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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Deuter ACT Lite 45+10 (2012)

£120.00

Let’s ignore the (removable) flower that singles this out as the woman’s version of the Deuter ACT Lite 45+10 and focus on the basics. Two compartments make this a good backpacking sack as you can zip the items you won’t need till the evening away from your walking staples. If you don’t want the feature, it’s easily unzipped to create ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 4
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Mountain Hardwear Wandrin 48 (2012)

£130.00

The Mountain Hardwear Wandrin 48 is a rucksack that holds a surprising amount of kit within its two compartments. Long zip tags make it easy to open the lower one, and this can be opened up inside (thanks to a zip) to make one compartment if preferred. An oddly placed rain cover in the top half of the lower compartment ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 5
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Kathmandu Monrovia (2012)

£85.00

Put on a Kathmandu jacket and people may assume you’ve just come back from New Zealand, because down under everyone’s wearing this popular Kiwi/Aussie brand. Well, it’s now in the UK! The Monrovia is designed to be lightweight and easy to pack when walking or travelling. The jacket is made from a 2.5-layer fabric with a print on the inside, ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 3
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Berghaus Bioflex 45 (2012)

£140.00

Prepare yourself for a totally different sensation when walking with this backpack, as Berghaus unleashes its BioFlex technology on the world. This unique back system sees the hipbelt pivot with you as you move, allowing you to bend forward and flex without being encumbered by your load. It does feel odd at first and takes some getting used to – ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 4
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Montane Atomic (2012)

£100.00

The Montane Atomic has been around for some years, but it is now made from Pertex Shield, a very thin and lightweight laminated fabric with a print finish on the inside. This jacket packs down small and is very light, but with the drawback of not being quite so comfy as one using 3-layer fabric such as the eVent used ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 4
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Osprey Aura 50 (2012)

£120.00

At first glance the Osprey Aura 50 appears to be crammed with clips, straps and attachment loops – and it is! There is an impressive six external pockets and Osprey’s patented Stow on the Go trekking pole attachment system, which allows you to keep your poles slotted to your left side for easy access. This is useful in theory when ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 3
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Mammut Hera Element 40+ (2012)

£125.00

The Mammut Hera Element 40+ (as you might imagine) boasts a capacity of 40+ litres, but accommodates a generous amount of kit with room to spare, so it’s good for trips of several days. The rucksack has two compartments, one of which can be zipped away to create a single space, and large tags on the lower zips are perfect ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 3
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Keela Pinnacle (2012)

£100.00

Keela is well-known for producing fully featured, well-priced kit – and the Pinnacle is no exception. It’s made from a robust 3-layer fabric that is a bit stiff and noisy. Put the jacket on and you get a double stormflap over the front zip to keep the rain out with an extra map-sized pocket behind these flaps. There are two ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 4
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Sprayway Nyx/Eos 2012 (2012)

£125.00

From the word go the Sprayway Nyx / Eos is a very comfortable jacket thanks to the use of a mesh lining inside the Gore-Tex Performance Shell, which has higher waterproofness and breathability ratings than many materials featured here. Put it on and it has a relatively soft feel, although it is very short and exposes more of your waist ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 4
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Lowe Alpine Nanon ND 50:60 (2012)

£135.00

Though the Lowe Alpine Nanon ND 50:60 only has a single main compartment (as opposed to two) it certainly makes up for it with a massive front section that can take a whole wedge of extra kit if required. With two stretchy side panels and adjustable straps to make it go even further, it’s the perfect space to cram your ...

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

£120.00

The Vinson is made from Berghaus’s AQ2 fabric, which is very soft and flexible. A mesh lining further adds to the comfort provided by this jacket. The fabric doesn’t boast the performance ratings of Gore-Tex Performance Shell for example, as featured in other Berghaus jackets, but it is a good low-priced option. There is slightly more length in this jacket ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 4
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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First test: Mammut Brecon boots (2012)

£145.00

British mountains provide a unique test for the walker, with terrain that includes everything from smooth paths to rocky scrambles and from grassy slopes to boggy moors. While it is easy to get gear that performs well in one situation, it is far more difficult to find outdoors kit that manages to handle everything the UK hills can throw at ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 5
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Target Dry Pioneer/Odyssey (2012)

£95.00

The Pioneer/Odyssey forms part of Target Dry’s Xtreme range, and it is designed as a 4-season garment. It’s made from a very robust nylon fabric that feels quite capable of withstanding years of abuse in the mountains, and there is a mesh lining to increase comfort too. The drawback of this combination is that this is the heaviest jacket on ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 4
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Karrimor Lynx (2012)

£135.00

Traditionally when you needed a durable and roomy backpack you would automatically go for a Karrimor – and those characteristics still apply today, with the Lynx offering plenty of space for all your camping gear (and a fair bit more), a fantastically bombproof fabric and a build that’s certain to withstand everything you (and perhaps baggage handlers) throw at it. ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 4
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Kathmandu Voltai (2012)

£100.00

As the lightest and cheapest of the rucksacks in our test, compromises have had to be made. In the case of the Kathmandu Voltai it’s that there’s only one back length available and it isn’t adjustable – so it will either fit you or it won’t! Also there is only one main compartment, rather than two found on others, and ...

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

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