REVIEW: Claw Gear Harpagus and Harpia Softshell

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Two jackets that look good next to each other. No wonder, the twins come from the CLAW GEAR house. Do they just look good or do they also deliver what they promise? We tested the Harpagus and Harpia Softshells and will tell you how they performed.

We have decided to present both jackets together, as they have nearly identical pocket layouts and are very similar in material. We will go into more detail on the differences in the review, but now to the materials used:

The Harpagus is made of a slightly stretchy softshell fabric with ripstop properties. According to the manufacturer, this fabric should be waterproof up to 10,000mm water column. It is, but not indefinitely, it is not a rain jacket after all. However, anyone caught in a short shower will stay dry. It is lined with a grid fleece inside, which provides good warmth.

The softshell membrane of the Harpia is permanently water-repellent and equipped with a waterproof membrane – even though the surface structurally resembles a kitchen roll. It is lined with a thin fleece inside, which enhances comfort. The most noticeable difference between the two softshells is the lack of a hood on the Harpia.

Now onto the pockets, which are very similar on both jackets. On one hand, there are the indispensable zippered upper arm pockets with exposed Velcro, and on the other hand, two large chest pockets with two-way zippers. There is Velcro adjustment at the cuffs. On the Harpagus, this is done with elastic, while on the Harpia, it is done with the jacket fabric.

Under the arms, there are sufficiently large ventilation openings with a two-way zipper. This allows for ventilation from bottom to top and vice versa.

The Harpagus features a zippered chest pocket on the left inner side with a cable outlet. In the Harpia, the cable outlet goes directly into the left chest pocket. Both jackets have a small loop sewn into the collar to guide the headphone cables for organization. The hem adjustment using an elastic drawstring is clearly visible. The inside of the collar is lined with a very comfortable fleece on both jackets.

The hood of the Harpagus can be snugly adjusted to the head with drawstrings. And at the end of the zipper, there is a fleece chin guard to prevent chafing, unless you are a "Velcro face" kind of person.

Both jackets are very comfortable to wear with a backpack, with no seams pressing or rubbing on the shoulders. They also pair well with a plate carrier or vest, but the chest pockets are no longer accessible.

Both jackets have a close-fitting cut, but with enough freedom of movement. The sizes are European (the tested Harpagus is size S, the Harpia is size M). One small drawback we must mention: the main zipper sometimes resists closing. To fix this, slide both zippers all the way down, hook them together, and when closing, pull the second slider down.

CONCLUSION: The jackets not only look good but also excel in their function, both in the woods and in the city. The quality of the jackets, as expected from CLAW GEAR, is very good. The slightly more padded Harpagus with a hood is very suitable as a transitional and winter jacket. The Harpia can be used throughout the year with the right underlayer. With a vest/plate carrier or backpack and lots of movement, our favorite so far has been the Harpia. However, this may change when winter comes. And always remember: "Winter is coming."

Available directly from Claw Gear, the Harpagus for 139.90€ in Black, Coyote, Ral 7013, and Solid Rock (Grey) and the Harpia from 149.90€ excluding shipping in Black, Coyote, Ral 7013, and original Multicam (+100€)