[Our Workman is Back] PREMIUM Super Water-Repellent Soft Shell Trek Hoodie & Pants Review: A story of a full-scale soft shell that was shocked for the first time in a while with its high performance and low price (the story of developing a full-scale soft shell)

"Isn't Workman "usable" for mountain climbing?" This article was first published on this site in 2016. Although Workman was a brand known only to those around the time, I was really surprised at how much response it had at the time. From there, its popularity exploded just before it even went viral. Today, Workman is expanding into a wide range of fields, including outdoor activities such as mountain climbing and camping, as well as motorcycles, golf, exercise, and everyday wear.

One day, Workman asked for help in developing softshells for mountain climbing.

When I asked him in detail, he was deeply determined that he would be making mountaineering clothing for Workman, which he "really can use on the mountains," and he was happy to cooperate.

First, I wrote and wrote about the functions and elements that I value in Softshell, and wrote about what I've felt from my past knowledge and experience. From ease of movement to windproofing, breathability, quick drying, water repellent, wear resistance, weight, etc. I thought I had made some pretty greedy requests right now, but I immediately replied, "I understand." I didn't know if it meant to include everything, but I could only feel that enthusiasm was never a pose.

After a while we discussed a few features, we finally received a prototype from Workman. The moment I put it on, I was hit hard for the first time in a while. It resembles the fresh surprise I felt when I first wore Workman's AEROSTRETCH Climbing Pants (Spring and Summer Edition). I felt like Workman, who had honestly been a little apart among me, had started again.

This time, I will write a review of Workman's latest soft shell, "PREMIUM Super Water-Repellent Soft Shell Trek Hoodie & Pants," which has been newly introduced to this shock, after actually using the product in the field.

Furthermore, since Outdoor Gearzine cooperated in the planning stage in product development, it has not been involved in any specific specifications. I would like to add an introduction to the items worn in the reviews being provided by the manufacturer, and that the content of the reviews has not been revised according to the manufacturer's requests.

We've actually tested the newly released PREMIUM super water-repellent softshell trek hoodie and pants this fall, using a full-scale climb. He worked more than enough.

Main features of Workman PREMIUM Super Water-Repellent Soft Shell Trek Hoodie & Pants

Workman PREMIUM Super Water-Repellent Soft Shell Trek Hoodie & Pants is an outdoor soft shell that is highly functional and can withstand serious outdoor activities, yet at an amazing price. The double-woven stretch nylon fabric is easy to move, windproof, wear resistance, and UV resistant, and is made with a unique water-repellent technology developed in collaboration with a water-repellent manufacturer, providing super water-repellent properties and high washing durability that allow you to safely take small amounts of rain. The high collar and stretch inner cuffs on the cuffs keep out cold air from outside. The four ventilation zipper pockets, two on the left and right sides, are arranged for ease of use while you are still in use, and the mesh lining provides high ventilation. Even if you open the front zipper fully in hot weather, the snap buttons on the chest prevent it from flapping.

On the other hand, the pants are designed to be easy to use in the field, with double buttons on the front and Velcro that fits a wide range of body types, a total of six large pockets with a clean appearance, an adjustable hem width, and a hook that can be hung over the shoelaces to prevent it from slipping up. This item can be worn as an outerwear during autumn and winter activities, or as a mid-layer during cold seasons or bad weather, making it suitable for a wide range of mountain scenes throughout the year.

Recommended points

• Excellent ease of movement due to three-dimensional cutting and stretchability
• High overall protection including water repellency, wind resistance and wear resistance
• A wide range of convenient pockets, including a zipper chest pocket that does not interfere with your backpack
• Mesh lining pockets and front snap buttons on the chest make it easy to escape from heat and stuffiness
• Wide adjustable waist (pants) that fits securely even slimmer
• Adjustable width hem (pants) for low-cut and mid-cut shoes
• Amazingly low price

Points that interest me

• The zipper pull handles on the left and right pockets are too small and difficult to handle (add a zipper pull on your own to solve the problem)
• The hood is slightly looser (especially Velcro adjusts the slack at the back of the head)
• The feel of the lining seams and the roughness of the lining are a bit noticeable (especially in pants)

Main Specifications and ratings

Detailed review

Excellent ease of movement due to three-dimensional cutting and stretchability

The proper three-dimensional cutting and stretchability made it easy to move around.

