Men's | £300 - £599 | translate:/Global/SiteRating: 3

At 448g (men’s L) the Mammut Albaron /Adamello is the lightest jacket in our test, and while it is certainly trimmed down to make that weight it still has some great features. It is made from Gore-Tex Pro Shell, as are many other jackets, but this feels like a thinner and therefore lighter version. To maintain durability you get reinforcement ...

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Arc’teryx Beta AR 2011

£340.00

The Arc’teryx Beta AR weighs in at an impressive 494g (men’s L) so it is one of the lightest jackets in our test. That weight advantage comes from the relatively short and stripped-down design, as you just get two external pockets, pits zips and a main zip. The fabric is quite a thin version of Gore-Tex Pro Shell, so there ...

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Marmot Alpinist 2010

£400.00

The Marmot Alpinist weighs 730g (size M); Gore-Tex Pro Shell; four large chest pockets; pit zips aid ventilation; removable snow skirt; good hood: wired peak and volume adjustment. But no external stormflap on main zip (although it does get internal guttering flap); slightly shorter than some options; main drawback is the price.

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Mammut Chalten 2010

£350.00

The Mammut Chalten uses C-Change fabric, which gets more breathable as it gets warmer; two chest pockets; pit zips; extremely durable fabric; zip-out snowskirt; excellent hood movement. But 850g (size L); breathability does not start to improve until 18 deg C; mesh pockets are not waterproof; pockets are Napoleon style so are of limited use; hood peak needs better stiffening.

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Helly Hansen Verglas 2010

£330.00

The Helly Hansen Verglas weighs 516g (size M); Helly Tech O2 fabric has extremely good waterproofness and breathability; stretch panels in shoulder and hem; two small high chest pockets; two very large hip pockets; removable snowskirt. But access to hip pockets easily obscured with rucksack belts; front zip has internal rather than external stormflaps; hood not as good as some.

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Mountain Hardwear Axial 2010

£320.00

The Mountain Hardwear Axial weighs 504g (size L); Gore-Tex Pro Shell; two hip pockets; one chest pocket; pit zips; hood has good fit and movement and stiffened peak; close fit; excellent sleeve movement. But hip pocket access easily obscured by harness or hipbelt; very short body means you’re more likely to need overtrousers; front zip has internal but no external ...

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Outdoor Research Mentor 2010

£320.00

The Outdoor Research Mentor weighs 486g (size L); Gore-Tex Pro Shell; two big chest pockets plus a third smaller chest pocket; pit zips extend to hem for incredible venting; good hood fit and movement. But waterproof pockets may be a better choice than these mesh-lined ones; front zip has internal rather than external baffles; long side zip has no stormflap ...

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Crux Flak 2010

£300.00

The Crux Flak weighs 552g (size L); eVent fabric; huge chest pockets; large main zip for ease of use and durable performance; stunning hood with massive stiffened peak.But Napoleon pockets restrict ease of access for handwarming for example; front ‘Aquazip’ leaks and has internal rather than external stormflaps; short body length suits climbing, but not walking.

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Adidas Terrex Feather 2010

£340.00

The Adidas Terrex Feather weighs 400g (size L); Gore-Tex Pro Shell offers extremely high levels of waterproofness and breathability; mesh pockets on chest increase ventilation and can be accessed while wearing a rucksack; fixed hood with wired peak can be rolled down and secured; excellent movement in sleeves. But very pricy for features; sealed pockets and a storm flap over ...

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Mountain Hardwear Optimo/Celeste 2010

£330.00

The Mountain Hardwear Optimo/Celeste weighs 412g (size M); Gore-Tex Pro Shell fabric; two large hip pockets; additional chest pocket; rolldown hood with excellent movement and large wired peak; pit zips. But price tag is high; others are lighter; access to base pockets is not ideal when wearing a rucksack belt; base pockets are mesh so they’re not watertight.

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Mountain Hardwear Artero 2010

£340.00

The Mountain Hardwear Artero general-purpose jacket weighs 538g (size L); Gore-Tex Pro Shell is extremely waterproof and extremely breathable; pit zips; two Napoleon chest pockets; two hip pockets; hood can be rolled to collar; hood movement is excellent. But price is very high; pocket access with a rucksack could be slightly better; pockets are mesh-lined so not totally waterproof; very ...

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Vaude Stretch Infinity 2009

£300.00

The Vaude Stretch Infinity general-purpose jacket weighs 552g (men’s L); stretch eVent fabric is extremely waterproof and breathable; pit zips; chest pockets easily accessed with rucksack on; front zip gets external stormflap; fine hood movement. But chest pockets are mesh-lined so not as waterproof as sealed pockets; hood peak is large and not stiffened.

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The North Face Heathen 2009

£300.00

With the The North Face Heathen jacket you do get a lot of features for the tiny weight of 332g (men’s M), so it should appeal to the lightweight walker. Firstly it is made from well-proven Gore-Tex Pro Shell, which offers excellent performance in terms of its waterproofness and its breathability. There are two chest pockets that are easily large ...

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Mammut Extreme Jannu 2008

£400.00

The Mammut Extreme Jannu winter jacket’s extremely waterproof and extremely breathable Schoeller C Change fabric breathes better in warmer weather and retains heat better in cooler temps: two Napoleon chest pockets; long side/pit vents; excellent hood movement and fit. But 998g (size L) is heavy; extremely pricy; dedicated Alpinist‘s jacket, not winter walkers’ jacket; soft hood peak; pockets no use ...

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The North Face Mammatus 2008

£325.00

The Mammatus winter jacket from The North Face weighs just 508g (men’s M); Gore Pro Shell fabric, so top waterproofness and breathability; two Napoleon chest pockets; two huge conventional chest pockets; pit zips for venting; outstanding hood fit and movement. But not worth the high price tag; main zip lacks external stormflap; large, soft peak easily distorts.