Al's Anorak
Description
NOTES:
- Anoraks are $675 up to size 2X; 3XLarge, $705; 4XLarge, $735.
- SHIP ASAP backorders will ship at price in effect at time of original order.
- Factory8 is finished a run of MidWeight Drab Green Anoraks that will be available in the first week of February.
- The new run of FullWeight Drab Green Anoraks was mostly sold, but some still available.
- These Anoraks are in stock and can be ordered on the website or by phone:
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XXSmall: MidWeight Drab
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XSmall: FullWeight Drab Green; MidWeight Lynx Pattern
- Small: MidWeight Drab Green
- Medium: FullWeight Drab Green
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Large: MidWeight Drab Green
- XLarge: MidWeight Drab Green
- 2XLarge: MidWeight Drab Green
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3XLarge: MidWeight Drab Green; MidWeight Lynx Pattern
- 4XLarge: Full- and MidWeight Drab Green
- If you want an Anorak that is out of stock, we suggest placing a backorder (price of $0) on the website or by phone. You can reserve by leaving a credit card on file (SHIP ASAP) so we can ship and charge as soon as your garment is ready, but it's not a requirement.
- We have begun to offer Anoraks, both FullWeight and MidWeight, in Natural White/Cream. This is undyed wool.
- I am hoping for May of 2024, we'll ship Anoraks that are not already in production. But that is not a promise or a guarantee. If you want something not in stock, please get an ASAP order on our books.
SIZE CHART for the Anorak
We love that our Anorak has been on TV a bunch. It's a favorite among the participants in History Channel's Hit series Mountain Men and Survival Contest ALONE. The WeatherWool Anorak has been worn on History by Mike Horstman, Brady Nicholls, Benji Hill, JP Quiñonez, Callie Russel and Amós Rodriguez. It's also worn by hundreds of people in the Military.
The Anorak is a design of the first inhabitants of North America's Arctic Region. (Our Finnish Advisor Anton Kalland tells us the term comes from the Finnish Anorakki, which in turn comes from the Ancient Greenland word Annoraaq.) Our Anorak handles a wide variety of conditions and activities and is designed for a relatively active individual to wear over one or sometimes two light base layers.
The Anorak is intended for temps between from 10F/-12C to 80F/27C. But people push it, successfully, into much colder conditions. Most people will be comfortable in temps from 20F/-7C to 70F/21C, indoors and out, with low to moderate levels of activity. The FullWeight Anoraks is better at lower temps and the MidWeight better at higher temps.
Richard Mills, a photographer (NaturesCapture.com) from the Carolinas, was spending Christmas of 2022 in Yellowstone National Park, and sent me this video on 23 December. In the video Richard states he is wearing two base layers and a FullWeight Anorak, and the temp is -31F/-35C. HUGE THANKS and MERRY CHRISTMAS, RICHARD!! This is well outside recommended temperature range, but it worked well for Richard.Our custom-made 100% wool Fabric is soft enough to be worn directly on even the most sensitive skin, yet durable enough to see you through the most rugged adventures. Choosing the best fabric weight and garment size will depend on your climate, activity level, base layers, and personal preference.
Our Anorak features:
- Our custom Jacquard woven Fabric throughout the entire garment ... offered in both FullWeight and MidWeight. Click for FullWeight-MidWeight discussion.
- Craftsmen-sewn, ultra-durable construction and materials
- Like our other garments, the structural seams of the Anorak are sewn with Mil-Spec Anefil water-resistant thread used by the US Army
- A modern take on the classic design, with a focus on comfort and utility
- Extra-long sleeves, reducing the need for gloves. Sleeve cuffs can also be "let-out" for unusually long arms
- Slot Buttons used exclusively because they are so secure
- Wrist cuffs can be adjusted to six sizes (flap can go around wrist either way)
- Four buttons at the neck closure, allowing for ventilation, comfort, and warmth. Our Neck Gaiter can be added for extra warmth around the neck
- Waist cinches to create a more tapered shape, reduce air space, prevent updraft
- Extra-large hood. Rear cinch enables the hood to be pulled back. Pull-cords in front, at each side, enable the hood to be fitted close around the head. We have lately switched the front cords from synthetic shock-cord to wool cord. The cords are now made from the same fiber as the garment. The new cords are shown in a close-up at left (black cord on Brown 'Rak). We can send wool cord to anyone who wants to upgrade an old Anorak. And we can even send shock cord to anyone who likes the synthetic better. You can switch by attaching the new cord to the old and carefully pulling though. We left the cords long and many people will cut them shorter. The hood will protect the head from a great deal of weather, even sideways weather. The large hood is also very good to provide some privacy and darkness for sleeping ... and a lot of people, particularly Military and travelers, do sleep in the Anorak (instead of hotel during long layover!)
