Bear Grylls Bear Freedom Jacket - Men's

Cannot beat this shell for the $
January 28, 2012

I was a bit apprehensive about buying a celebrity-model/endorsed anything, but this jacket is EXACTLY what I was looking for. I ordered comparable jackets from Mtn. Hardware, Arcteryx, North Face, and Patagonia and returned every one of them after I received the Craghoppers jacket. I noted the fit as "large", but it's probably closer to normal. I'm 6'0" 170lbs. with fairly wide shoulders and I got a medium. Fit is great. Slim enough so that it's not a bulky wear, big enough to fit a fleece on underneath. I've had this thing on in complete downpours and I've remained totally dry. I like the hood pulls, the waist cinchers, the wrist tightener tabs, and the chest/side pockets. Great inside liner, too. My only negs on this jacket are 1) for some reason it has a left-sided zipper (female). Trust me. I have the male version. I checked. And 2) it could use pit-zips to aid in ventilation on warmer days or during strenuous activity. Other than those 2 things, this jacket is on par with the bigger brands $250-350 range shells, which makes this jacket a great value. I would definitely recommend this product to anyone looking for a great-performing technical shell at a value.

Already own the Bear Grylls Bear Freedom Jacket? Tell us your thoughts.

High Quality/ Low Cost Shell Jacket
February 06, 2012

I was a little hesitant about buying this jacket since no one had written a review yet...but, i went out on a limb and am super satisfied with the purchase. The material is tougher than i imagined, but still pretty comfortable and it has a little stretch. (Good when reaching for that next hold) It breaths well, is incredibly waterproof, and very wind resistant. I like that it has 4 pockets. (1 hidden inside the jacket) When worn with an insulating later, like a fleece or softshell jacket, it can be a very good barrier against the cold, rainy day your going out into. As for the looks, its an "athletic fit" so it fits a little snugger around the arms, chest, stomach. Its a good color (i got blue) and it goes well with black, khaki or w/e else you wanna wear really. Overall: Solid, affordable, nice quality jacket that's wind, waterproof and breathes. Only downside (if you can call it that) is that the zipper is left handed. (Bear is left handed.)

Write a review for the Bear Grylls Bear Freedom Jacket here.

Odd Fit
January 07, 2013

I'm a regular back country Utah hiker - so the value of good gear is not lost on me. I've got a few other Bear Grylls endorsed items, which have worked out quite well. This jacket is not one of them. The overall quality seems good enough, although I didn't test it in any harsh environments. The main thing that didn't work for me was the fit. First I ordered the large. I was expecting a pretty snug fit, but enough to get one tight whisking layer plus a fleece. The fit under the arms was extremely tight (freedom of movement was restricted), although the rest of the body seemed fine (snug, but that's how I prefer it). So I returned the large and went to the extra large (I'm 6'3" - 210 lbs); however, I had the exact same problem. The body was looser than I usually like, but acceptable; however, once again the fit under the arms was very tight and restricted movement. For that reason, I'm returning both. Perhaps this would be better suited for a lithe, more thinly built person.

Write a review for the Bear Grylls Bear Freedom Jacket here.