The MERIK winter jacket from Nebulus made a good overall impression in our test. The jacket is available for men and women in various colors and sizes. It has a full-length zipper, a lined hood and closable pockets on the front. For our test, we received the jacket for men in navy red and size M and in navy pink and size S for women. The jacket has a comfortable, loose yet stylish cut. Both the material quality and the workmanship are impressive, as is the performance of the jacket in the practical test. It turns out that the jacket fits comfortablyfor a long time, the smooth outer surface is extremely water-repellent and the lining keeps you pleasantly warm. Unfortunately, the zipper tends to get stuck.
Advantages
✅ High wearing comfort
✅ Good workmanship and quality
✅ Warm lining
✅ Lockable pockets on the outside
✅ Hood keeps you warm
✅ Water-repellent outer surface
Disadvantages
❌ No pocket on the inside
❌ Zipper tends to jam
The first impression
Packaging and labeling
ℹ️ Here we take a closer look at packaging. Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important factor. In addition, adequate protection of the product must of course also be ensured.
| Criterion | Remark | Score achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| Product protection | Sturdy shipping carton, additional protection against soiling with plastic bag | 100 points |
| Sustainability Packaging | No unnecessary packaging waste was used, items were packed very compactly | 100 points |
| Packaging convenience | Easy opening of the shipping carton with scissors or a knife | 90 points |
| Total | 97 points |
*The maximum score is 100 points
In our case, the MERIK winter jacket from Nebulus was delivered together with other products in a sturdy shipping box. The shipping box was undamaged and could be easily opened with a knife or scissors. The shipping box was also optimally sized as it was filled to the top. This protects the environment: not only is the amount of material required for the shipping box minimized, but the small space required by the package also ensures better utilization of the transport vehicles. The product packaging inside the box included the MERIK winter jacket.
The product packaging consists of a transparent plastic bag in which the MERIK winter jacket was packed. The film is tear-resistant and not stretchable. A Nebulus logo is printed on the front of the packaging. There is also a sticker with a barcode, the product name and the size of the jacket. There are warnings on the back that the bag poses a choking hazard. The information is available in four languages, including German and English. The bag has an opening at the top, which is sealed with an adhesive strip on the film. The adhesive strip is reusable. If the winter jacket is to be returned, the bag can be resealed with the existing adhesive strip. There is another layer of thin paper between the individual layers of the folded jacket to prevent the fabric of the winter jacket from rubbing together during transportation.
The MERIK winter jacket is very well protected from damage and dirt by the cardboard box and the plastic bag.
After unpacking
Package contents and instructions
ℹ️ Most people’s first impression after unpacking is immediately memorable. Are the contents of the package complete and does the manufacturer make it as easy as possible for me to use the product straight away?
| Criterion | Remark | Score achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| Package contents & scope | Winter jacket, requires no additional accessories. Supplied with cardboard disk with brand logo | 100 points |
| Instructions for use | Not available, but not required. Washing and material instructions on the label. | 100 points |
| Total | 100 points |
*The maximum score is 100 points
As you would expect, the MERIK winter jacket does not require any additional accessories and is delivered without them. On the label there is a cardboard disc the size of a beer mat, which is printed on both sides in high gloss with the Nebulus logo, which can also be found on the product packaging.
There are no instructions for use, but they are not required. Washing instructions can be found on a label on the inside of the jacket, where this is illustrated with the familiar symbols. There is also information on the material composition of the MERIK winter jacket, the size and the product name.
The first time in your hand
Product processing and appearance
ℹ️ Before we start the practical test, we take a close look at the product processing. How high quality are the materials used? Is the look and feel satisfactory?
| Criterion | Remark | Score achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| Visual appearance | Quilted jacket in an exciting, two-tone design | 100 points |
| Processing and material | Good, almost flawless workmanship, thick lining, synthetic fabric | 95 points |
| Stability | Tear-resistant fabric in combination with strong seams | 100 points |
| Sustainability of the product | Good quality indicates a long service life | 100 points |
| Total | 99 points |
*The maximum score is 100 points
The MERIK winter jacket is a quilted jacket with row-shaped segments. These segments are filled with soft material. The outer and inner surfaces are made of a very fine, smooth fabric, which unfortunately feels somewhat synthetic. According to the manufacturer, both the outer material and the filling are made of polyester.
The quilted jacket is available for both men and women. For our test, we received the men’s version in navy red and the women’s version in navy pink, with navy blue being the base color. The majority of the outside is in the basic color. A stripe in the respective contrasting color runs along the inside of the sleeves and continues down the sides of the torso to the bottom of the jacket. The zippers and the entire inside of the jacket are also in a contrasting color. Two further contrasting colors are available for the women’s version. In addition, the men’s version is available in four color combinations with the basic shade of black. Regardless of the color choice, there are also patches in the design of the Norwegian flag on the chest and one upper arm.
The zipper on the front runs the entire length of the jacket. To prevent the cold from penetrating the inside of the jacket through the zipper, the jacket protrudes slightly on one side of the zipper on the inside, providing additional insulation. An elastic band is also sewn into the ends of the sleeves.
There are also two pockets on the front in the stomach area and a chest pocket, which can also be closed with a zipper. An easy-to-grip tag is attached to the zippers. The jacket has a hanger on the collar so that it can be easily hung on a hook. The hood is lined like the jacket. The edge of the hood has a cord running through it, which comes out at the front through two metal eyelets .
