Swedteam Sweater & Jacket

Swedteam are a relatively unfamiliar name here in the UK but you can expect to see a whole lot more of them, and this, as we shall see, is a good thing!

Whippet Fleece Sweater

At first sight, this is not exactly a stand-out item in the Swedteam range. After all, everyone does a quarter-zip pullover with a high collar, right? And several of the alternatives have pockets too, which the Whippet doesn’t.

In fact, I’ve already got a couple of examples of the type in my wardrobe. But that’s where they’re staying for now, as I’ve essentially been living in the Swedteam sweater since I first tried it on. Why? Basically, because it’s super-light, very warm, and so soft and supple that you can wear several layers over the top if needed, without losing mobility or comfort. The collar, cuffs and hem have a ribbed, knitted look, but the body of the sweater is made from a fleece material whose special anti-pilling treatment actually seems to work. The zip, meanwhile, is metal, with a fabric tag extension in Swedteam’s trademark black, green and white to make it easier to pull, even with gloves on. It’s only available in one colour, a dark olive (i.e. greenish-brown), but this suits most settings just fine. And with sellers offering the Whippet for as little as £25 online, this really is a must-have item.

The only thing to watch out for is sizing. At 5’ 10’ with a 40” chest, I take a “Medium” in almost everything, but the “Large” Whippet sweater sent out fits perfectly. On the other hand, every other Swedteam item in “Large” I tried ranged from “a-bit-too-big” to “massively-oversized”. It’s not uncommon to find sizing variation between different manufacturers, but it is unusual to find inconsistent sizing like this within a single range.

The Borgvik Jacket

This practical jacket comes in dark olive only, and shows an unusual but attractive knitted texture, though the fibres are tight and tough, giving it a rugged feel. In between this knitted outer layer and the black fleece lining, “Covertex” and “Windbreaker” membranes ensure the jacket is both water- and windproof.  It’s worth noting though that the seams are not taped, so you may experience some localised seepage if you’re caught out in a proper downpour, and that the fleece lining, though comfortable, is not particularly warm. All this means that, despite its knitted finish, the Borgvik is best regarded as a kind of “soft-shell-plus” layer rather than as a primary insulating or waterproof jacket.

Taken as such it doesn’t disappoint since it shows plenty of other good features too. Firstly, there are lots of pockets, six in all: two horizontal upper breast pockets; two vertical breast pockets; and two hand-warmer pockets, all with good metal zip closures to keep anything you put in them nice and secure. Meanwhile, a matching full-length, double-ended zip and a shock cord fastener in the hem, with quick adjustment toggles on each side, make it easy to get the right amount of ventilation/insulation, whilst a long tail at the back prevents drafts when you’re sitting or bending forward. The fabric of the jacket has a degree of stretch in it too, so both the collar and cuffs have thoughtfully been finished with black elastic binding to provide a flexible yet draft-free fit.

All the zips are equipped with easy-pull fabric tabs in olive and black, embroidered in white with the Swedteam name and the legend “since 1919”. There’s also a rubber tag with the Swedteam moose-head logo sewn in above the hem just left of the main zip, and a fabric label with a “Windbreaker” logo under the left upper breast pocket. The branding isn’t overly obtrusive, however, though the label I like best is the one on the inside that says “machine wash at 40 degrees”.

Had I not been testing it, I doubt I’d have picked the Borgvik jacket, but I’m very glad I’ve tried it as it has proved practical and effective both as a top layer for general jobs and as a mid-layer under a camouflage outfit. All in all, this well-designed and sturdily constructed jacket is well worth the asking price of around £95.

For more information on stockists of Swedteam clothing, contact Garlands on tel. 01827 383300 or visit www.garlands.uk.com