We have long been frustrated by rain jackets that don't keep us dry. Good ones are too heavy for travel (or too much of a ski patrol vibe), while lightweight ones are barely worth bringing.
Enter the Faroe, Bluffworks' packable rain jacket that is ready for action.
We created a jacket that is highly waterproof, lightweight, and still packable.
You'll never be disappointed adding the 1 pound Faroe to your bag... especially when the skies open up.
Arguably the most important feature of a rain jacket is its fabric. We wanted the soft handfeel (not shiny, not noisy) you'd hope for in an everyday jacket that was also highly technical. To do so, we balanced:
Packability
High waterproofness
High breathability
There are materials in the world that are more waterproof than we used in the Faroe. Like an old school rubber raincoat. But they aren't packable or breathable.
In the end, we produced a 2-layer shell with a whopping 16,000 mm waterproofness and high breathability. If you’re impatient and want to see the goods in action, see how I tested it, below.
On the outside, we applied a PFC-free DWR finish.
And, fully taped the seams.
We developed the Faroe while I was living in Dakar, Senegal and boy did it rain.
From left to right, here I am:
Walking in a downpour in Dakar.
Seeing the amount of water rush by my feet.
In the back of a pickup truck, racing down a volcano while traveling in Cape Verde after pulling the jacket out of my bag.
The jacket was my go-to, both at home and on the road. And I wasn't shy in pushing its limits, as our product development process fails candidates all the time.
The pockets in the Faroe are designed for rain or shine.
Inside the jacket is a collection of zippered and quick access chest pockets. Lower stash pockets are large and easy to access for things like lightweight gloves.
On the outside, there is a chest pocket with an invisible zip so discreet that early in the development process I forgot it was there.
The center front has a two-way water resistant zipper with a small storm shield.
The result is a clean look you feel right wearing over a blazer to the Louvre.
The Faroe includes a couple of small details to round out its utility.
There are subtle welded vents under the arm to augment breathability.
The cuffs have a low profile adjustable hook and loop closure with an extra stiff tab that will last thousands of applications.
The hood may be our best yet.
This isn't our first jacket. We learned a ton about hoods when constructing our much beloved Field Jacket. At that time, it was difficult to make a hood out of “self fabric” that stowed into its own pocket because the Field Jacket material was heavier.
For the Faroe, the hood stows easily in the collar thanks to its lightweight nature.
The hood is adjustable via two side cinch straps that reduce the size of the opening. There is a discreetly stiffened brim at the top to keep drips off your face.
It has an excellent fit. Long enough to keep rain off your face, and not too bulky to cover your eyes or impact peripheral vision.
Thanks to the lightweight nature of the Faroe’s materials, the whole jacket packs into a small pouch that we built into a pocket.
The below video provides a quick how-to.
The Faroe comes in two colors: Northern Navy and Black Coal.
We offer the jacket in one fit that has room for layering. When ordering, you can select your normal size.
The Faroe is designed to layer seamlessly over a Bluffworks blazer.
Will the Faroe be happiest in a city? Or keeping you dry on the trail? I'm thinking about uncrowded waves during the rainy season in Costa Rica.
It won't matter where you go... as long as you bring the Faroe.
Bluff on,
