Assistant Buyer Martha lets you know what she thinks of this retro fleece from Berghaus
Berghaus; first founded in 1966 in the North East of England, have built their brand around the belief that the “best of life is lived outdoors”. With a focus on ensuring that they provide products that make the outdoors accessible and enjoyable for everyone, no matter what they are doing from dog walks to summiting mountains. The ‘Dean Street’ collection from Berghaus, named after Newcastle’s Dean Street where the brand first started, is based on adaptations to the most iconic designs drawing inspiration from 90’s dance culture and street style. Featuring bright colours and vibrant patterns combined with updated fabrics, making these perfect for exploring both the outdoors and the streets.
One product from the Dean Street range is the Berghaus Tramantana 91 Fleece Jacket, a soft unisex fleece, perfect for cold days walking in the hills or wrapping up warm in the city. I have been lucky enough to have the opportunity to test the Tramantana and have had the chance to put it through its paces in the chilly late summer evenings and the crisp Autumnal days so far for a range of activities.
The Tramantana 91 Fleece Jacket is an oversized and soft fleece, drawing inspiration from the 90s rave era; it features three colour contrast panels with a fun and brightly coloured Aztec trim. The baggy fit of the fleece emulates the original Berghaus style and brings it to the present trends. A full-length zip ensures that the fleece is versatile in a range of temperatures and two large, secure zipped pockets are ideal for storing valuables as well as keeping your hands warm!
The fleece features comfortable stretch cuffs and a thick hem, help to keep the drafts out and alongside the high neck ensures that any bitter breeze is kept at bay. The backstand-protected full length front zip provides further wind penetration prevention and helps to guarantee that you stay warm on even the coldest windy day.
When I first tried on the fleece, I was immediately impressed by the softness of the material and how comfortable it felt against the skin. The fleece is a unisex product and is designed to be baggy, so I went with a size small, the sizing is very generous and I could have probably got away with the extra small size which is worth bearing in mind. However, I do like an oversized fit and enjoy being able to comfortably accommodate layers underneath for colder days.
I found the length of the fleece to be perfect, long enough to keep your upper body warm with the stretch hem sitting securely on my hips, but not too long to feel swamped in the jacket. The Aztec trim on the body of the fleece and the collar, along with the red coloured zip pulls contrast well with the three darker coloured panels and I think give the fleece a fun look without making it difficult to wear in an everyday setting. Since I received the fleece in late summer, I have had the chance to test it out in a variety of settings and conditions – from late night summer festival evenings, to daily dog walks and out in my campervan on a chilly evening.
It was the ideal outer layer when I was at Shambala festival in the late summer, and was perfect to keep my warm and cosy late at night as well as keeping me suitably colourful and bright for the festival! Whilst out in my campervan on the weekends, it has become my go-to fleece, it fits easily and comfortably over a hoody or a lighter weight mid layer and has kept me suitably warm whilst sat round a campfire in the evening or enjoying an early morning coffee whilst enjoying a nice view.
As someone who suffers from cold hands, I particularly love the deep side pockets, which not only keep my hands nice and toasty but also zip up to keep valuables safe and secure when out walking the dogs.
Over all I think the Berghaus Tramantana 91 Fleece Jacket is not only an incredibly practical and warm outer layer fleece, it is also very versatile for a variety of activities, both on outdoor adventures and to keep the cold out (and look stylish!) in an urban setting. In the short time I have owned this fleece I have received many compliments and have already got a lot of use out of it, I am certainly looking forward to continuing to wrap up warm in it throughout the winter.
