translate:/Global/SiteRating: 2 | Warm layers

The zip-necked Farley is a good length, but the sleeves are too tight, with no give in the fabric. Good high, snug collar, though. Difficult to wear as a mid-layer as the sleeves are too tight to go over anything else. Good warmth as a base-layer, though, and it dried quickly when wet. A decent-length zip, too.Verdict A lightweight, budget-end ...

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Regatta Base Zip-neck base layer

£16.00

A very thick and warm base-layer that can feel itchy when you’re hot and sweaty. It has a nice close-fitting design, with plenty of stretch in the fabric, although it tends to become saggy with wear. The zip-neck collar provides great ventilation when needed, but check you can zip it up properly as the collar is tighter fitting than some. ...

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Blizzard Jacket with sleeves

£25.00

This insulated jacket weighs 248g; a truly fascinating concept that feels warm inside before you put it on; Blizzard has used the concepts of conduction, convection and radiation to create a unique and effective survival tool. But although it’s reusable, it’s almost impossible to repack, as it comes vacuum-packed; more of a survival bag than a jacket to wear out ...

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Wynnster McKinley/Vail Zip Neck

£25.00

This fleece mid layer weighs 284g (size L); thin fleece ideal for layering; smock design reduces weight; casual design; smart collar; outstanding breathability. But no pockets; no hem drawcord; no hood; smock design limits ability to control temperature.

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Peter Storm Carrick

£25.00

This fleece mid layer weighs 504g (size L); thick, hard-wearing fleece compared to some; two zipped hip pockets; zip chest pocket; warm and very breathable fleece. But a little more bulky than some; hip pocket access easily obscured by rucksack belts; is not particularly highly featured for absolute practical performance; no hood.

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Regatta Baxter (2012)

£30.00

This is a lighter-weight fleece than many out there, using a thinner grade of material that also makes it one of the least expensive too. The downside is a lack of insulation. This really only provides warmth as part of a layering system. It is designed to zip into a corresponding shell jacket. A drawcord around the hem helps to ...

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Dare 2 B Body Base Layer T

£30.00

This base-layer fits like a kind of compression top, and as such sits remarkably tightly against the body, with the fabric sitting like a second skin, stretching as you move. It does mean that unless you’re as lean as a middleweight boxer you’re unlikely to want to be seen wearing it on its own in the pub, as it does ...

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EDZ All Season Zip Neck Top 2009

£30.00

The EDZ All Season Zip Neck Top base layer weighs 190g (men’s S); looser fit in body; close fit in sleeves; light; good freedom of movement; economical use of seams and none of them problematic; good wicking abilities; comfortable; thermally versatile. But diagonal neck zip is not ideal for use with a rucksack and does not aid venting; only comes ...

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Dare 2 B Body Base Layer T

£30.00

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Technicals Kinder

£40.00

This fleece mid layer weighs 516g (size L); quite a thick fleece, so very warm; two hip pockets; hem drawcord; full-length front zip. But heavier than some; hip pocket access is easily obscured by rucksack belts; no hood.

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Sprayway Genesis TL

£40.00

This fleece mid layer weighs 576g (size L); midweight fleece, so quite warm; two hip pockets; full-length front zip; adjustable shockcord hem. But heavier than thinner fleece and warmer too, so not that easy to control temperature; pocket access is easily obscured by rucksacks belts; no hood.

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Regatta Invent

£40.00

This windproof fleece would score quite well were it not for the ridiculously baggy cuffs, which are really annoying as well as inefficient. A good fit in the body, with a snug high collar. The fabric is also easy to move in. Really light and compact, it keeps the wind off well and packs down easily. The baggy cuffs let ...

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Wynnster Banff Jacket

£40.00

This insulated jacket weighs 660g (inc 44g stuffsack); elasticated cuffs; hem drawcord; internal zipped pocket; two zipped hip pockets that just about take a map; longer body than many; comfortable fit. But compression stuffsack is unnecessary; no cuff adjustment; no hood; no reinforced areas; no fleece lining in collar.

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Regatta Epicentre

£45.00

A good fit in the body and sleeves, but the stiff-ish collar is a little too high, especially when unzipped. The cuffs are too tight to pull up, but a warm and very weatherproof jacket… at the expense of breathability, which is definitely noticeable when walking uphill at speed. Would like a bit more ‘give’ in the fabric, too.

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Montane Slipstream Gilet 2011

£45.00

At a minuscule 80g (size M), the Montane Slipstream Gilet packs down to the size of a golf ball and claims to be the world’s lightest core body protection. It feels almost weightless – but the Pertex Quantum fabric that makes up most of the gilet is windproof and water-repellent, making this a useful extra layer in blowy conditions. Dryactive ...

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Result Extreme Climate Stopper

£49.00

An awful cut and the shape of the neck is all wrong – bulky and tight at the front with a big gap at the back. Generous sizing with bulky sleeves. Soft, comfortable fabric, though, which worked well, but the poor neck design made it awkward to zip up properly, which affected overall performance. No additional venting and it does ...

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Wynnster Glacier

£50.00

This windproof fleece from Wynnster is not a great fit, with a long, loose body and no drawcord at the hem. The arms are a reasonable length, but the collar is too low and the lining feels scratchy against the skin. The length and weight of this fleece makes it uncomfortable for energetic walking, but the Cirrus 200 fabric keeps ...

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Result Performance Blade

£50.00

A good fit in the body, but the sleeves are too tight on the forearms and this is only exacerbated by lack of stretch in the fabric and in the Lycra inner cuffs. Snug, high collar, but heavy and bulky to carry and very hot to wear, making it best for winter use or fairly gentle walks. Underarm vents increase ...

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Result Blade

£50.00

There’s little doubting the comfort of the Blade, which is cut from a lovely soft, stretchy fabric with a really cosy fleece lining and high collar, but the Lycra-lined cuffs wouldn’t pull up. This jacket was just too hot for strenuous walking on anything but the coldest days – even with the venting pockets and pit zips wide open. It’s ...

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Regatta Airbrake

£56.00

The Airbrake doesn’t immediately feel like a standard soft shell, with a face fabric that, although plenty stretchy enough, has a hardness to it and is quite noisy when you move. The shiny surface did give it a little extra waterproofing, at least for the test duration over a few damp, misty mornings, and it also makes it a little ...

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Sprayway Challenger

£60.00

This soft shell weighs 506g; 4-way stretch fabric which is very breathable; map-sized easy-to-access chest pockets; additional chest pocket; Velcro adjustable cuffs. But this offers very little insulation and is more of a windshirt; others are more water-resistant; no hood.

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Columbia Sierra Falls

£60.00

This soft shell weighs 506g; 4-way stretch fabric; map-sized hip pockets; smaller chest pocket; collar drawcord; brushed polyester collar; excellent movement in sleeves. But access to hip pockets easily obscured by rucksack hipbelt; cuffs are a very loose fit without any form of adjustment to keep draughts out; relatively loose cut.

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Columbia Opal Storm Jacket

£60.00

This insulated jacket weighs 540g; fully lined with soft fleece like fabric; mesh pockets inside and two zipped external pockets lined to keep you hands cosy; Lycra cuffs and drawcord elastication at the hem; pit zips. But there’s no method of compression; it’s pretty heavy given it lacks a hood and a long cut. Tog rating 2.6

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Marmot Original DriClime Windshirt

£60.00

This soft shell weighs 322g; wind-resistant shell with wicking and insulating lining; brushed polyester collar; small chest pocket; excellent freedom of movement; perfect for mountain biking and light mountain travel. But not as durable as others, no map-sized pockets; no hem drawcord; a smock would be an even better use of the fabric.