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Gear Review: Synthetic insulated jackets

Rab Cirrus Flex Hoody

RRP: £150
Weight: 380g (women’s size 10)

There’s a lot to like about the re-designed Cirrus Flex. Lightweight, it offers a good degree of warmth with fairly wide baffles allowing the PrimaLoft Silver RISE insulation to loft well, trapping warm air. Very stretchy fleece panels extend all the way up the sides and on the inner arms and at the ears, reducing bulk and allowing more breathability. If anything, I could have this layer even thinner. I’ve used Rab synthetic and down jackets in the past and the pertex used on this one for the outer layer is slightly thinner but hasn’t snagged and seems adequately robust so far. There’s an adjustable drawstring at the hem but no adjustment at the elastic cuffs (comfortable, not too tight) and hood (fits well and has reduced insulation to fit under a helmet but no volume adjuster). The two handwarmer pockets are huge and matched on the inside with open pockets which can take an OS map and one is designed to be used as a stuff-pocket for the jacket. No chest pocket which would be useful for a phone/GPS. Quality one-way zip which runs well, toggles just large enough to use with thin gloves and nice fleecy lining at the chin. Overall an excellent choice as a year-round insulated layer. Decent value.

Available in Mens S-XXL, 5 colours and Women’s 8 – 16, 5 colours, non hooded version available for £140

Colombia Silver Falls II Hooded Insulated Jacket

RRP: £115
Weight: 510g (men’s medium)

The first thing to note here is that this is the cheapest of the insulated jackets in this test; it replaces the popular Silver Falls I which is currently available discounted. The insulation here is recycled polyester, and the lining and shell are polyester too, the later treated with a PFC-free water repellent which seems to work well. The design is simple but hard to fault, with a YKK zip plus storm baffle inside and chin guard, two generous zipped (with good pull tags) handwarmer pockets, elasticated cuffs and a simple easy-to-adjust drawstring hem. The jacket packs down fairly small, and can be stuffed into one of its pockets for storage. The hood is a not adjustable and doesn’t really turn with your head, but it is elasticated and is a good fit for me – but certainly you couldn’t wear it over a helmet. On the hill on chilly autumnal days the jacket has performed well, and it’s a solid choice for the price.

Available in 3 colours in men’s S – XXL, women’s XS – XXL.

66° North Vatnajökull Powerfill Jacket

RRP: £290
Weight: 344g (women’s size S)

Named after Iceland’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull (pronounced Vaht-na-yuh-cuh-ddle in case you were wondering) this jacket is definitely aimed at straddling the outdoor and streetwear market. Insulation comes via, 100% recycled, Polartec Power Fill with a few very wide double-sewn baffles. There’s no hood but the stand up collar does a reasonable job of keeping the neck warm and there’s a handy quarter-length storm baffle on the inside of the front zip which helps keep things cosy. The elasticated hem and cuffs are not adjustable but not overly tight. There are two good sized hand warmer pockets (the zips could do with being longer and with pull tags for use with gloves) and a small internal lower security pocket good for keys or a bank card but nothing else. Whilst the front, two-way, zip is YKK-branded and robust, I have consistently found it fiddly to align and while the pull tags are sizeable metal ones, I’d prefer extra tags here so they could be used with gloves. The outer fabric has a degree of water resistance which is okay for a light shower but wets out in prolonged drizzle although the jacket continues to insulate (the insulation is hydrophobic) and has good breathability. The construction is very robust and the outer fabric (also 100% recycled) is thick enough that it shouldn’t snag easily. There’s no stretch in the fabric but the design allows decent arm movement. In general the cut is slim so while it will fit well under a waterproof layer, you might want to size up. This is not a jacket for the coldest days, it’s useful for those days when full-on insulation is too much and a warmer jacket would have to stay in your pack, or for days when you expect to be wearing an outer shell a fair bit. At this hefty price you’re paying a premium for the branding so you have to be happy with the look and be using the jacket for off-the-hill life as well.

