The Travel Shell Parka was the very first Battenwear item ever made and stands for everything we set out to accomplish when we launched the brand.
It is perfect for hiking and stylish enough to wear to a bar after the hike (meaning one less jacket to pack for your next trip!). The excellent construction helps protect from the weather and allows for greater range of movement. It also has clever pockets that will store all the components you need for your next adventure.
1. Hood
The hood is designed with three panels to best fit the curve of your head. At the front, there is a slight brim to shield the wearer’s eyes from rain. The hood can be adjusted loose or tight around the face via the drawstring. We use a leather trim throughout because we like how leather ages.
2. Chest Pocket
The angled zip chest pocket is positioned to allow easy access to your everyday accessories and is deep enough for a cell phone. In traditional mountain parka style, the pocket zips down, not up.
3. Map Pocket on Back
The map pocket is also a traditional/vintage detail. Before GPS, this pocket would be a handy place to keep and easily access a map while one hiked. What's more, the map tucked like insulation to protect one's back from the wind on brisk days. We don’t have as many paper maps in our lives as we’d like, but we use this pocket to bring a magazine to read on the subway.
4. Interior pockets
The two interior pockets at the inner waist are the best place to put valuables like your passport or wallet. They have snap closure flaps to keep cargo in place when you take your parka off.
5. Body-front pockets
The snap-flap pockets on the chest and waist are designed with a three-dimensionality to allow for as much cargo as possible. The waist pockets’ back sides opens up so you can slip your hands into the hand pockets. We love hand pockets.
6. Waist-adjusting drawcord
This drawcord at the waist provides the ability to tighten and change the look of the jacket depending on your needs and how much/little you are planning to layer under it.
7. Two-Way Zipper
We use two-way zippers in as many of our jackets as possible because we like how you can open the jacket from the bottom to access your belt or pockets without letting a lot of cold air in. We use YKK zippers because we like them best.
8. Pleated elbows
A few seasons after we started making the Parka, we added pleats at the elbows to allow for even greater articulation of arm movement . . . a small but major detail when it comes to the all-day comfort of this Parka.
9. Chin flap
The flap underneath the zipper at the neck is there to protect the sensitive skin at and under your chin from the teeth of the zipper.
10. Lining
The interior lining is made of smooth-to-the-touch 65/35 cotton/nylon which makes the parka as comfortable to wear with a short sleeve shirt as it is with a long sleeve.
11. Snaps
The snap flap over the front zipper gives added protection against the elements. Two snap options at the cuffs provide adjustable tightness at the wrists, depending on whether one wears gloves or not.
12. Fabric
For our 10th Anniversary, we have made the Travel Shell Parka in both 60/40 (above) and 65/35 (below). The 60/40 is a cotton/nylon blend while the 65/35 is poly/cotton. Both blends serve the same basic function: when rain hits the fabric, the cotton threads begin to swell, but the non-cotton threads woven in the opposite direction prevent the cotton from continuing to swell, thus encouraging water to bead up and drop off.
60/40 was the original “naturally” water resistant fabric and appeared first on the outdoor textile scene. We’ve been making garments in this 60/40 off and on for many years, and we love to see how the fabric changes and develops with ongoing use.
65/35 was a nifty spin on the 60/40 concept, with the added bonus of being easier to mill and having a soft, smooth touch more similar to cotton.
We like our 65/35 TSPs as much as our 60/40 TSPs and tend to choose between them based on the overall feel of the rest of our outfit.
Which Travel Shell Parka is your favorite?