- Generous front pouch, with elastic organizer strip, closure secured by slot buttons. A friend of mine who lives in Yellowstone National Park told me he never leaves the house without his bear spray tucked into the right-most position of the organizer. I visited him in 2022, and he was completely serious about the bear spray.
- Hidden zipper pocket inside the body of the jacket, behind the front pouch
- Inconspicuous yet spacious zippered pockets on each side of the chest. Left side has an additional cell-phone sleeve. Phone will be inside the garment, where body-heat will help extend battery power
- Super-long zippers on each side of the Anorak enable venting of heat and ease entry and exit. Side zips also facilitate access to anything on a belt. Opening the side zips also makes it comfortable to sit without hiking the 'rak. Jennifer H has reminded me the side zips are useful during pregnancy.
- At the base of the side zips are a button and elastic; tab. With the bottom of the 'rak buttoned this way, the zippers can be left open and there is no flapping.
- On 19 September 2023, I heard two expectant Moms told me the Anorak is great maternity wear! The photo at left is my daughter-in-law, Carla, in the summer of 2022.
In size Large, a FullWeight Anorak weighs 3 lbs., 7 oz (1.6 kg)
In size Large, a MidWeight Anorak weighs 2 lbs., 12 oz (1.25 kg)
We have lately changed the front pull-cords from synthetic shock to knitted wool (photo at left). The cords are now made from the same wool as the Anorak itself. If anyone wants to switch out the synthetic, just let us know. And actually, if anyone wants to switch from the wool cord to synthetic, we can send synthetic, also. Either cord can be replaced by simply pulling the new cord through (carefully).
Please follow Anorak Sizing directions before ordering
At this point, you'll find a lot of independent review and discussion of the Anorak and other WeatherWool products on the web. Here are a couple of nice comments/reviews from 2018, when not many people had heard of us:
- Dave Canterbury (Pathfinder Survival) says: "... absolutely top of the line product in both technology and comfort." Dave has since become a WeatherWool Advisor.
- Click here to see a video about WeatherWool and our Anorak, from Advisor Rob Allen. Or click here for Rob’s detailed review of the Anorak.
I definitely love stories about our stuff, but hardly ever does the wool figure into a Love Story ... Planning to propose the next day, a customer hid the engagement ring in an Anorak pocket, and his unsuspecting Fiancee-to-be used the Rak as her pillow!
To secure your garment from an upcoming production run, please place a SHIP ASAP order.
For Batch 7 and later, the FullWeight Brown has replaced the FullWeight Duff. This is a consequence of working with a new dye house because of the Floods of Hurricane Ida.
The reviews at the bottom of this page are posted by owners of the Anorak. There are also other pages for Reviews previously sent to us by Civilians and by Military.
(Please click here for more pictures, video and details about Al's Anorak)
- If you have previously placed a $0 backorder but didn’t set up a SHIP ASAP please provide us with payment info to reserve your garment
- If you have a SHIP ASAP and your Anorak is shown above as IN STOCK, but you have not received it, please call right away.
- If you need larger than 4XL, please get in touch.
Please click for more info about backorders without obligation (price set to 0).
Please follow Anorak Sizing directions before ordering
Latest information about our production is here.
1 May 2024 --- Ralph
Customer Reviews
Don’t hesitate on this purchase!
Fit: I’m 72” tall and 240. Albeit a bit fluffy, the XL fits perfectly. The sleeves are exactly where they need to fall, on your thumb knuckles. The bottom of the anorak falls just at the bottom of my bottom-perfect.
Comfort: soft and non-abrasive. It is definitely the highest quality wool I’ve had the pleasure to wear. I live in northeast US and the weather flips on you in an instant. There’s never been a moment in the 5 months of owning this where I had any regrets.
Experience: Even in the nastiest weather I’ve been comfortable. I recall a storm began as freezing rain, flipped to wet heavy snow, then to fluffy snow, and then ridiculous amount of wind and rain which caused massive flooding. I was out in most of it and other than the bone chilling wind, I was perfectly comfortable.
