Last year, I ran across the FORLOH BTM Pant, and it definitely delivered. Sometime this summer, FORLOH released the BTM Jacket, made from the same Cotton/Nylon Wax Ripstop fabric. I ordered one in hopes that it would serve as an armor-tough shell, offering better-than-average wind and water resistance.
FORLOH BTM Jacket
Notable Details
- 100% fully sourced and made in the USA
- BTM Wax Ripstop fabric throughout; crafted from 50/50 cotton/type 66 nylon spun yarn
- YKK AquaGuard full-length zipper with button-over weather flap
- YKK zippered hand pockets and YKK zippered vertical chest pockets
- Hip length for complete coverage and an elastic draw cord to cinch up the bottom hem
- Visored hood with elastic draw strings
- Snap adjustable wrist closures
- Forloh’s Lifetime Warranty and Repair
- Re-waxable with Forloh’s Weatherproofing Wax Bar (or any wax)
- My 2XL weighed about 20.5 ounces after a handful of months
- Available in gray, black, or Forloh camo patterns Exposed, Marshfield, and Deep Cover
FORLOH BTM Jacket Layout
The vertical chest pockets are large enough to stash a typical wallet, a set of keys, an InReach mini, or a phone. While my wife’s Samsung Galaxy would fit easily in either chest pocket, my Google Pixel XL (3.5” x 7”) would not.
The mesh interior of the pocket measures about 6” x 6” of functional space. I like that it is mesh-lined to keep a phone battery warm.
The two zippered handwarmer pockets are much larger at 11” H x 9” W and are lined with BTM Wax Ripstop material. This means that one can put a wet beanie or gloves within, and not make their clothing underneath the BTM Jacket wet.
The sliders on all four zippered pockets have corded pulls, making them easy to use with gloves or cold hands. On the interior of the jacket are vertical drop pockets created by the zippered hand pockets. Although I believe these drop pockets are unintentional, they are the perfect place for mittens and a balaclava to stay warm and dry when not being worn.
Functionality
The FORLOH BTM Jacket is not insulated or lined. In talking with FORLOH about its use case, I learned it is meant to be worn with a down jacket underneath. This intent to be worn over insulation also drives the BTM Jacket’s (see The Fit section below). I found the BTM Jacket to be a good shell over down when glassing for deer and elk. The wind resistance was better than I expected; snow and light rain rolled right off the Wax Ripstop BTM material. In big game season, I did not pack it around when hiking out to glass, but it was perfect for at and near the truck glassing, keeping my ultralight wind shirt out of the rain/snow.
As an upland jacket, my primary intention in getting the BTM Jacket was to see how it would perform, and it did. Running into thistle, weeds, and barbed wire didn’t faze the BTM Ripstop, and it has kept me dry in sleety drizzle so far this year. The material also breathes better than expected, and I don’t find myself overheating when on long walks behind the dog.
The Fit
I am about a 49” chest and 35” sleeve, actual measurements; properly described as a Dad bod (has been) athletic. I would typically order 2XL in tops, but the FORLOH Sizing Chart suggests I should order a size Large. I split the difference and originally ordered an XL.
Standing upright and stationary, it seemed like a good fit, but moving my arms showed it was way too tight across the back. That also translated to reduced motion in the shoulders and the ability to move my arms.
I ordered a 2XL, using FORLOH’s headache-free exchange process. It’s better but not great. My mobility was limited when moving my shoulders, and the fit seemed much more “chore jacket” than athletic hunter. Keep in mind, the BTM Ripstop fabric has zero stretch. This less-than-stellar fit FOR ME is why I didn’t take the BTM Jacket on big game hikes. In the upland fields, my vest has enough weight in it that I can move and tuck the jacket around for better mobility, and keep it where I want with the weight of the vest straps.
My Use Case Going Forward
FOR ME, the fit of the BTM Jacket drives its use, and in my eyes, it is the perfect “chore jacket”. Around camp, at the range, working in the garage in the winter, any place you need a rugged jacket that sheds liquid easily and protects layers underneath is what I have in mind.
As a big game jacket, the fit limits my usage to just around the truck in more stationary roles, protecting underlayers. As a later-season pheasant hunting jacket, there is a lot of merit for the BTM Jacket for the same reasons above, but in the Sharptail hills or Chukar slopes, the fit FOR ME will keep it at home. I think that the BTM Ripstop cotton/nylon blend has a lot of potential, and the BTM Jacket is a good start in FORLOH’s BTM collection. I hope to see a more athletic version of it in the future. In the meantime, this one will get a bit of rooster blood on it this pheasant season.
Comment or ask Kyle questions here.
Don’t miss our other clothing reviews.
