Finisterre Firecrest Jacket Review: Packable, Versatile, Sustainable

I got introduced to Finisterre through the brand’s jackets. I was drawn in to try Finisterre’s outerwear via the cool photos on the website and the simple fact that the brand is a certified B Corp with a clear commitment to sustainability.

The Firecrest jacket is a lightweight jacket that has a quilted look. It can fold up small for travel, and it provides substantial insulation against wind and cooler temperatures.

I tested it out on a trip to San Francisco (where it’s always kind of chilly). In this review, learn about the fit, the material makeup of it, the benefits of its features and if I think it’s generally worth it.

Let’s go!

Quick takeaway summary

• I tried out the Firecrest jacket on a trip to California for temperatures in the 50s-60s. The light insulation worked out well for this. SF weather is hot and cold, and when the sun was out (and it was hot), the jacket didn’t overheat me.
• This jacket has an elevated look and a fitted feel. It’s unique, so you’ll stand out wearing this vs. other jackets on the market.
• Worth the price? It’s up to you, but I’ll let you know what I think based on my experience and testing of it, both in everyday use and during travel.
• I feel good knowing that Finisterre is a company committed to environmental impact, and I’ll tell you about how that works, below.
• I’ll tell you how to get one (specific to US and Canadian customers, as Finisterre is a UK brand).

My experience wearing the Firecrest jacket

Learn some of the specifics about how I wore this jacket and situations where I think it does well.

Where I wore it

When I find a jacket, I kind of wear it all the time — like everyday, usually. And maybe I’m a little weird, but even on super cold days, I’ll wear a thin jacket.

I only wear a big jacket if I’m going to be outside for a long period of time. It doesn’t make sense to wear a big jacket in a warm car and walk into a warm store wearing a huge jacket. That’s my opinion.

Even when I lived in NYC, a big jacket was not my favorite because I would be sweating (literally, not kidding) in the subway on the way to work.

I say all of this because I wore the Finisterre Firecrest jacket during my trip to SF, 90% of the time I was there. I woke up, put it on and took it off when I went to bed. It was cozy and comfortable being out with temperatures in the 50s and 60s. It was even comfortable having it on when I was inside.

I took it off if I was walking around in the sun, because I started to overheat and didn’t really need another layer at that time.

Taking it off was fine because stashing it in my bag and tote worked great. Read more below about the general packability.

Packability

I’d say this is a packable jacket, but only because it’s not bulky, and it can be packed down. There are no specific features for packing the Firecrest jacket into a pocket or a sling like my Western Rise Meta Shell. There’s no dedicated packing sleeve that you can stash the Firecrest jacket away in.

I wore this jacket as my primary layer for the SF trip and I often packed it away in my Public Rec Weekender carry-on or day bag with no problems. You can kind of stuff the Firecrest jacket in a bag, and take it out a few hours layer — it looks brand new.

You don’t have to worry about it wrinkling or about anything bad happening to the jacket when it’s crinkled up in a backpack.

To pack it, if you want to optimize space, roll in the sleeve toward the main torso. Fold the jacket (”hotdog style”), then roll up (”hamburger style”). That’s my recommendation. You can fold or stuff this jacket anywhere, and I’m sure it will be fine.

“Layerability”

Because the Firecrest jacket is not so bulky and it’s one of the thinner quilted jackets I’ve owned, I can layer it under raincoats (ones that run a little big) or under larger winter coats. I think my main intended use of the Firecrest jacket is for layering under other specialized jackets, though.

A lot of my raincoats have no insulation, and I need to wear them in the winter. Having the Firecrest jacket as a shell layer helps fend off lower temperatures, like the ones I experienced after night fell in San Francisco.

I wore this jacket on the plane (planes can get chilly). It’s thin, so it didn’t feel like a huge puffer jacket that got in the way. It’s going to be one of my must-have accessories for flying.

