The Haglöfs Roc Spire Jacket is a hardshell rain jacket and a Gore-Tex membrane makes it breathable and waterproof. Read the review!
The Haglöfs Roc Spire Jacket is made of a 3-layer Gore-Tex laminate with a combination of a 30D and a 70D outer fabric. The latter is on the wear-intensive areas but the majority is the thinner 30D fabric, which makes the jacket very flexible. The fabric of this jacket makes little noise. If you want to know more about how a hardshell can be waterproof and breathable at the same time, read the Expert Advice article I wrote about hardshells.
Details, size and weight
2 pockets with waterproof zipper on the chest / abdomen, 1 small waterproof pocket with zipper on the left upper arm, 1 stretch inner pocket on the left that is divided into a part with zipper and one without, cuffs with Velcro closure, pit zips with two-way zippers, hood with flap, two way zipper front closure. A Recco reflector is incorporated in the Haglöfs Roc Spire Jacket. I measured the Haglöfs Roc Spire Jacket at 451.7 grams on my scale. Haglöfs specified 500 grams for a mens size L and 450 grams for a ladies size M.
Fit
The Haglöfs Roc Spire Jacket has a sporty to regular fit. Under the jacket there is still room for a thermal layer or fleece, but too many layers do not fit. The front is shorter than the back. This means that I don’t have too many folds when bending over and my lower back remains protected. The back is not long enough to protect my buttocks when I sit in wet grass. The arms are long and my wrists remain nicely protected when fully extended. The jacket has a nice pre-shaped fit.
Pockets
The Haglöfs Roc Spire Jacket has two pockets with waterproof zippers mid-chest / abdomen. The pockets are of reasonable size and a folded topographic map just fits. The zippers of the pockets are too stiff to use with one hand. The slanted zipper on the left upper arm runs smoothly. The pocket is useful for a credit card, some small money or a ski pass. The outer pockets are fine to use in combination with a backpack. On the inside there is a good inner pocket on the left. This pocket has two parts: one with a zipper and another compartment where I can put in something from above. Both are spacious enough for a large smartphone. All zippers on the jacket have good pull tabs that can also be used with gloves.
In practice
The Haglöfs Roc Spire Jacket is made of a 3-layer Gore-Tex laminate with a combination of a 30D and a 70D outer fabric. The latter is on the wear-intensive areas such as shoulders, above the back, hips and inner wrists (light blue parts in the photo). The majority ( dark blue ) is the thinner 30D fabric, which makes the jacket very flexible. It is also noticeable that the fabric makes little noise. In the construction Haglöfs has taken into account the carrying of a backpack: the shoulders and upper back are free from vulnerable seams. The inside of the fabric also feels good on bare skin, so wearing only a T-shirt is not a problem in warmer weather.
The jacket has a two-way front closure so I can also unzip it from below. This is an advantage if I want to use a climbing harness, for example. Going to the toilet is also easy because I can unzip the jacket and do not have to take it off completely or lift it up. A press stud at the bottom of the jacket prevents unintentional opening of the zipper. Around the hips, the Haglöfs Roc Spire Jacket has a good drawstring for the necessary closure. The cuffs are closed with Velcro, the hooks of which are skin and fabric friendly. In case of misplacement, there is no loop in the fabric. The cuffs are slightly symmetrical, which protects the outside of my hand and wrist. The pit zips with two-way zippers are rather small to provide a lot of extra ventilation.
The pit zips with two-way zippers are rather small. 
The cuffs are closed with Velcro, the hooks of which are skin and fabric friendly.
The hood and collar merge with the Roc Spire. The collar is comfortable and high and closes nicely even without the hood. On the chin side, the front zipper is stored in a zipper garage, so it does not touch my chin. The inside of the collar is soft. The hood and collar have three different cords to adjust it. It doesn’t take much to get a perfect occlusion. The hood moves well with my head, so I always have good visibility. The peak has a large, wide reinforcement so that my eyes are well protected from rain. The peak of the hood is an absolute top tip for everyone that wears spectacles. Because of the peak, wearing a climbing helmet over the hood is not an option, but I can wear the helmet underneath.
The hood has a perfect cord to tie it around the head. 
The peak of the hood is an absolute top tip for everyone that wears spectacles.
Haglöfs Roc Spire Jacket Sustainability
Haglöfs usually gives a lot of information about the sustainability of their products. However, the opposite is true with the Haglöfs Roc Spire Jacket; they only state that the product is Bluesign certified. I miss information about which DWR coating is used. Inquiry shows that it is a DWR that contains PFC’s. Haglöfs is a member of the Fair Wear Foundation and the EOCA.
Waterproof, breathable and water-repellent
It is a pity that Haglöfs does not mention the water-repellent coating on the jacket, but one thing is certain: it is solid. After three washes, the DWR function is still like new. The jacket is 100% waterproof and the same applies to the pockets. The breathability is also excellent. On warmer days the jacket also works well, but the short ‘pit zips’ are on my side and not under my armpits, so there is less ventilation than average. Even though they are short, I can access the pockets of my midlayer or fleece underneath the jacket. The hood and especially the flap deserves to be followed.
The DWR-coating on the Haglöfs Roc Spire Jacket has no issues with water when new… 
…and not after three washes.
Care instructions
Wash at 40 °C on a normal program with normal detergent. Tumble dry at a low temperature. Iron or tumble dry to reactivate the water-repellent layer.
Verdict
The Haglöfs Roc Spire Jacket is made of a smart fabric combination: smart in the sense that the wear-sensitive parts are made of a stronger fabric while the other parts are more flexible. The soft interior is comfortable, so I can also use the jacket with only a T-shirt. The fact that it makes little noise is very pleasant for bird watchers, for example. The hood is fine and the peak fantastic for people who wear glasses. A climbing helmet fits under the hood. The pockets are easily accessible with a backpack. Jacket and pockets turned out to be waterproof. The information about the sustainability of this jacket needs to be improved. The price of € 450,- is fine. I rate the Haglöfs Roc Spire Jacket at 8,5 out of 10 points.
Information
- Price: € 450
- Weight: Men (S) measured 451.7 gr (500 gr specified L), women specified 450 gr (M)
- Sizes: Men XS-XXL, ladies XXS-XXL
- Material: Gore-Tex 30D & Gore-Tex 70D, 100% polyamide
- Membrane: Gore-Tex, PTFE
- Construction: 3-layer laminate
- Country of origin: China
