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Results 1 - 25 of 30

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. ...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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Páramo Velez Adventure Light Smock 2011

£200.00

Páramo was making soft shells before the term was coined. The Velez Adventure Light Smock is a classic design that has proven its worth over the years. It’s made of Nikwax Analogy Light, which is extremely breathable while keeping the wearer dry from all but the worst rain. The jacket weighs a little more than others, but it’s also a ...

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Mammut Ultimate Advanced 2011

£200.00

The Mammut Ultimate Advanced jacket is a good example of what’s possible with Gore Windstopper fabric, which has a microporous membrane sandwiched between the outer and inner layers to make the fabric windproof and breathable while also allowing it to shed light rain. It doesn’t feel quite as warm as other fabrics, but this could be an advantage as you ...

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Adidas Terrex Windstopper 2011

£170.00

The Adidas Terrex Windstopper made it into our top eight by offering a little more than some of the other soft shell jackets we considered. First, it’s made from an unbranded windstopper fabric with a microporous membrane, so it’s great for keeping out wind and water, but not as breathable as non-membrane materials. It does feel quite soft, though: the ...

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Mountain Equipment Astron Hooded 2011

£160.00

The Mountain Equipment Astron Hooded is an extremely popular jacket that has in the past been Trail’s ‘Best in Test’. It’s made of Polartec Powershield, which has a perforated membrane to make it very windproof yet breathable. There’s also a brushed lining that gives it just about the right amount of insulation for winter walks, with the addition of a ...

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GoLite Wind River Soft Shell Jacket 2011

£150.00

The GoLite Wind River Soft Shell Jacket’s stretchy body fabric is made from recycled polyester, so in theory it’s better for the environment than other jackets, also providing comfort and freedom of movement. It’s a very breathable fabric, as there’s no membrane to block airflow. Thanks to a brushed back, the jacket offers a good level of insulation for summer ...

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Eider Power Pro Jacket 2011

£295.00

Early in 2010 at a ski resort high in the Dolomites Trail was given first sight of Polartec’s new soft shell fabric, Power Shield Pro, in various styles of jacket. Massive amounts of snow and bitterly cold winds put the material through a severe testing. But how would this new fabric function in the UK’s typically wet and windy conditions? ...

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Berghaus Extrem Duvet 2011

£200.00

The Berghaus Extrem Duvet is almost the ideal duvet for really cold winter nights on the hills. It comes with good-quality down and is very warm, unlike some of the lighter jackets here. That added insulation does mean this is a little heavier than some at 708g, but I’d rather go for maximum warmth than minimal weight in winter. The ...

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Rab Infinity 2011

£200.00

Use of the new Pertex 10 denier Quantum fabric ensures that the Rab Infinity is very light indeed. At 484g it is not the lightest jacket, but it provides more insulation, so it is usable at lower temperatures. It uses top-quality down too, which keeps the weight down further. The Infinity hood surprisingly comes without any volume adjuster or drawcords, ...

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Patagonia Fitz Roy 2011

£190.00

If you don’t want a hood then the Patagonia Fitz Roy down jacket is a good choice. It makes use of recycled polyester so in theory it is better for the environment than others as it keeps pop bottles and worn garments out of landfill. It has a reasonable amount of down insulation inside so it feels pretty warm, although ...

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GoLite Roan Plateau 800 Hooded Jacket 2011

£180.00

A light insulated duvet that benefits from some very useful features, the Roan GoLite Roan Plateau 800 Hooded Jacket uses top-quality down and this is packed into a durable ripstop nylon outer. At 572g this is lighter than some lower-priced options yet it still has a hood. Putting the jacket on, it feels reasonably warm, but not as warm as ...

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Montane North Star 2011

£180.00

The Montane North Star is quite an unusual design. It is longer than most down jackets so you get far better protection around your bum. At 574g it is surprisingly lightweight for its features though as this is a pretty warm duvet. There is a hood too with good insulation, a volume adjuster and a massive wired peak so it ...

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Marmot Ama Dablam 2011

£170.00

The Marmot Ama Dablam is a lighter-weight duvet than those at a lower price but you still get a hood and a reasonable amount of insulation. The jacket has top-quality down and a polyester shell that resists light rain and is much softer than the nylon options. The Ama Dablam has the usual zipped hip pockets and a good anti-snag ...

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The North Face Kishtwar 2010

£239.00

The Kishtwar is part of The North Face’s Summit Series and it’s designed for highly aerobic endeavours in foul weather. The Polartec Power Shield Pro fabric has the benefit of being far more water-resistant than standard Power Shield. DesignThe TNF Kishtwar is a very practical, mountain-orientated design. There are two chest pockets placed high on the body, plus a Napoleon ...

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Lowe Alpine Quantum 2010

£160.00

The Lowe Alpine Quantum is the least wind-resistant garment here, which means it allows air to pass through easily so it’s ideal when wearing a soft shell under a waterproof hard shell. DesignThe green fabric used in the Lowe Alpine Quantum is Polartec Powershield, but compared to other jackets that use this fabric it is far less wind-resistant, which means ...

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Montane New Sabretooth 2010

£150.00

What’s in a name? The original Montane Sabretooth soft shell jacket was made from Polartec Windpro until July 2010, but from autumn 2010 there is a new version that uses Polartec Powershield. This new fabric has a membrane, which leads to a lower weight plus an increase in water resistance and wind resistance. What’s not to like? DesignThe old Sabretooth ...

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Montane Sabretooth Jacket 2009

£150.00

The grey area between soft shell and fleece is spanned by the Montane Sabretooth, which is described as a ‘highly technical soft shell’ jacket as it is more wind- and water-resistant than other fleece mid layers. But most importantly it does not have a membrane so it is far more breathable than most soft shells. DesignThe Montane Sabretooth is a ...

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Peak Performance Soft Shell 2008

£180.00

This soft shell jacket is totally windproof and very water- and abrasion-resistant fabric; chest pockets are easily accessed while wearing a rucksack; Velcro-adjustable cuffs; hood fits over helmet and movement is good. But 718g is relatively heavy; hood not removable; slightly high price tag for what you get.

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The North Face Valkyrie 2008

£170.00

The Polartec Windbloc fabric used in this soft shell jacket is extremely wind- and water-resistant due to a membrane laminated into the fabric. The fabric is also hard-wearing, making it ideal for scramblers and mountaineers who like to rub shoulders with rock. There is also some stretch in the fabric, which is again perfect for mountain use. There are two ...

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Millet Super Touring 2008

£160.00

Millet has produced a series of great soft shell jackets over recent years, and the Super Touring is its latest offering. It’s very lightweight and makes use of Polartec Power Shield to provide 98% wind resistance and very good water resistance, while maintaining a higher level of breathability than some other fabrics. There is good stretch too for extra mobility, ...

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Rab Baltora Guide 2008

£150.00

Like a number of jackets here this soft shell is made from Polartec Power Shield fabric, which offers very high levels of wind and water resistance, while maintaining a higher level of breathability than more waterproof fabrics. This top has a little more insulation built in than most, making it ideal for winter action. The jacket is relatively long too, ...