Available in Men’s and Women’s in S – 2XL, 5 colours, vest available but no hooded version

La Sportiva Mythic Primaloft Jacket

RRP: £220.46
Weight: 460g (men’s large EU/ medium US)

The rather handsome 70s retro-styling is the first thing you might notice with the La Sportiva Mythic, but it’s no slouch on performance either. The insulation is again 100% recycled polyester, PrimaLoft Silver in this case, but with the Mythic both the lining and the shell – Pertex Quantum in the latter case – are 100% recycled too. The hood is really excellent, with a volume adjustment toggle, and a slightly stiffened brim, with a lovely soft fleecy fabric around the neck and chin for comfort. The YKK-zip has a full length storm baffle, and the hem is adjustable as you’d expect. There are two decent size zippered handwarmer pockets (the zips are tiny but with good pull cords). An additional zipped mesh chest pocket on the inside of the jacket is big enough to hold a max-sized smartphone – the ideal place to help ensure you phone battery stays warm. I’ve found the jacket to be pretty warm for the modest weight, providing good protection from the wind and being very breathable even when working hard uphill. La Sportiva say it’s designed for ski-mountaineers, but I reckon it’s an ideal jacket for all of us heading to the Scottish hills outside the summer.

Available in 3 colours for men sizes S – XXL and 8 colours for women, sizes XS – XL.

Keela Talus Jacket

RRP: £144.95
Weight: 460g (women’s

Another practical design from Scottish company Keela, this well-featured and high performing jacket is very comparable to Rab’s Cirrus Flex. Insulation comes via 60gsm Primaloft Gold fill which gives a great warmth to weight return and continues to be warm when wet. There are super stretchy fleece panels down the sides and almost all the way down the inner arms, adding breathability and movement without compromising overall warmth. The thought that’s gone into the design is evident in the slightly scooped back length, adjustable drawstring hem, multi-adjustable hood which has a stiffened peak, and the insulated storm baffle running the length of the front zip. The two handwarmer pockets are adequate with decent pull tags on the zips, and there’s a useful inner chest pocket for phone/GPS. The outer fabric is flylite ultra which has a Cordura ripstop grid to stop tears and snags. Good range of sizes and generous cut. In general the construction feels very robust and I’d expect it to be long lasting and a good value option for all but the coldest Scottish conditions.

Available in Mens S – 3XL, 4 colours and Womens 8 – 20, 3 colours

Sprayway Torridon Insulated Jacket

RRP: £180
Weight: 460g (women’s size 10)

This bomb-proof jacket is a solid option for serious hill days. It offers a bit more protection from showers than the other options, the outer is made from TecShell with ripstop and a PFC-free durable waterproof repellent treatment – the fabric has a slight rustle and no baffles to add structure. The insulation comes via ThermoSphere which is blown polyester (90% recycled) at 120g on the body and 80g on the sleeves, which provides a high level of warmth but is bulkier than some and has the usual trade-off between weight and warmth. Not as packable as some of the jackets on test, it does squeeze into it’s own stuff pocket. There are plenty of features that work well, a quality 2-way YKK front zip with full length storm baffle and zip garage at the top with comfy fleece liner at the chin. The zips have decent tags to allow use with gloves. The handwarmer pockets are cavernous, easily taking an OS map, there’s an outside Napolean pocket as well as a slightly lower inside one for when you need to keep phones etc warm. The large hood has a good stiffened peak, drawcord volume adjuster and strap for rolling the hood away. There’s a drawstring at the hem and the half-elasticated cuffs also have velcro adjusting straps. The cut is normal rather than slim or athletic and the sizes are generous, so much so that some may want to size down. Construction is robust and performance has been excellent with a reasonable amount of breathability given the high level of insulation and ability to keep off light showers. Good value and a great range of sizes.

Available in Men’s S – 3XL, 4 colours and Women’s 8 – 18, 3 colours

Salewa Catinaccio 2 TirolWool Responsive Hooded Jacket

RRP: £210
Weight: 424g (women’s 12)

Warm for it’s weight and one of the warmest on test, combined with a good level of water repellency (from a lightweight nylon ripstop outer with PFC-free durable water repellent treatment) makes this jacket a good winter performer. Insulation comes via 100g/sqm TirolWool Responsive, a material that combines wool from Tirolean sheep (naturally warm and water repellent) with Salewa’s own recycled polyester fibres which hold heat and release it over time. The insulation keeps you warm when wet although this is a jacket I would trust not to wet out in very light showers. This updated design has less baffles than the previous version providing a more stream-lined look and the fit is athletic but not overly slim. The YKK-branded front zip has reasonably sized lightweight pull tags (an alternative colour is provided), the zip itself could be chunkier but would then be heavier and there is a decent padded storm baffle for the whole length. The pockets are well designed with two good-sized hand warmers and a very large internal chest pocket which will just accommodate an OS map. The elasticated hood is insulated all over and adjustable at the rear, there is no stiffened peak. There is great range of movement in the arms which are a good length and elasticated at the cuffs. There is a drawstring for adjusting the hem.