The outer fabric of the jacket is relatively thin, non-stretchy and tear-resistant. The lining , on the other hand, is clearly noticeable and correspondingly thick. The seams are even and neatly finished. There are hardly any protruding threads and, if there are any at all, they are only very short. Apart from this, there are no other manufacturing faults to be found on the jacket.
Overall , the MERIK winter jacket with its two colors and patches is a fashionable piece of clothing. The quality of the fabrics and seams used and the overall finish are also impressive.
This is what our practical test showed
Does the manufacturer keep its advertising promises?
ℹ️ Our practical test is the most relevant and therefore the most important. Here, the product has to undergo a wide range of criteria and tests. We check the functions and product promises of the test article.
| Criterion | Remark | Score achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| Fit size | Comfortable fit with a tailored cut | 100 points |
| Wearing comfort | Pleasant fabric and fit, also permanently comfortable. Zipper tends to jam | 70 points |
| Keep warm | Keeps you very warm even in cold temperatures thanks to the thick lining and high collar | 100 points |
| Additional functions | Highly water-repellent surface on the outside, unfortunately no inside pocket. | 90 points |
| Washability | Withstands 30°C washing without damage | 100 points |
| Total | 90 points |
*The maximum score is 100 points
The MERIK winter jacket is available in various sizes. The men’s version ranges from S to 3XL and the women’s version from S to XXL. For our test, we received the jacket in S for women and M for men. Despite its loose and therefore comfortable cut, the men’s version in M fits our tester, who is 170 cm tall, very well and even offers room for a few extra centimetres. The women’s version also fits our tester, who is just over 160 cm tall, very well, but is a little tighter. The winter jacket offers a little space around the body and is the right length so that it ends at the right height.
Even after long periods of wear, the jacket still fits very comfortably. Thanks to its construction with two layers of fabric and the lining in between, it keeps you warm even though it is relatively light. When the zipper is closed all the way to the top, the collar fits snugly around the neck and reaches up to the head. The lining also keeps the hood pleasantly warm. The drawstring can also be tightened to keep the head warm even in cold winds. The elastic bands at the ends of the sleeves narrow the opening at the wrist. This means that less cold penetrates the inside of the jacket through the openings for the hands.
Unfortunately, we noticed in our test that the zipper on the front tends to jam . This is caused by the overlap to the insulation on the inside, which easily gets caught in the opener. Care must therefore be taken to keep the overlap away from the zipper, especially when closing. If this problem did not occur, the zipper would be easy to operate even when wearing gloves thanks to the pendant.
The three pockets on the front proved to be extremely useful during the test. The zipper did not jam on these pockets. Unfortunately, there are no pockets on the inside. From our point of view, however, one would have been practical, for example to store valuables safely.
An ideal winter jacket should be water-repellent. We therefore tested the jacket by spraying the surface with water. This shows the advantage of the smooth surface: it proves to be extremely water-repellent. The water rolls off immediately and falls to the ground. The surface of the jacket does not absorb water and remains dry, so that the inside remains comfortably protected.
In the last part of our practical test, we washed the winter jacket according to the manufacturer’s instructions. For the MERIK jacket, this means an easy-care wash cycle at 30 °C without drying and ironing, which corresponds to the usual recommendations for comparable garments. Unfortunately, washing at 60 °C, as would be recommended after sporting activities or heavy soiling, for example, is not possible. After washing, the jacket smells of the detergent used, but otherwise there are no noticeable differences. The jacket survives the washing process without damage or fading.
Overall, the MERIK winter jacket performed very well in our practical test. It is extremely comfortable, keeps you extremely warm, is highly water-repellent and is also easy to wash. Unfortunately, the zipper tends to jam.
Price/performance ratio
and ratings from consumers
ℹ️ Finally, we look at how the product compares to the competition. Can it keep up with the competition in terms of price and quality? Would we generally recommend buying it? We also examine consumer ratings and check whether the critical and positive reviews are actually justified.
| Criterion | Remark | Score achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| Price / performance ratio | Very good quality in the upper price segment | 70 points |
| Rating cut | 4.1 (men) and 4.4 (women) out of 5.0 on Amazon | 63 points |
| Total | 68 points |
*The maximum score is 100 points
On the Amazon platform, consumers have given the product an average rating of 4.1 stars for the men’s version and 4.4 stars for the women’s version. There is particular praise for the quality, design and delivery. We can particularly understand the praise for design and quality. The subject of fit is also frequently mentioned in the reviews, but here the spectrum ranges from too small to perfect to too big. There is particular criticism of the zipper, which apparently got caught not only in our test, but also by many customers.
Prices of up to €199.99 are charged on the Internet for equivalent products, with most products costing up to €100. Very inexpensive products are available from as little as €34.61. The MERIK winter jacket from Nebulus is currently in the upper price segment with a price of € 159.00 on Amazon. The price is reasonable for the quality and range of services you get.
Overall result
| Weighting | Score achieved* | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. packaging & labeling | 10% | 97 points |
| 2. package contents & instructions | 10% | 100 points |
| 3. product processing & appearance | 20% | 99 points |
| 4. in the practical test | 40% | 90 points |
| 5. price/performance & consumer ratings | 20% | 68 points |
| Total | 89 points |
