translate:/Global/SiteRating: 5 | translate:/Global/UserRating: 4 | Warm layers

Some base layers we looked at were designed to cover a number of activities – including skiing and yachting. But the Montane Dragonfly Shirt has obviously been designed for UK walking. Utilising two grades of Polartec Powerdry fabric, the back and arms get high-wicking fabric while the chest and underarms get a stretchier weave, which is tough and enables excellent ...

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Haglöfs Gemini Hood

£75.00

This fleece mid layer just about has it all. At just 304g, it has a hood, which makes it a rare beast – and for me this gives it an edge. The fabric is warm enough for year-round use while the two chest pockets allow easy storage and access to maps on the move while wearing a rucksack. The stretch ...

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Montane Puma

£90.00

This provides a different kind of soft shell experience from some other jackets, but it is quite suitable if you want something beyond what a normal fleece can offer. It is made from a fabric that is more wind- and water-resistant than a conventional fleece and it also feels far more durable. Under the arms you get more conventional stretch ...

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Rab Baltoro Light

£110.00

It’s not often that an article of clothing ticks all the boxes, but this does. The excellent fabric provides a decent amount of insulation and is also incredibly weather-resistant and very breathable. It has two huge hip/chest pockets that double as vents and the cuffs are fastened with Velcro. Single-handed drawcords adjust the hem, trapping or releasing warmth, and another ...

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Mountain Equipment Astron Hooded/Astral Hooded 2008

£120.00

This soft shell jacket was developed specifically for those who want a soft shell that is stretchy, light and easy to pack in your rucksack – and it is one of the lightest here. It uses Polartec Power Shield fabric, which is extremely wind-resistant and very water-resistant, but most importantly it is also more breathable than the more waterproof options, ...

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Millet Touring Hoodie

£160.00

Soft shell is such a broad category that choosing just one really depends on your definition and expected use of the jacket. For me, a soft shell is a garment that is more wind- and water-resistant than a fleece and also more durable, which allows it to be worn on the hill whenever you can get by without your waterproof ...

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Mountain Hardwear Kelvinator (2012)

£220.00

MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR KELVINATOR £220 Our rating: ***** Review: A classic-looking mountain-style down jacket, complete with hood for battening down the hatches when it’s really cold outside. As it uses natural down filling inside, it is susceptible to wet conditions, but a thicker grade of face fabric means that the filling is a bit more protected than in a really lightweight ...