Arctic Shield Coat

by Buck
(Oklahoma)

A review of an Arctic Shield Coat 9024. Advertised to eliminate the need for layering, have little bulk, be light weight, windproof, waterproof, and comfortable in a wide range of temperatures. That is a lot of promises for any coat to deliver.

I have always been a strong believer in layering. My hunts often start with a temperature in the 30-40 degree range, but warm considerably during the day. On colder days I sometimes wear six layers. I add or loose layers throughout the day; sometimes a hassle.

In January the coat was about 40% off regular price. I've only worn it once for about ten hours on my last deer hunt of the season. It was a very cold day (for Oklahoma), starting in the single digits, staying under 30, but without our normal wind.

My observations were: WARM! I took extra clothing, but only needed long underwear, a long sleeve t-shirt, and this coat. I was very impressed with the warmth. Since the day never warmed up; I can't say for sure how it would preform in warmer weather. My feeling is that it could be unzipped and still be comfortable if a day warms. Very Impressive!

Comfortable, except; the elastic in the wast at the bottom of the coat is strong. Not a "deal breaker" but noticeable. It probably helps to hold in the warmth. The cuffs have hook-n-loop closure so they are adjustable. They also hold in the body's warmth. The hand warmer pockets are ok, and deep enough to carry a little extra in them. They are the only pockets except a small inside pocket which appears to be for a cell phone.

My only disappointment is that the coat is noisy. Not extremely noisy, just more than I thought it would be. I had scratched on it in the store and thought it would be quiet. It makes a little noise when rubbing against a tree limb... I noticed some noise from the lining when turning my head inside the hood. Overall the coat fabric is slightly stiff. A washing may help to soften it up.

Small noises are not much of a problem for me. This day was unusually cold and quiet. With our normal wind, I will seldom even hear these small sounds. The coat is actually much quieter than my leafy-wear rain coat.

Overall I'm pleased. I think I got a great value. I need more time and variety of conditions to be sure.