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Montane Dyno (2012)

£100.00

The fabric is less rubbery and less stretchy than some and there’s no fleecy lining. It’s also very thin, so it’s pleasingly lightweight. It’s not fully windproof, but general wind-resistance is good and breathability excellent. The tighter fit, coupled with this fabric construction, makes this one of the best jackets for removing moisture close to the skin. Adjustment is very ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 4
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Outdoor Research Mithril (2012)

£165.00

This is a very technical-looking jacket with exposed, taped seams on the outside to boost water repellence. It does feel more like an outer shell than some tested, at it is made from a thicker material with a warm, fleecy layer on the inside that also helps wick away moisture. It might struggle to find its place in a layering ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 3
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Regatta Gravitator (2012)

£65.00

One of the lightest tops out there and good for warmer conditions, with thin fabric and great stretch. A lack of membrane technology, coupled with the relatively open fabric weave, creates great levels of breathability, although at the expense of some windproofing. If the weather turns very cold or windy, you may need to slip a shell over the top. ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 3
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Mammut Ultimate Hoody (2012)

£200.00

This is a midweight jacket, yet still one of the most technical on the market. Gore-Tex Windstopper fabric has been used to block out the breeze, which really increases the warmth-to-weight ratio. With membrane technology, the fabric can get a little warm, but there are a couple of huge vents running right up the sides. The inside is mesh-lined, as ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 4
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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GoLite Borrego (2012)

£155.00

A heavyweight feel to this jacket gives it good credentials when the weather’s a bit colder. Heavier fabric is coupled with a soft-to-the-skin fleece lining that helps to draw out moisture as well as trapping heat. A drawcord hem and Velcro tabs on the cuffs help make it snug too. The Windstopper membrane means it can get a bit warm ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 3
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Helly Hansen Verglas Hybrid (2012)

£200.00

This is a bulkier affair than many of the soft shells out there, and feels well-suited to colder days thanks to its chunky, insulating material and a fleecy lining to trap heat. The extra-long collar is designed to fit over the face when it’s really cold, with vent holes cut into it too. In an effort to maintain water repellence, ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 3
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Patagonia Guide Hoody (2012)

£155.00

A traditional soft shell made from a relatively simple polyester material, with no membrane to complicate things The Patagonia is one of the lighter tops on test and as such works well in a range of conditions. There’s no windproof membrane, so it’s very breathable, meaning it doubles up well as a mid-layer under a shell when the heavens open. ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 4
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Rab Vapour Rise (2012)

£90.00

The Pertex Equilibrium fabric used in this jacket doesn’t have that stretchy, almost wetsuit-like feel of some soft shells. Instead it uses a looser weave of material. This means the fabric is a little less windproof than some, but a lot more breathable. When walking hard uphill, the fabric is a dream. The inner fleecy layer helps to trap heat ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 3
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Jack Wolfskin Supersonic XT (2012)

£155.00

One of the heaviest, thickest soft shell jacket out there and the best-suited to bad weather. The face fabric has a good deal of water repellency, but it’s inside where the Supersonic excels. The fleece lining is almost like microfleece, not too dense but incredibly warm. This really does boost its insulation level and makes this one of the warmest ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 3
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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The North Face Alpine Project WS (2012)

£225.00

This jacket is more suited to warmer conditions. It’s also a bit less bulky and lighter in weight than most, although the Windstopper membrane does effectively block out the wind and therefore boost warmth a bit. The brushed lining helps to wick some moisture up into the fabric, but isn’t the softest or warmest against the skin. The fabric is ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 5
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Sprayway Zao (2012)

£160.00

Of all the jackets on test, the Sprayway Zao is the only one to have a Gore-Tex outer shell, making it waterproof – rather than simply water-resistant. An insulating jacket suitable for use even in heavy rain or snow will keep you warm, and it means the insulation is well-protected against the wet too. But the problem for walkers is ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 3
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Rab Xenon Jacket (2012)

£155.00

It’s hard to believe that something this light (290g, size 10 – lightest on test) can help keep you warm on the hill. But thanks to the super-light Pertex Quantum used on the inner and outer coupled with the warming quality of the PrimaLoft One insulation, the Rab Xenon Jacket packs heat well above its weight. As soon as I ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 5
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Marmot Dena Jacket (2012)

