So I think wool is cool. I’m just a generation away from my Basque shepherding ancestors, which means I love mutton and appreciate good wool textiles. Wool is a great material for outdoor gear because it insulates when wet and is sustainable to source. Salewa’s Sarner 2L is a full-zip lifestyle hoody that isn’t shy about being wool-forward.
Salewa Warner 2L Wool Hooded Jacket Features:
So in the intro, I called this a ‘lifestyle’ jacket. You can take that with a grain of salt. Salewa makes some really great technical gear that’s light, durable and high-performance. The Sarner 2L is a great piece, but it’s heavy and not particularly breathable for my tastes. This makes it great for activities like being around town, chores around the yard, or sipping a latte while moodily staring out a rain-streaked window. But at 900g (nearly two pounds!) it’s something I would never consider throwing in my pack on a day when I’m actually planning to exert myself.
Salewa’s Sarner 2L harkens back to older days of outerwear, where wool’s wind- and water-repelling properties were valuable. The Sarner 2L preserves those qualities in a soft, stretchy outer weave that’s bonded to a soft synthetic inner liner (thus the 2L). It’s visually striking, with raw edges at the cuffs, hem and around the hood. The wool blend, which is mixed with nylon, rayon and elastane, is pleasantly stretchy and not especially itchy like the wool products of old were.
For my testing, I tended to wear the Sarner 2L for activities where I wasn’t planning on working up a sweat. The heavy fabric is warm and totally up to the challenge of fending off raw spring winds, and it was perfect with a light baselayer beneath it. Features like soft pocket liners add real comfort on cold walks or chore days. The two zippered hand pockets also offer security for car keys and the like. If you did want to work up a sweat in this, the fabric has natural anti-odor properties, which is awesome. I absolutely love the four-way stretch, which moves with your body really well. It’s a reasonably trim cut but the four-way stretch keeps it from feeling too intrusive.
Salewa built in a fitted hood which encloses the head nicely. It’s not helmet compatible or anything like that, but I could wear a ball cap under it without feeling squeezed. There are no elastic adjustments so sometimes I had issues with looking from side to side while the hood stays straight ahead. One perk of the design is a tall, tailored collar which seals nicely around the neck when it’s zipped up. On that note, Salewa chose a strong, well-made zipper and track which pull easily and feel durable.
Salewa has done a great job creating a visually striking and materially innovative piece with the Sarner 2L. I love the way they’ve combined recycled wool with modern synthetics and a soft backer to create a fabric that optimizes the functionality of wool and avoids some of the old fabric’s pitfalls. Potential users should know that it is a heavy piece, with heavy but durable fabric and accents; but for the right person, this could be a heritage piece that lasts for years.
Buy now: Available from Salewa.com
Kevin Glover lives, climbs and backpacks out of Spokane, WA. Originally from the Nevada high desert, he moved to the PNW ten years ago and has worked as a glacier and rock guide in the Washington Cascades. When not testing gear, he is a medical student at the University of Washington and will gladly check that rash out for you.
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