Finding clothes that can brighten up a rainy day isn’t an easy task. So – amidst an endless array of earthen-hued waterproofs – Dikrikson’s bright yellow Varja jacket caught my eye. But I was just as interested in whether it lived up to its reputation: ‘100 per cent waterproof’ is, after all, quite a big claim.
After wearing the jacket across several day hikes, thru-hikes and city breaks in Japan, during typhoon season, I can confidently say I put it to the test.
The bottom line? It doesn’t disappoint. Through several storms, not a drop of water made it through.
The outer pockets are deep and well protected, with sleek zip shields that don’t compromise on water-tightness. There’s also an inner pocket for your valuables, though with only a Velcro fastener here it feels less secure. Instead, it functions as a great map holder if you’re carrying paper you don’t want to get wet.
I hate not being aware of my surroundings, and will often take down my hood even in the heaviest rain to avoid hearing the relentless friction of fabric and muffled sounds. But the Varja’s hood is spacious, with its moulded peak and the chin guard doing a lot of the heavy lifting without getting in the way.
And it has a great story. Over 100 years ago, husband-and-wife team Julius and Hanna Dikrikson committed to making sturdy, oil-based gear to protect fishermen from harsh conditions in their native Sweden.
I felt the jacket’s yellow hues (though, admittedly, slightly greener than the online image suggests) harken back to that past. But now, there’s a future-focused twist: PFC-free water protection and low-carbon polyamide fabric.
The Varja’s only problem is its breathability. It’s certainly an impressive fortress against water, but that seems to work both ways – locking in sweat from the inside. In hot and humid conditions it’s stifling, and with no vents there’s no way of airing it out.
The Varja, then, is best suited to the colder months. Now armed with mine, I am, for basically the first time ever, excited for a wet winter’s day in England.
