Skip to main content

This waterproof jacket just might solve your rainy hike woes

Jack Wolfskin's newest offering is the waterproof jacket you need

Like its American peers The North Face and Patagonia, the German outerwear maker Jack Wolfskin originated as an entrepreneurial response to a lack of gear available in the 1970s. Founder Ulrich Dausien began selling tents, jackets, and sleeping bags, after earning about $6,000 in profits from selling Palestinian keffiyeh scarves on Frankfurt’s Eisernen Steg footbridge (per HighsNobiety).

Five decades on and that innovative spirit still lives on with its sustainable, high-quality products that are much more common on the other side of the pond. This year, that creativity and dedication to conserving the outdoors are expressed in the Tapeless Jacket, now available in select stores and on Wolfskin’s website. Looking for a waterproof jacket? The Tapeless Jacket eliminates 60 feet of seam-sealing tape, introducing Zero Tape Technology, a more breathable alternative to seam tape that won’t leak or fail while hiking or commuting.

A hiker in a Jack Wolfskin jacket pointing a camera.
Jack Wolfskin

At its core, the Tapeless Jacket is a breathable, comfortable shell created with hikes and adventures that demand high-quality technical apparel in mind. With comfort and performance always at the forefront of its design, Jack Wolfskin integrated its proprietary Texapore Core Fuse Stretch Ripstop into the new jacket. This triple-layer fabric offers superior weather protection and comfort, according to Wolfskin. The fabric, however, doesn’t result in a bulky coat. Europe’s leading technical and sustainable outerwear manufacturer is dedicated to a sleek fit, which is also expressed in waterproof zippers, an adjustable hood, hem and cuff adjustments, and a chest pocket. The Tapeless Jacket’s distinct cut also features no shoulder or hip seams, which helps to eliminate irritating areas when worn with a backpack.

This is a far cry from when Jack Wolfskin was founded, a time when outdoor activities were still pretty niche affairs, and there was no mighty outdoors industry offering a suite of goods to thrive in the great outdoors. Still, even then Dausien envisioned a massive market who would embrace playing outside.

“We offer inexpensive equipment for the backpacker as well as expedition equipment for the Himalayan expert,” he wrote in a 1979 advertisement.

Hikers wearing Jack Wolfskin tapeless jackets.
Jack Wolfskin

Today the company leads sustainable efforts like rewilding Canada’s Yukon wolves (Jack Wolkskin is, after all, named after the wolf and Jack London, one of the pack’s greatest chroniclers.) The outdoors manufacturer’s sustainability goals are at the forefront of its outdoors mission, developing green and Earth-friendly materials — products made of organic and recycled materials. As to what the firm doesn’t use, there is a companywide ban on PFCs, and Wolfskin rejects using fur and Angora wool in its products. It sources down, leather, and Merino wool from ethical suppliers and looks to wield a significant influence over its supply chain.

“For us, ‘living to discover’ not only means enjoying the natural world, but doing everything in our power to preserve and protect it,” states the Jack Wolfskin website.

The Tapeless Jacket is available in two colors with a medium piece weighing in at 13.5 ounces. Purchase one of your own for $480.

Shop Now

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Matthew Denis
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Matt Denis is an on-the-go remote multimedia reporter, exploring arts, culture, and the existential in the Pacific Northwest…
Dust off your gear, it’s time to hit the trail: The spring hiking tips you need
These spring hiking tips will keep you safe and comfortable on the trail
tips for hiking in the spring hike

I don't know about you, but I love the fact that spring is here, and I can hit the trail again. I went out the other day without having to load up in all of my outdoor layers and enjoyed a trail run along some snow-free tracks. It's that time of year when you can dust off your hiking boots, dig out your trekking poles, and start to make some hiking plans. But spring isn't all sunshine and dry tracks. A little like fall hiking, spring trails can be muddy, and some of the wettest, coldest days I've had on the trail have come in springtime. Maybe it's not quite a time to pack away all that warm gear after all.

Spring is changeable. That's what I'm getting at. It's perhaps the toughest time of the year to pack a hiking pack because, on any given day, you might need to change layers four times. The days are long enough to get a good hike done, but you can still find yourself caught out after dark if you're not careful, and once that sun drops, the temperature goes with it. In return, though, spring rewards us with those golden hours at sunrise and sunset — the outdoor photographer's dream — raging waterfalls as the snow melts off, and the sounds and sights of nature coming back to life after a winter's hibernation. It's great if you get it right, and if you follow our spring hiking tips, you won't go far off track.

Read more
Why your wardrobe needs a waxed canvas jacket (and the best ones to get)
Here's everything to know about waxed cotton jackets so you can pick the best one for you

Modern science has created fabrics that are remarkably light and breathable while providing complete protection from the elements. The functionality of these advanced materials can't be denied, but they lack the texture and character of those old-fashioned fabrics. A well-made and properly maintained waxed cotton jacket provides both exceptional protection from the elements and a rugged beauty that modern science cannot match.

Talk about fashion meets function. If you prefer a more charismatic fabric, look, and style for your outerwear, then waxed canvas or cotton is the way to go. If you are in the market to make an investment in a stylish but sturdy waxed canvas jacket, we'll take you on a ride about how these jackets came to be and the best ones for you to shop for.

Read more
This might just be the ultimate backcountry skiing and camping experience
Spend three days ski touring and two nights under the stars with Mountain Trip
backcountry skiing camp in colorado debuts telluride helitrax brett schreckengost 3

With the number of skiers hitting up ski resorts the world over, your opportunity to catch fresh tracks on a powder day might be at risk. Sure, the locals know the hotspots, but it only takes one errant Instagram post before everyone descends on your secret stash — careless talk costs lines. Nowadays, the only way to truly guarantee perfect powder and long ripping runs is through sheer bodily effort. That's right, it's time to earn your turns.

This winter, The Bridal Veil Backcountry Ski Camp from Mountain Trip has taken the concept of backcountry adventure and added in a new element; winter camping — or glamping, depending on your view. Sure, there is a time and a place for the traditional five a.m. roadside start, pulling on stiff boots, and frigid gloves, before setting off into the beam of your headlamp, but if you want to truly experience the backcountry in all its majesty, then this is the trip for you.

Read more