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Regatta Shelford Padded Shirt – product review

Regatta Professional has a strong footprint in the workwear marketplace. With a strong presence within the outdoor market, we know them well. They’ve come a long way over the last decade and this is probably down to taking feedback and building greater market appreciation.
So this padded shirt has been evaluated by two of us in the HAD-Print cohort. Stuart and Callum.
We like to say we grab workwear and prove that it is of “Ronseal Qualities” eg does what it says it will. So having multiple of these garments “on test” in two different working locations provides for more reality in this review. Callum also works in an outdoor education centre so if it performs there you can be reassured of how well it hits the mark.

Stuart’s viewpoint….
This is a highly functional, comfortable, adaptable product which performs to expectation. The outer at first I was curious as to how hard wearing it would be, genuinely soft to the touch, 2-3 months on, and yes it’s stood up to the wear well.
Surprising point – the pockets are more than ample and provide useful places for the everyday items we all gather. 
Cuffs are nicely trimmed and specified and equally do roll up if you’re getting “hands-on”. 
Insulation with the padding is a sufficient wind stopper yet not overtly heavy to make the shirt adaptable to the climate you face yourself in.
Yes, I’ve washed this shirt and broadly after the second wash it’s faired well. Slight movement between the outer and padded section, but nothing detracts.
So value for money… the retail price on this shirt is £45 and yes it does reflect this price point, worthy of the value and performance.
Customisable – yes you can have your branding embroidered onto this garment 
Would I buy another – yes it’s a good workwear staple and combines with a working hoodie well.

So here’s for the hard work outdoor review by Callum.…

As someone who works in the outdoor industry I was sceptical when Stu sent me the Shelford Padded shirt, would it hold up? Would it be warm enough to wear? Would the otter-checked pattern still be as appealing to the eye after a few weeks of all weathers and I mean all weathers, crawling around on the floor in it, harnessing over it and putting it to the test fire lighting in it; And the short answer is yes it does. 
It’s now a key part of my work wear, whether I’m layering up on a cold sharp evening on the edge of the peaks or it’s just a jacket over the top of a short sleeve to keep me safe at work, it does both equally well, and yes it comfy, Stu would say when it comes to my work wear or my personal clothing I can be a brand snob, don’t tell him but he might be right about that. And this definitely ticks the boxes. 
Comfy around the shoulders with the light padding in the jacket just gives it that extra bit of quality. A nice size jacket gives space for you to have a few layers on under but also works well if you just need that extra layer like I do many a time when instructing in the outdoors. 
The jacket is practical as well, it’s not often I haven’t got pockets full of keys, bits of ropes and carabiners or other tools I’m using around the campsite the jacket has big enough and strong enough pockets to take the weight it needs to. 
If you want something personalised in a sensible price range that will stand the test of time then this should definitely be an option. 

Manufacturers product link: https://www.regattaprofessional.com/product/TRS216

Product Review: Regatta Men’s Navigate Hybrid Jacket

A couple of weekends ago (26th February 2023), I visited the Printwear and Promotion 2023 exhibition with Stuart at the NEC in Birmingham. Printwear and Promotion is one of the first exhibitions I’ve attended in a long while. While I was still determining what to expect in this post-Covid world, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of exhibitors, interactive workshops, and friendly approach towards someone who doesn’t specialise in the sector. 

If you’re unaware, the Printware and Promotion exhibition allows the print industry access to the latest products and tech across the spectrum of garment and apparel printing. – Anything from hoodies and T-Shirts to Bags, Mugs, Keyrings & Pens. 

I’d, however, describe it as my other half’s nightmare. An exhibition hall full of clothing and shoes with no possibility of buying any of them. I still don’t think she’d have recovered now if she’d visited with us. However, a few suppliers were offering sample stock, and, more excitingly, Regatta allowed visitors to win some of their products. I’m always up for excitement like this, and never more than when it involves a “seaside” style grabber machine – a quick go, and on the first attempt, grabbing a bottle with a piece of paper. A quick trip to the desk revealed I’d won their top prize, the Men’s Navigate Hybrid Jacket. Excitement was at a fever pitch!

