£150- £299 | Not Yet Reviewed | Warm layers

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Soft Shell (24)
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Results 1 - 25 of 63

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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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, ...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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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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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 ...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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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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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 ...

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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 ...

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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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Marmot ROM Jacket 2011

£160.00

The Marmot ROM Jacket is designed to allow a full Range of Motion (ROM) without riding up. You can swing your arms without the sleeves or hem moving too much. But then, other jackets also achieve this without advertising it. The jacket is made with Gore Windstopper fabric which has a membrane inside to improve wind and water resistance, but ...

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Rab Vapour-rise Guide Jacket 2011

£150.00

The Rab Vapour-rise Guide Jacket is a new winter version of Rab’s popular Vapour-rise range. The Pertex Equilibrium fabric doesn’t have a membrane sandwiched between its layers, meaning it’s more breathable than many soft shell fabrics so you’re less likely to get condensation while wearing it. This Guide version is also warmer than the standard Vapour-rise jackets, thanks to a ...

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Montane Sabretooth 2011

£150.00

The Montane Sabretooth has been a Trail favourite for a couple of years; it still offers an excellent range of features. The Polartec Powershield fabric has a membrane with tiny holes, which makes it very windproof while being pretty breathable. The fabric offers the right degree of insulation, so it feels reasonably warm and can be combined with a thinner ...

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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, ...