Price: £150
Weight: 380g (size 12)
This synthetic insulated jacket has been my constant companion on hillwalks for the last three months and I’ve yet to find a serious fault with it. Designed to be worn when active in cold conditions, it is more versatile than a fleece, providing both more warmth and breathability and can be in a wider range of conditions than a traditional down or synthetic insulated jacket so I’ve been comfortably wearing it all day in winter and spring Scottish weather.
The insulation comes courtesy of Polartec Alpha which provides a good level of warmth for weight and packs down reasonably well (the jacket packs into its own chest pocket) although not as warm or packable as down. The insulation seems to durable, staying in place with no lumping, flat patches or leakage through the seams which you sometimes get with other synthetic fill or down. The underarms have only minimal insulation and the inner is a mix of mesh fabric on the main body areas with more robust pertex along the hem, shoulders and inside the hood. The outer is wind resistant (not totally windproof) with a high degree of water resistance, which although the insulation retains warmth when wet and does dry quickly, as the jacket is more breathable than other similar products, its no problem to use it as a mid layer under a waterproof in cooler wet conditions.
Other features include a helmet-compatible hood with a snug fitting lycra hem and roll away fastener (this fastener is probably the only surplus feature on the minimal design), adjustable drawcord hem, generous-fit elasticated cuffs, 2 zipped hand warmer pockets and one internal chest pocket which will take an OS map at a squeeze, furry chin guard and YKK front zip with storm guard.
The outer fabric has a good range of stretch and is incredibly soft and comfortable. The women’s fit is short and slim (hidden zips on the hand warmer pockets and a slight tailored fit give it a streamlined profile) so err on the larger size if you are concerned about sizing. The jacket has stood up to a machine wash with no obvious effect, although because it is noticeably more breathable than other synthetic insulated jackets I’ve tried, I don’t expect to be washing it often.
The size 12 women’s hoodie weighs in at 380g. Available in sizes 8 – 16 and in colours Jam (red), Merlin (blue as pictured) and Ebony (black with purple zip). The RRP is £150 but now that its been out for a few months some bargains are beginning to appear in the shops and online. Hoodless and vest versions are also available.