. I tested it in a light rain and found it to repel water wonderfully. It also worked really well at blocking the wind, which can make a cold day feel much colder.

Overall thoughts

I would totally recommend this jacket to my friends. It is priced around $199, so for me it would be at the high end of my budget. However because the jacket is made so well, I feel like it is worth the price.

Looking for more SALEWA products, check out my review on the SALEWA Mountain Trainer boots.