If I was a snowboarder or skier, I’d probably use this jacket as a base layer and have something a bit more water-repellent as the outer layer.

And again, because I usually run pretty warm, the only time that I’d want to layer this with another jacket is if I’m waiting outside and it’s cold — like 0 degrees (F) or lower (like if I were at a cold football game or watching a parade outside).

Look and feel

I think this coat has a trim look and feel to it. It’s a classic, with the quilted style, even though it’s not a down jacket.

The fit

I got a good fit with the Firecrest Jacket by getting a Medium. Ironically, I tried the Finisterre Rainbird Jacket in a Medium also, and it ran big. Maybe it’s that the Firecrest jacket runs a little small, but I found it to be pretty true to size.

As I’m about 5’8”-5’9”, seeing the models on the Finisterre website who were around the same height worked nicely for determining how to size. I’d encourage you to visit the Finisterre site and check out all of the photos if you’re that rather-standard size. Or, you can see the photos of me in the jacket, but I’m no model!

Note: I’m sometimes a size Small in a few brands when it comes to jackets, and it’s impossible for me to know which size to order unless I’m using a brand’s size chart with chest, arm length and measurements.

Helpful features

As you can see in this photo, there are cool and handy zipper pockets on each side, next to the hand pockets. These are god for stashing valuables on a travel day. I’m a big fan of zipper pockets that stay hidden.

The care plan

With jackets, unless you’re rolling around in the ground, you probably don’t need to wash them much. Or if you really want to, you can wash them once or twice in a season. I’ll be honest in saying that I almost never wash any jackets. Yikes!

The Finisterre website says that you can wash the Firecrest Jacket in warm water on the delicate cycle. Don’t try any funny business and use bleach or fabric softener. Don’t dry clean it, either.

Read the Finisterre jacket care plan for even more information. I think this is helpful.

Worth the price tag?

At the current price, I think the Firecrest Jacket is a bit more than other jackets of its type. I have a very lightweight quilted-style jacket from the North Face and I got it on sale at the end of season for tons less — like $99.

In 2013, I actually bought a similar Banana Republic jacket for a lot more, even back then! I think I got ripped off, now that I think about it.

I like to think about expensive clothing items as more of an investment. You can spread the cost of clothes across multiple years, and multiple wears. So at the end of the product’s life, it doesn’t seem as expensive.

That Banana Republic jacket lasted so long, for me. And even if I spent $300 on it, it’s lasted well over 10 years.

My reco: check the price on the Firecrest and don’t over-extend yourself in buying something that you cannot afford, ever!

What to know about Finisterre & sustainability

With Finisterre, the insulation and fabric in their products are all recycled materials. The company does not use down, so the products are technically “vegan.”

Carbon emissions are important to Finisterre and their sustainability credibility, so their jackets are often shipped by land and sea to minimize carbon-intensive trips. Wow!

The packaging on Finisterre products is sustainable and can be broken down by water. I noticed this when I got my jackets in a big crinkly paper bag in the mail. It was unique, and it was different.

It’s not like the packaging from Finisterre shipments will dissolve on your door step if left out in the rain, but if it’s floating in the ocean for a few weeks, it should break down more than other non-soluble materials like plastics (yuck).

How to get one

If you live in the US like I do, you probably won’t care that Finisterre has around 20 brick-and-mortar stores in the UK. Well, you could visit one if you’re a huge fan and if you’re on vacation in England.

But for most of us, we care if Finisterre ships to the US, and the good news is that they do. The best news is that Finisterre even ships to the US for FREE, for orders over $100 (and most things from Finisterre are $100+).

So, load up your cart and shop worry-free that this British brand will ship a jacket internationally, right to you, anywhere in the US and Canada.

Versions for women

Shopping for a woman in your life? Becca figured out that the “women’s version” of the Firecrest Jacket is the women’s Lapwing Jacket, which she assesses in her Finisterre women’s line review.