Available in Men’s S – 2XL, 3 colours and Women’s 6 – 14, 3 colours

Artilect M-Elevate Primaloft Bio Insulated Hoodie

RRP: £250
Weight: 515g (Women’s S)

A robust, versatile, neat looking jacket with well designed features. Using 100% Recycled 60gm Primaloft BIO Black insulation this is a comfortable jacket for all but very cold days. More breathable and rain repellent than many on test, Artilect say that their Empel durable water repellent treatment, which is PFC-free, doesn’t wear off over time. On test it has provided a good level of rain resistance, making it a good option for light showers. The insulation stays very warm when wet and the outer nylon shell is very tough and stretchy. There is a good range of movement in the whole jacket, fit is on the slim side. The hood is elasticated at the sides, has a volume adjuster at the back and is insulated all over and helmet compatible. The YKK 2-way front zip is a tough quality one and there is a small storm baffle the length of the inside. A larger pull tag on the front zip would be handy, they are provided on the two adequate-sized handwarmer pockets and the outside chest pocket which is large enough to take a phone. The cuffs are wide and comfortable elastic, and there’s an easily-adjusted drawstring hem. Heavier than some, the construction is good and this feels like a jacket that should last a long time although it feels stiffer than the other jackets on test that have a thinner outer material. The unfussy design and athletic fit mean this jacket looks equally at home on the high street as in the hills or under a waterproof shell.

Available in Men’s S – 2XL, 2 colours and Women’s XS – XL, 2 colours

Montane Sirocco Lite Jacket

RRP: £165
Weight: 270g (men’s medium)

The Sirocco Lite is – as the name suggests – much the lightest jacket in this review, weighing a little over half as much as some. Although it’s still an insulated jacket, it’s closer in function and feel to a softshell than rivals in this review. The insulation is 100% recycled polyester, whilst the outer fabric is 100% recycled Featherlite Air ripstop nylon (with PFC-free water repellent coating) that I’ve found offers a really great level of protection from the wind. The sleeves – and panels down either side – are composed of a four-way stretch smooth-faced fleece, which helps make the jacket feel really snug to wear but also is great for the breathability when working hard. There’s a padded collar but no hood and no drawcord / adjustment at the hem. There’s a fairly dinky YKK zip which is protected by a storm baffle, and two zipped handwarmer pockets; all have a decent pull tag. The lower level of insulation means this jacket is more suitable as an insulation layer in the summer, but as well as being supremely comfortable to wear, the wind resistance and breathability on offer here are excellent.

Salomon Outline Hooded Jacket

RRP: £180
Weight: 360g (men’s large)

The Outline is very lightweight for an hooded insulated jacket, and packs down particularly small. The fill is 100% polyester, with a polyamide shell fabric; unlike many jackets in this test it doesn’t use recycled materials but the water repellent treatment is PFC-free. It is well specced with features, the main (and decently sized) YKK zip protected with a generous storm flap, two zipped hand warmer pockets, and a toggle to tighten the elasticated hem. I struggled a little with the design of the hood – it’s pretty large, with no volume adjustment toggle – just two toggles that draw it in at the front around your face; I found it to be quite baggy and trying to reduce this with the drawcord made it uncomfortable. The light weight level of insulation means this jacket is best for keeping warm when moving fast in winter, or for autumn or spring days which are not quite as cold.

Available in 6 colours for men sizes S – 2XL, 7 colours for women XS – 2XL.

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You should always carry a backup means of navigation and not rely on a single phone, app or map. Walking can be dangerous and is done entirely at your own risk. Information is provided free of charge; it is every walker's responsibility to check it and to navigate safely.