TREKKING
Product 2021
Woman, Man
This spring, the Quechua brand is revisiting its FH500 jacket model, which is getting a makeover. We tested it hiking, one trip was in altitude with pretty bad weather conditions, to really see how it would stand up. It is initially designed for fast hiking.
First observation: you don’t go unnoticed with its bright green color, that’s a bit glaring to your eyes but pretty nice when worn. It stands out from the crowd. Its fitted design, with a simple membrane without any lining, makes it a “technical” jacket that hugs the body in the action, it isn’t too big, especially if wearing a harness. Ergonomically designed for activity with enough room underneath to wear a polar fleece or thin down jacket.
Then the Quechua FH500 is comfortable. The fabric’s texture is pleasant and soft, and its 190g weight for size M, is a good point to argue. We feel that it has been designed for maximum efficiency with a minimum of frills, the design is minimalist. There is only one small chest pocket, which is also left-handed, the zip turned to the left so … not that we have anything against left-handed people! There’s no inside, or central pockets.
The collar rises very high above the chin, perfect for protection, and it is well adjusted. The hood envelopes well although a little small. It doesn’t go forward enough and there’s no drawstring. As soon as you have a gust of head-on wind it enters directly. The visor lacks stiffness to prevent it “collapsing” under the weight of the rain.
There’s no adjustment system at the cuffs and base of the jacket, but simple elastics that do the job well. In terms of waterproofing, the Quechua FH500 was subjected to almost continuous light rain for two hours of walking. The 2.5-layer membrane, seams and waterproof zip held up perfectly. In the end, the Zip started to tire, soaked in the moisture that came through. It was windy, the jacket, dry at first and then wet, kept the gusts out well. The only real problem is the hood’s lack of adjustment letting the wind inside.
In terms of breathability, two zips under the arms give you effective ventilation, so you don’t bathe in your own sweat. These Zips are not directly under the armpits, a little forward and at an angle, giving easy access, but you can quite easily confuse them with pockets, and inadvertently, if you’re tired, imagine them as pockets and slide your phone, keys, or credit card inside, a little safety mesh would have been a good idea.
In the hiking parts where we were climbing, we scraped it deliberately against the rocky parts and had no problems whatsoever: touch as old boots! You’d need to see how it behaves over time, and of course watch out for tears, the membrane is nevertheless very thin, so the real danger for this type of jacket is more branches that stick out, or sharp gear n backpack. What can you say about the price? Absolutely nothing – very attractive!
The Quechua FH500 is a jacket designed for hiking but very versatile for all outdoor activities, as a jacket you chuck in your backpack for any sports, climbing, for mountain biking and even urban use (if you are daring enough to wear the flashy color in the city). Despite a few minor flaws, its minimalism, ergonomics, very light weight, and incredible value for money, make this a superb jacket in its category.
We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:
Receive your answers by mail. Do you have a particular question concerning the design, use, durability or other about a tested product? We will answer your question personally.