The first thing that really struck me about these jackets and pants was the softness of the fabric itself, as well as the three-dimensional cutting that was carefully calculated to not interfere with body movement and moderate stretchability, making it easy to move around and comfortable to wear.

The fabric itself is very supple and there is no creak sound from the rubbing. It is neither loose nor slim, and has a perfect fit along the lines of your body, and it seems to be designed to provide a comfortable fit while actually moving, and to the extent that it is layered. The back hem is made slightly longer to cover the bottom of the jacket, which is often designed for outdoor use, making it difficult to roll up even when leaning over or moving (photo below).

The same goes for the pants, not too thick, but a clean, straight silhouette that is slightly thin, but the knees and crotch are designed in a three-dimensional pattern, so you hardly feel a sense of stiffness even during large movements.

The three-dimensional cutting of the fabric and moderate elasticity make it easy to bend your knees without any discomfort.

Even in the rough chains, I was able to concentrate on the scaffolding and act.

The actual weight is 378g (M size), which is not that light for a softshell, but it is not at all heavy enough to bother you, and is within the acceptable range.

High overall protection including water repellency, wind resistance and wear resistance

Next, I'm surprised at the weather resistance (strength against wind and rain), durability, and other functionality of the fabric itself.

Since it is a soft shell, it is only natural that it protects against the wind, but at the same time it does not interfere with air flow, allowing the stuffiness inside the clothes to escape (by the way, the moisture permeability is 25,000g/m2/24h).

The fabric is not extremely thin and lightweight, so it can be said that it has moderate heat retention. The image is that it's just right to wear it over a base layer while you're in the cold autumn and winter season. It may be a little too hot to wear it in a low mountain during high temperatures, but as far as I've tried it out in the 3,000m-class mountains in August, it's perfect for traversing the Alps, even in summer, for chilly mornings and evenings, or for cold winds on the ridge.

Even in July, alpine mountains such as the Alps are chilly in the mornings and evenings. In such cases, softshells like this can be extremely useful.

Its water-repellent properties, which are also named after the product's name, are so strong that even muddy liquids like cement can be repelled. Plus, it is a uniquely developed super water-repellent finish that lasts a long time, with a "durability of 100 times, water-repellent level 3 after washing." The fabric itself also has a water pressure resistance of 1,000 to 2,000 mm, so it does not cause sudden rain or snow.

The DWR (durable water-repellent treatment) on the surface of the fabric not only repels water, but it is also stain-resistant and oil-repellent, and is resistant to washing.

It also served as a jacket for climbing streams, which is a prerequisite for getting wet.

Furthermore, it has antibacterial properties, making it perfect for UPF50+ and UV protection. It is safe to use in alpine or snowy mountains.

A wide range of convenient pockets, including a zipper chest pocket that does not interfere with your backpack

Two zipper pockets are located on the left and right sides and chest for excellent storage.

The pocket arrangement has also been made a little more detailed, with one zipper pocket on top of the usual left and right zipper hand pockets, with a total of four pockets on the front.

It is common to see outdoor softshell jackets with a zipper pocket on the left chest, or two more centrally located, such as a hard shell for alpine, but it is also quite convenient to have them located at this position on the chest (and a decent size). In addition, the position and angle of this pocket is made with the shoulder harness not interfering with the entrance even when carrying a backpack, allowing items to be put in and taken out even when carrying it on your back, making it a great option for convenience in the mountains (photo below).

Zipper entrance and exit just in a position that does not interfere with the shoulder harness of the backpack (the part surrounded by dotted lines).

However, since the pocket zipper puller is only a regular tab, I was concerned that it was too small to handle while wearing gloves, for example. In my case, I installed my own zipper tabs and other items to make it easier to use (photo below).

At the time of purchase, there was no zipper tab (left of the photo), so it's difficult to grab. Attaching zipper pulls or other items on your own makes it easier to grab even when wearing gloves.

The pockets have a mesh lining, so if you leave the zipper open, it also serves as a ventilation system to effectively drain the air inside the clothing. In addition, in terms of high ventilation, there are snap buttons on the front chest, so even if you open the zipper fully, you can tighten the clothes without flapping, so you can maximize ventilation (photo below).

The snap buttons attached to the chest position are convenient as they do not easily flapping in the wind even when the front zipper is fully opened.