A few weeks later, I’ve been wearing the Regatta Navigate Hybrid Jacket on and off, and I’ve got to say, I’m impressed. I know a name like Regatta has high expectations in the clothing spectrum, especially for their outdoor kit. However, this lightweight jacket punches well above my expectation for such a light garment. 

The jacket features Regatta’s Extol Stretch Technology which, in their words, is an “Ergonomic and flexible fabric for high energy activities”, and I can’t disagree. This fabric on the sleeves and hood provides enough warmth, but also freedom, and movement. The main body comprises Polyamide panels, which add a little more warmth but are also perfect for a small company, club or society logo on the chest. 

The Regatta Men’s Navigate Hybrid Jacket features two lower pockets and a chest pocket, all ample for your day-to-day needs and truly is a jacket you can wear all day without feeling it. I’ve been surprised a couple of times by how light yet warm the sleeves are, and Regatta’s Extol Stretch Technology does seem to work well.

I’ve yet to find many negitive points, if any, to be honest. I’d say the size is a little “regatta” and you may find yourself needing to “size up”, but for a lightweight, day-to-day jacket, you can’t go wrong with Regatta’s Men’s Navigate Hybrid Jacket.

A day on product knowledge learning…

So, all in a day of learning. Yes, I spent my Sunday at Printwear and Promotion doing the touchy-feely bit and getting the product into my hands to help us specify great solutions for our customers.

A different show from previous years, less might be one word, but what was there was certainly worth the time.

Probably to our biggest wholesale channel first, considering we’ve not actually met our account rep in person, it was great to know that voice alone gets you recognised. Gildan has a new Softstyle Midweight Fleece Adult Hoodie, which yes made the mark, with 15 colours in the range, it’s not quite to the level of the other big Hoodie manufacturer, but we can say, there will be stock of this, as this wholesaler and brand a renowned for keeping good stock levels. So, a sure winner there!  If you’re sporty, the advent of a well-known name of Craft coming into the portfolio of this supplier is a real winner too. And, yes I will be product testing certain items myself (that says a lot!) However this isn’t in the catalogue yet – give it a few weeks and we’ll be chomping at the bit for it. 

A Craft Fleece Top with nice branding patch on left-hand side.


For our workwear clients, here’s the winner through this wholesale channel – Jobman workwear, yes the Craftsman Trousers, are certainly a product to take a look at. We also liked the Softshell Jacket as well – again specification at the price point is a great option – more than the Regatta Ablaze, but in a different league. If you are a brand snob and workwear has to be absolutely top-notch, the option around Helly Hansen is there, and the Manchester T-Shirt again really packs a punch.

Helly Hansen Workwear T-Shirts

As big fans of Hoodies, we had to stop by AWDis – purely the range is awesome, with more colours than you can shake a magic wand at. Whilst we have some in our Halifax Showroom, we don’t have the full range, Great for apparel which needs to bring brand colours really to home. We also took a serious look at AWDis Just Cool and knowing some of our personal trainer clients and fitness industry clients, there is some interesting development in products which will allow your branding into more places, including crop tops and excellent leggings. The other Hoodie which we are fans of is Anthem – this has become our staple top-of-range go too. Yes, we came away with a sample of the mid-range Anthem Hoodie and did spend a bit of time looking at the zipped hoodies as well.

Anthem heavyweight Hoodies

Other highlights saw us exploring options around merchandise to bolt on to apparel – watch this space. We also had substantial conversations with a significant outdoor clothing brand about potential packages we might be able to offer. Plus exploring further product offerings which might help us to enhance our offering.

So our advice – if you’re looking for apparel and workwear, ask, we’ve seen a lot, and gotten to know a lot of products. We have sample stock available for you to see for yourselves in our Halifax showroom. 



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