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The Fjallraven High Coast is a stylish windbreaker that does a great job of being that extra layer between strong winds and your around-the-town look. We love the slight feminine cut, functional pockets, and surprising utility of this waxed cotton jacket. Though it's not a technical layer and won't protect you from much more than a few minutes of spring showers, it's perfectly at home walking into your office building after a bike commute.
REASONS TO BUY
Stylish
Good wind protection
Double zipper
Good hood fit
Lots of spacious pockets
REASONS TO AVOID
Non-technical
Not very water resistant
Quite bulky
High Coast Jacket Updated
Fjallraven tweaked some aspects of this jacket since we first tested it. It's now made with recycled polyamide and organic cotton, and the hood was tweaked to be a bit snugger. The logo has also been updated. Otherwise, the previous version we tested (green in photos) is virtually identical to the updated version (orange in photos).
Our Analysis and Test Results
The High Coast is a tailored, yet relaxed jacket made of 54% polyamide and 46% cotton, protected with a wax coating. It features a feminine cut, full-sized hand pockets, and a zippered chest pocket.
This jacket was one of the most stylish options we tested, thanks to its sleek, urban-friendly design, flattering silhouette, and useful pockets, making it a standout choice for those who want technical function without sacrificing everyday aesthetic appeal.
Credit: Kat Thompson
Wind Resistance
Unlike any of the other models we tested, the Fjallraven High Coast is made of waxed cotton/polyamide. The waxed fabric does a pretty good job at blocking wind and can be strengthened by adding additional Greenland wax.
It has a well-fitting hood with the ability to cinch it closed, and elastic sleeve cuffs to help block a stray breeze. The bottom hem does have a cinch on it as well, but we couldn't get it to stay tight because of the thickness of the fabric. However, the feminine cut and full-sized hand pockets help keep you warm on a chilly day. The zipper also features a wind flap inside, and the collar zips up enough to cover your chin.
Hood cinches on the Fjallraven High Coast allow you to snugly tighten the hood around your face and head, helping to block out cold wind and retain warmth, which is especially useful in blustery or rapidly changing weather conditions.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Breathability
The High Coast isn't our first choice for high-output activities. The waxed cotton/polyamide is thick and not overly comfortable for excessive motion — a bit like a thin canvas feel.
The front zipper offers a double pull that allows you to open up both the top and bottom, to find the sweet spot of ventilation while still keeping the jacket secure. We found the fabric does breathe better than the models we tested with a DWR finish to keep out water, and is about right for a bike commute or long walk.
The Fjallraven High Coast jacket is equipped with a two-way front zipper that allows for precise, user-controlled ventilation, enabling effective thermoregulation during varying levels of activity or shifting weather conditions.
Credit: Kat Thompson
Packability
This is one of the few jackets we tested that doesn't pack into one of its own pockets. The waxed material isn't particularly compressible, and at 10 ounces, it's also one of the heaviest options we tested.
It's much better suited to hanging in your closet than being stuffed into a backpack. Though if you wore it to work in the morning and don't want it for the bicycle ride home in the afternoon, it isn't too bad to stuff it into the bottom of your bag.
This jacket is a bit thick and incompressible to be super compactable, but we love the comfortable protection it offers.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
Versatility
As a non-technical jacket, we don't strongly recommend this option for your next backpacking or climbing trip. We found it works best for more relaxed outdoor endeavors as well as everyday outdoor errands. It has more pockets than many jackets we tested, including full-sized hand pockets and a single chest pocket. The double zipper feature is also handy for sitting and helps keep the hem from ballooning out awkwardly while you sit, so you're comfortable on the bus or in the car.
Though we wouldn't make this our first choice for extreme outdoor adventures, it provides a level of style that we think is unmatched by any other windbreaker we tested. While most of the technical jackets look a little out of place in a professional office building, the High Coast blends right in over the cute outfit you carefully picked out that morning. This jacket does it all, proving to be a durable and practical pick as well, with pockets big enough to handle any and all dog walking accessories.
The pockets on the Fjallraven High Coast are spacious enough to handle all sorts of errands, including dog walks.
Credit: Kat Thompson
Water Resistance
This is the least impressive feature of the High Coast. It stands up okay in a simple shower or a few minutes of light rain, but the waxed cotton-polyamide can only take so much before it gets soaked. More than almost any other windbreaker we tested, this one gets wet very easily.
The thicker fabric also takes a lot more time to dry — we found that when the outside looked dry, it still felt a bit damp, which makes us think the inside of the material is still holding onto water for even longer. You can increase the water and wind resistance of the High Coast by adding more Greenland wax, though this process is much more time-consuming than the simple tech-wash solution of many other windbreakers.
The Fjallraven High Coast offers plenty of room for layers on cooler days, with a relaxed fit that accommodates everything from lightweight base layers to bulkier midlayers, allowing for easy temperature regulation without compromising comfort or mobility.
Credit: Kat Thompson
Should You Buy the Fjallraven High Coast?
The High Coast is one of the most expensive windbreakers we tested. If you want a jacket that works well without making you look like a gearhead, this may be a price you're willing to pay. However, if you're in the market for a technical piece or a windbreaker for strenuous exercise and intense activities, this is certainly not worth its price.
Protection against the wind and style without all the techy-looking features.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
What Other Windbreakers Should You Consider?
The Fjallraven High Coast is a stylish windbreaker that does a good job keeping you warmer in a cool wind without making you look too technical for a professional setting. If you're okay with a slightly more techy layer, the Mountain Hardwear Kor Airshell Hoody has stretchy fabric that gives it a similar level of comfort to the High Coast.
Hanging with the doggo no matter the weather.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Fjallraven High Coast - Women's versus top competing products:
