Introduced in 2022, the Farthermost Jacket by Viktos provides the outdoor enthusiasts with a thick, insulated jacket to continue training on those ranges while still retaining immediate access to gear and magazines.
With an outer chassis made from a blend of DWR-coated cotton/nylon (that is water resistant), and FiteLite™ insulation (140gm insulation to the body, 120gm insulation on the sleeves) that provides for ideal retention of the upper torso’s temperature and breathability, the Farthermost Jacket is perfectly at home in the winter’s conditions. Additionally, the chassis includes Viktos’ Combategrade™ design – elastic joists at key stress points for maximum articulation.
At its top front, the Farthermost has a high collar roll that provides moderate comfort against wind, and can protect the neck from chafe caused be rifle slings or other shoulder straps.
Just below that, two zipper-secured Wingman™ pockets are high up on the chest and allow for easy reach and storage of smaller items and accessories while wearing a plate carrier or chest rig.
Middle of the front is a Fourstack™ AR rifle magazine pouch that divides two magazines per each side of the zipper.
The jacket’s lower front includes wide and deep hand pockets that are 7.5” across at the opening, and are YKK zipper secured.
Both sides to the Farthermost include Viktos’ Gunvent™ design, a unique, dual-zippered side that allows for immediate access to range belt or holstered sidearm, all while wearing the jacket.
The front of the jacket is secured via YKK zipper with a nylon pull-tab that provides closure of the jacket from neck to below the waistline.
Both sleeves include a low-profile, non-elastic cuff at the wrist with a hook-and-loop adjustment strap to prevent access by inclement weather. Additionally, integrated accessory pockets at the shoulder are low-profile and secured via hook-and-loop.
The interior lining of the Farthermost has a Polyester bonded mesh liner to assist in moisture wicking and breathability. Both sleeves include additional cargo pockets for added storage, and loops/ports for running cables if necessary.
The Farthermost Jacket comes in Ranger (featured) and Black, and is available in sizes XSmall to 3XL.
Product Evaluation Scores:
- Cost – Good (4/5): With an MSRP of $190, the Farthermost Jacket is a new addition in the line of Viktos outdoor apparel for daily or range use. Its materials blend water resistant fabrics, and Viktos’ FiteLite™ insulation to keep the end-user dry and warm in some of winter’s more modestly cold temperatures. With its multiple pockets, and Gunvent™ design, the Farthermost can balance between daily use while supporting those on a specific mission, or for a day out on the range. Some comparable market alternatives would be the Syntax Jacket ($250) by Triple Aught Design, the Concealed Carry Soft Shell Jacket ($141.99) by Nine Line Apparel, or the Atom LT Hoodie ($259) by Arc’Teryx Leaf. And while many more inexpensive jackets do exist, ultimately they lack the design, materials, and features found in the Farthermost. So, among its peers, the Farthermost was at a good price point to the consumer for what is included in the jacket’s lightweight design and features.
- Comfort – Good (4/5): From a comfort aspect, the fabric presented a very flexible, and soft texture that maintained a comfortable core temperature for the moderate weather of Missouri’s winter mornings (around the 36-degree range with light moisture). It is unlikely Farthermost would maintain a warmer core temperature for longer durations in colder winter weather (snow/wind) without the inclusion of additional base layers. But for the more typical early winter weather, it performed well. The arm length and chest ran slightly larger than size (for the average torso), so the arms or larger chest held a good level of comfort and space – while the arm cuff stopped appropriately at the wrist bone. The adjustable hook-and-loop strap on the sleeves did a good job at ensuring unwanted airflow or moisture didn’t work its way up the sleeves. Otherwise the YKK zippers all moved smoothly and did not cross-feed or bind. Lastly, the higher collar did a good job at protecting exposed skin and prevented chafe from wind, slings, or other accessories.
- Durability – Average (3/5): The durability of the Farthermost ran at an appropriate (or average) level, with the insulated material adding a measurable level of thickness in overall volume, and straight-line stitching along all edges were properly tapered. It was noted that the front lower pocket zippers had a longer pull tab (with the added nylon cordage) than the Wingman™ pockets, and this gave the pockets a solid lock in closure. In contrast, the Gunvent zippers were of average size and more robust with double-line reinforcement stitching that reflected its intended purpose for use on the range. The nylon liner itself did not snag nor tear on equipment or gear. Perhaps the largest notable issue from a durability aspect was the reinforcement stitching and material to the Fourstack™ pockets at the chest. These will be the singular point of the overall jacket that takes the most about of abusive wear—with magazines being drawn or reinserted. However, minimal bartack stitching was noted as only means to anchor the top of the pocket to the jacket’s exterior, and not the half or full length of the pocket. Additionally, the material inside the Fourstack™ pocket is the same as the jacket’s exterior, and thus there was no added abrasion resistance from hard edges/angles to magazines as they are driven home. It is likely these will be the primary point of wear and something Viktos is recommended at reexamining in future designs.
- Functionality – Average (3/5): From a functional aspect (as a moderate cold weather jacket) the Farthermost performed as intended, keeping the upper torso warm despite the early winter temperatures and/or moisture. Light rain and moisture did bead and roll off the exterior, although it is likely that under heavy rain the material of the Farthermost (like most fabrics) would eventually become saturated along the front zipper first as it was not rubberized. This was of benefit on cold and wet range mornings in the early winter where the weather can fluctuate readily. One notable function of the Farthermost was the Gunvent zippers on either side that allowed the user to continue wearing the jacket while providing access to a sidearm and mag pouches. This made the Farthermost on the range adaptable and comfortable, while retaining easy side access to an OWB sidearm (some bunching of material at the back was due to the overall bulk/configuration of the range belt itself). One observed functional limitation of the Farthermost was the Fourstack™ pouches themselves given how little reinforcement/structure there was. When fully-loaded 30-round magazines were placed in the Fourstack™, some sag/pull in the front fabric was noted and thus had a slight effect on pulling/re-homing magazines. Moreover, the tightness of the unstructured pocket opening restricted treating it like a chest rig or plate carrier pouch whereby the end-user could just drive the magazine home without pause. The Fourstack™ design would best be suited for those in a vehicle setting, as it granted access to magazines readily while magazines on a belt were more restricted. It would be recommended to Viktos to consider possibly adding Cordura to the Fourstack interior ™ and reinforced stitching between the individual sleeves to give the pocket a more robust function. Lastly, the accessory pockets on both sleeves were problematic to access and store admin items (notebook, pens, wallet, etc.) in. The overall location of the pocket (high and at the shoulder) and its wide, top-down flap were difficult to navigate with the opposing hand (similar to the Army ACU/OCP shoulder pockets), especially around a plate carrier and against the curvature of the arm when worn. The size/opening of the accessory pocket was large enough to accommodate various admin items, but the pocket quickly became bulky against the arm as more items were added. A recommendation for Viktos here would be to make the accessory pocket smaller (approximately the size of a pocket notebook), thus reduce the size of the opening flap (or move the opening to the front vice top), and easier to access while reducing potential bulk.
- Weight – Average (3/5): The weight of winter outerwear varies wildly, often attributed to a combination of materials, layers, design and hardware. The Farthermost Jacket weighed in at just 2.2 pounds which, given its insulated design, resulted in a very comfortable and light weight on the upper torso that did not have an overall baggy or bulky wear. The treated material also ensured moisture from rain or snow melt did not saturate the fabric and add excess weight. In contrast to the alternative jackets noted above; the Syntax Jacket (2.0 pounds) by Triple Aught Design, the Concealed Carry Soft Shell Jacket (2.08 pounds) by Nine Line Apparel, or the Atom LT Hoodie (0.82 pounds) by Arc’Teryx Leaf all demonstrate that the Farthermost Jacket is at the upper end of weight in comparison (though by ounces), but still an appropriate (or average) weight for the volume of material used and market of similar attire.
Overall Rating – Above Average (17/25)
Product Link: https://www.viktos.com/collections/outerwear/products/farthermost-jacket
I am reviewing this product as a courtesy to the manufacturer and via High Ground Media, LLC, so that I can evaluate it and provide my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give positive reviews. All views are my own, and based off my personal experience with the product.
The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the author. The views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of the administrative staff, and/or any/all contributors to this site.