Furthermore, the inside pocket on the left is packable and allows you to store the entire pocket while ignoring it, making it compact and portable (photo below).

It is packable in the inner pocket (left) attached inside, allowing you to roll it up and store it.

The tab attached to the front zipper also serves as a whistle that can be used to signal its existence in the unlikely event (photo below).

A front zipper that can also be used as an emergency whistle.

Not only is the long instep at the sleeves to prevent coldness, but the inner cuffs made of stretch fabric keep out the harsh cold air of autumn and winter (photo below). It might be a little too hot for hot weather.

The cuffs have a design that covers the instep (left) and an inner stretch cuff (right) that makes it easier to prevent cold air.

The high collar that prevents wind and the hood with creases on both sides are also designed with the fitting and a proper cold protection. However, it is slightly looser in terms of fit, and for people with small heads, the brim will hang slightly forward. It's fine if you put on the cap, but it would have been better if there was a Velcro or drawcord on the back of the head that adjusts the size of the head.

A hood that can be adjusted with a drawcord at the neck. Although it generally fits well, the brim is soft and easy to cover the front.

By the way, this hood can be folded like a collar when rolled up and fastened, so you can choose your preferred style.

Wide adjustable waist (pants) that fits securely even slimmer

We've looked at the details about the jacket so far, but I'm impressed by the very detailed specifications of the pants, which are also very detailed for the price.

For example, the waist. There are no belt loops, but instead you can adjust the width using velcro on the left and right sides. This range of adjustments is quite wide, and I was able to fit in a balanced fit with a wide range of body types, from people with thin waists like my own (photo below).

The waist adjustment function is extremely easy to use, with a wide range of adjustments and a strong adhesive Velcro.

The deep rise allows the front to be securely fastened with double buttons (photo below).

Adjustable width hem for low-cut and mid-cut shoes

There is a zipper at the hem, so you can tighten and spread it out, making it suitable for a variety of climbing boots, from low-cut shoes to mid-cut hiking boots. Moreover, the hem can be tightened with a drawstring, so you can also change the fit and silhouette of your ankle (photo below).

You can also tighten it to a neat hem (left) to adjust it to spread it out and cover the entire boot (right). You can also squeeze your mouth with a drawcord.

Moreover, there is a hook on the front, so if you hook it on the string of your shoe, it prevents it from slipping up, making it easier to prevent pebbles and gravel from entering from outside (photo below).

The hooks secured to the instep prevent the hem from slipping up, making it easier to prevent pebbles and sand from entering like a gaitor.

As is typical of Workman, there are plenty of pockets. There is a pocket that can be accessed from above and a zipper pocket that can be accessed from the sides, and it is deep enough to hold quite a lot of things (photo below). There are also two pockets at the rear, which is very numerically perfect.

It looks neat, but both the left and right have hand pockets (left) that allow you to take it in and out from the top, and a zipper cargo pocket (right) that allows you to take it in and out from the side, so there is plenty of storage space.

Summary: A jacket and pants for autumn and winter activities that are perfect for mountain climbing, with a high performance that is hard to imagine from the price.

All of the basic functions required of a soft shell have performance above the deadline, and even delivers amazing water repellency and a shocking price of less than 3,000 yen, the PREMIUM Super Water Repellent Soft Shell Trek Hoodie & Pants, which are sure to be useful for a wide range of uses throughout the year in outdoor environments where the temperature is not too high, such as mountaineering in spring and autumn, low mountains in winter, and high mountains in summer.

In the past few years, I personally have been making lighter things than camping, even when it comes to outdoor activities, but I can confidently say that this one piece is wonderful and cost-effective enough to make it even for serious mountaineers. Of course, there are some aspects that cannot compete with the high-end softshells of mountain specialty brands, such as the quality of the sewing, the finest design of each part, and the design. However, it is incredibly unreasonable to look for this at this price, and in terms of comparisons in this price range, there is no one that compares to this model.

This is certainly the perfect piece for those who want to get a quick and affordable action jacket that can be easily worn in various situations in the mountains, but even if you're in time for the time being, adding one to your wardrobe might be useful in an unexpected place. Workman is also very helpful in being able to interact with you in that way.

Details and purchase of "PREMIUM Super Water-Repellent Soft Shell Trek Hoodie & Pants"

It appears that they will be released in stores from September onwards, but please check the official online store

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