Preferable customization: 1) Remove the wrist cuffs. Drop the hem 2 inches and add a flap that buttons inside the sleeve. By adding a flap that can be secured on both sides of the sleeve, you could protect your hands while allowing you to use poles or a hiking staff. 2) Remove the elastic straps and replace with wool (the cuffs removed would be perfect). Outstanding thought and purpose, but I’m not a fan of elastic. 3) Hidden pocket is genius. Add access to it from inside the pocket on top seam.
4) Not necessary, but a flap across the shoulder and upper back would help against wetness.
Nitpicking, but otherwise perfect! I will definitely buy another.
TY Ralph!!
hello Ralph.. we (my wife ,daughter, and myself) have had our wool for a over 3 months and we have put our garments thru some good use.. I have owned different brands over the years from filson. ,king of the mountain, woolwich, Pendleton etc. none of them can compare to your product.. my mid weight anorak is as warm if not warmer than my double Mac filson but the big difference is there is no restrictions in movement and huge difference in weight.. just amazing.. I've worn it in 17 degree temp 19 mph wind with 2 under layers no problem... 32 degrees rain sleet again no problem nice and warm and dry!! very well thought out!! my daughter has the full weight and loves it... wore it all winter riding her horse plus 3 days in the Adirondacks in January and she wore it horseback riding ,skiing and quading. temps in the low twentys kept her warm and dry (also doubled as pillow for her on our ride home)... my wife liked our wool so much she ended up getting the ladies blanket coat.. again just fantastic being from ireland she knows what wind, rain and cold temperatures feel like and she says her blanket coat is the best coat she has ever come across just loves it! again wind, rain snow, cold temps no problem also thank you and Debbie for you hospitality when we came to the open house last December we had a great afternoon spending time with you two and your other guests from Canada (and the rose petal syrup was amazing). take care. mike, roseanne and roisin
Just finished testing this on a late November Appalachian Trail section hike. My only upper body garments were an 80% alpaca baselayer and the midweight anorak. Temps ranged from low 20s to low 50s, with cold rain and sustained winds above 15 mph that made for very cold “felt” temperatures.
Due to the entire front of the garment being covered in pockets, you have 3 layers of fabric covering your chest/stomach. This makes for wind resistance that punches well above the garment’s weight. With a pack strapped to your back, your entire torso is pretty much impervious to most winds. I never wanted for a hardshell on this trip, and it was a windy trip.
The combination of warmth, ventilation, and weather resistance let me leave the typical hiker layers at home (fleece/puffy/shell), and I did not regret this decision. If the rains were more serious, I probably would have brought my silpoly poncho. But even after hiking and making camp in six hours of sustained cold rain/wind, I stayed perfectly warm and dry.
The pockets are awesome. Great storage for hat/gloves, and a secure place to keep your water filter from freezing!
The back cinch cord that tightens the fit has an interesting benefit when answering nature’s call. When tightened, it allows you to securely fold the garment up/inwards. In this fashion, you can squat over a cat hole without the tail of the garment getting in the way. Really appreciate not having to remove cold weather gear during those moments.
For reference I am 6'2" ~200lbs with wide shoulders and an athletic build. I got the XL Midweight Anorak in Drab.
XL:
The XL is an excellent fit for me. With only a T-Shirt on the fit is comfortable around the chest, shoulders, and upper back. It is very roomy in the midsection but not sloppy and there are waist cinches to adjust the fit if desired. Worn with layers the fit would be absolutely perfect.
Midweight:
I live around Norfolk/ VA Beach and have been using it in temps from 30-70F with extreme comfort. I would not want the full weight for this type of use.
Drab:
This color is true to the pictures. Sophisticated, beautiful color that's good for the country and city.
Opinion: Every aspect of the garment is of a supreme quality that justifies the super premium price. This is something I will wear for the rest of my life.
My favorite feature is the side zips!
Ralph is the best the guy always answer his phone I don't care what time zone you're in. The product fit exactly the way I expected it to. I talked to Ralph and explained that I was 63 215 lbs. I was going to get an extra large he told me to get a large and he was spot on. The gentleman even gave me a discount that I didn't ask for. Top to bottom hands down the best product I've ever owned as a survivalist and Outdoorsman. Customer service was off the walls I was so pleased. I'm already getting ready to make my next purchase order. Really don't have words to explain how proud I am to have this garment that is so high quality and to have helped a privately owned family business