£130.00

Not only can you lighten your backpack with the Marmot Dena Jacket (at 325g, size women’s S,  it’s the second lightest jacket in our test) but you can also boost your green credentials as the synthetic insulation is made from 100 per cent recycled fabric. Despite its light weight it does keep you relatively warm, and it can pack down ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 3
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Montane Flux Jacket (2012)

£130.00

Boasting a wealth of features, the Montane Flux Jacket is quite simply great value for money. Made from Eco-PrimaLoft – where at least 50 per cent of the insulating material is recycled fibre – it will keep you warm enough for summit stops and short lunch breaks for a reasonably low weight (420g, size 10). Its outer shell is water-resistant ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 5
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Páramo Torres Jacket (2012)

£140.00

When it comes to insulating layers, Páramo says: why put it on under your waterproof when you can simply throw it over everything? But the question for a walker who will only use a jacket like this ‘just in case’ or when they stop for lunch is this: is it really worth the extra weight and bulk in their backpack? ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 4
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Berghaus Ignite Hoody (2012)

£130.00

On the surface, the Berghaus Ignite Hoody is very similar to the Montane Flux; however it is slightly heavier (20g more) but feels a little warmer. Like others on test it’s wind- and water-resistant, filled with PrimaLoft insulation and also boasts an adjustable hem cord to get a snug fit around your waist. A draught excluder is fitted behind the ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 4
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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The North Face Super Zephyrus (2012)

£160.00

More of a hybrid than a true insulating number, the The North Face Super Zephyrus falls somewhere between a mid layer and an insulated jacket. It features a combination of Polartec Powerstretch panels and sections of PrimaLoft insulation. Because of this it’s obviously much thinner than the others on test, but then it is meant to sit closer to your ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 3
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Mountain Equipment Alpamayo Jacket (2012)

£160.00

Designed primarily as a belay jacket to go over other layers, the Mountain Equipment Alpamayo is, as expected, generously sized as well as water- and wind-resistant. It’s very warm too – second warmest on test after the Páramo jacket – but then with extra warmth comes extra weight (526g, size 10 – third heaviest here) so it really depends on ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 4
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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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 ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 5
  • Owners' rating rating is 4.5
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Finisterre Sastruga III (2012)

£185.00

As with everything made by Finisterre, environmental concerns are high in the designers’ minds. The synthetic fill is PrimaLoft Eco, made from recycled plastic bottles and the face fabric is also made from recycled polyester. The jacket has a tight, long fit. Even in a large it’s quite a snug fit and won’t suit those who prefer a more relaxed ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 4
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Helly Hansen Cross Insulator (2012)

£120.00

A classic mid-layer insulator jacket, in a bit of a 1970s ski jacket style. The synthetic fill allows it to work even in the wet and it’s not too thick so it fits under a shell easily enough. The relatively short cut of the body also helps with mid-layer performance. When used as a mid-layer, it can be a bit ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 3
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Columbia Prarion (2012)

£150.00

Although it uses 700-fill down, the jacket has added insulation in the form of Columbia’s Omni-Heat reflective technology. Silver dots are added to the lining to help bounce radiated heat back inside. In use it does seem to add extra warmth to the top, without making things too stuffy. However, the jacket still remains quite heavy for a down-filled mid-layer ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 3
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Marmot Baffin Half-Zip (2012)

£110.00

This is a kind of hybrid style of jacket that offers more warmth than a fleece with a bit of extra waterproofing thrown in. As a pullover style it won’t be to everyone’s taste, and it isn’t the easiest to take off in a hurry. But the thinking is that you shouldn’t need to take it off so often because ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 3
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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The North Face Diez (2012)

£230.00

This is a classic down mid-layer-style of jacket. There’s no hood so it won’t keep your head warm, but it does mean the down is less likely to get wet in a wintry shower. It has a shortish cut, built to fit under a shell layer. The lightweight Pertex shell fabric offers some water resistance, although it can’t be relied ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 4
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Craghoppers Risor Half-Zip (2012)

£60.00

A fleece for walkers who don’t want to be seen in a fleece. Has the feel of a comfy pullover, but is still highly practical. The outer fabric feels a bit more like thick wool than fleece, which makes it a little more resilient to abrasion and resists the dreading pilling of the fabric over time. The inner fabric retains ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 3
  • Owners' rating rating is 0

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