The Vaude Croz 3L Jacket III is a rain jacket that uses an environmentally friendly Ceplex Green membrane to make it breathable and waterproof. Read the review!
The Vaude Croz 3L Jacket III is a rain jacket or hardshell that uses an environmentally friendly Ceplex Green membrane to make it breathable and waterproof. The 3-layer laminate construction makes the jacket suitable for backpacking and alpine activities. 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 large pockets with zippers at the level of the chest / abdomen, cuffs with velcro, a one-way front zipper, 2 pitzips and a hood with a flap. I measured the Vaude Croz 3L Jacket III at 455,6 grams on my scale. Vaude specified 436 grams for a men’s size M and 387 grams for a ladies’ size M.
Fit
The Vaude Croz 3L Jacket III has a somewhat special fit: it is quite tight at the waist but there is a lot of space on the belly side and the sleeves are also very spacious. It protects your back when bending but the large amount of material at the front creates many folds. Under the jacket there is room for an insulating intermediate layer. The arms are very long and the wrists remain protected when extended.
Pockets
On the front are two spacious pockets halfway the chest / abdomen. Both have a waterproof zipper. Very beautiful is the oblique flap that covers the zippers entirely at the top and opens towards the bottom. This makes it easy to reach the pockets. In the pockets fits a topographic map easily and even a compact 10 x 24 binoculars fits. The pockets are great to use with a backpack. However, they run so deep that the lower part falls under the hip belt. The pockets have good pulling tabs: great with gloves or cold hands. I miss an inner pocket for a smartphone .
In practice
The Vaude Croz 3L Jacket III is made of polyamide that is nice and supple but robust. The jacket gives a lot of freedom of movement and is therefore also suitable for climbing. The excessive amount of fabric on the belly / chest side is not so beautiful, but it is practical if you are a bit bigger or if you want to stuff the pockets with a lot of stuff. The fabric has a comfortable degree of stretch.
The fact that the jacket is very long turns out to be pleasant in combination with a backpack or a climbing harness. The jacket does not have the tendency to crawl up from under the hip belt or the harness. It is a pity that the front closure is a one- way zipper. I will have to take a lot off when I have to go to the toilet. The zipper has a good pull tab that can be used with cold hands and gloves. Behind the waterproof zipper is a good draft flap that even has a water barrier. I rarely see that in waterproof jackets.
At the bottom, the Vaude Croz 3L Jacket III has a drawstring to pull it around the hips. Not very user friendly are the toggles on the cord; they are difficult to find and with cold hands and / or gloves they are not easy to use to loosen the cord. With the cuffs it is a completely different story: the Velcro is fine and the ergonomic cut cuffs close perfectly. The hooks of the Velcro do not damage the fabric if I accidentally hit the fabric next to it.
The collar is high and fits well over the chin. Positive is that the zipper is stored in a zipper garage, but I miss soft material on the inside of the collar. It is also striking that the fabric is rather tight around my throat and presses against my Adam’s apple. I often tended to open the zipper slightly. With the hood on I wasn’t bothered by this. The hood has only one drawstring to tighten it around the head. With this cord I also pull the hood and collar together. A simple method that works well in practice. It is a pity that – again – the toggle on the back of the head is difficult to operate if I want to loosen the cord. The flap itself is on the flexible side and is pressed against my forehead in high winds. A climbing helmet must be worn over the hood, it does not fit underneath.
Waterproof, breathable and water-repellent
The breathable and waterproof Ceplex Green has proven to be waterproof and breathable in practice. The long two-way ventilation zips under the armpits perform well in warmer weather. The zippers with good pull tabs also allow me to access the pockets of my fleece that I may wear under the jacket in colder weather. Vaude proves that a PFC-free DWR layer is possible. After three washes and ironing – but without re-impregnation – it is still like new.
The Vaude Croz 3L Jacket III DWR-coating when new. 
The Vaude Croz 3L Jacket III DWR-coating after three washes: still super water repellant.
Vaude Croz 3L Jacket III Sustainability
I expect sustainable products from Vaude and the Croz 3L Jacket III is doing well. It is made according to the VAUDE Green Shape standard: with the use of sustainable materials. The Ceplex Green PU membrane is 25% made from coffee and reusable new materials. Like the DWR coating, the membrane is PFC free. Vaude is a member of the Fair Wear Foundation and has Grüner Knopf status.
Care instructions
Wash at 30 °C on a normal program with regular detergent. But the advice is washing with Nikwax Tech Wash. Iron or put it in the dryer on a low temperature to regenerate the DWR layer. Renew water-repellent with Nikwax TX Direct.
Verdict
The Vaude Croz 3L Jacket III is a good choice if you are looking for a sustainable hardshell. The fit on the belly side on the spacious side. The sleeves are long so that I do not get exposed wrists at a via ferrata. The stretch of the material is also nice. The closure at the bottom and that of the hood is fine. However, I find the toggles of the cords not very user friendly. The flap of the hood is too flexible with wind. I think that not having an inner pocket is a pity. The jacket is waterproof and a large bonus point is the PFC-free DWR layer and Vaude’s focus on sustainable production. The price of € 320,00is decent and therefor I rate the Vaude Croz 3L Jacket III at 8,2 out of 10 points.
Information
- Price: € 320,00
- Weight: Men (S) measured 455.6 gr (436 gr specified M) , Women 387 (M)
- Sizes: Men S- XXL, women 34-42
- Material: 100 % polyamide
- Membrane: Ceplex Green, 100% polyurethane
- Construction: 3-layer laminate
- Country of origin: Vietnam
