Mountain Equipment Lumiko Hooded Jacket review: Moves like a base-layer, warms like a mid-layer

There's no doubt about it. This sector of the outdoor clothing market is incredibly diverse – and competitive. Take a look at the shortlist in our guide to the best fleece jackets and you'll see for yourself, but can the Mountain Equipment Lumiko Hooded Jacket make it on there?

Regardless of the physical challenge, manufacturers have found a solution for everything. From high-pile fleeces designed primarily for warmth and comfort on casual walks to lightweight, technical mid-layers made for moving on fast ascents – there’s a mid-layer to match.

And if your interest is piqued by spiel including ‘performance stretch fabric with a slimline active fit,’ then this review is worth sticking with.

The Lumiko Hooded Jacket is a lightweight fleece layer designed to perform in the mountains, particularly for more strenuous activities that require unrestricted movement and breathability.

That’s not to say the jacket won’t do a decent job day-to-day as part of your layering system, too. Mountain Equipment considers this fleece to be the most versatile in its line-up for year-round use.

With that in mind, I zipped up for a few weeks to put the the Lumiko Hooded Jacket through its paces.

Performance

Mountain Equipment leads with light, breathable and fast drying to describe the Lumiko Hooded Jacket, so that’s where I’ll start too. And at 270g in a UK men’s medium, this is indeed a flyweight of a mid layer.

Its ribbed construction reduces any unnecessary weight and bulk, aiding with breathability. It also means there’s less material to dry if the heavens open. Another plus here is that the Lumiko is extremely packable, rolling down to smaller than a one-litre water bottle.

Having road tested the Lumiko in various conditions now, I’m beginning to see why Mountain Equipment considers it so versatile. It should be viewed as a chameleon in my opinion. In very cold temperatures, I'd use this against the skin as a base layer, in cool conditions it'd work as part of a layering system and on milder days or strenuous activities – simply as a top layer.

If you’re looking for a fleece jacket that offers maximum insulation, this is not the one. But if versatility and warmth-to-weight ratio are high on your agenda, then this is worth adding to your shortlist.

A 7% elastane construction means the Lumiko is highly stretchable, offering unrestricted movement when navigating complex terrain, whether that be on foot in the mountains or strapped into a harness on the rock face. If performance stretch is important to you, this jacket should meet your expectations.

Comfort and fit

If it isn’t, however, you might not appreciate the ‘active’ fit. This is a figure-hugging fleece that accentuates everything. Now, I fully understand this is a 'me' problem, but it would be amiss of me not to mention it. It’s a bit too 'active' for my liking, but that’s completely personal, and I’m sure plenty will enjoy the fit and the stretch it allows.

The Lumiko fits on the small side, in my opinion, which is another reason to really consider the fit, given its athletic styling. I’m between a small and a medium, but found this medium to be less roomy than most. I’d be inclined to size up.

As for comfort, the Lumiko impressed. Its brushed back fabric is soft and comfy, and the cover-stitched seams enable this fleece to be worn directly against the skin without any irritation.

Durability is tough to gauge accurately within my testing period. I’ve noticed a few tiny frayed stitches around the cuffs, but I would imagine this will be somewhat inevitable given how airy the garment is. Mountain Equipment’s product lifetime guarantee eases any concerns in this department, however.

Features

The Mountain Equipment Lumiko Hooded Jacket features a full-length YKK zip, plus a solo zipped chest pocket for stashing essentials on the go.

Protection from the elements is provided by a largely unnoticeable hood that contours snugly around the head. Additional features include low-bulk cuffs and a low-bulk hem that sits comfortably under a harness or hiking backpack waistbelt.

I’m a big fan of the fern green colour seen here, but the jacket is available in another four designs, each with a contrasting coloured chest pocket.

Price and competition

Retailing at £80, the Mountain Equipment Lumiko Hooded Jacket sits at the mid-to-low end of the market for cost, while still representing a significant investment.

A like-for-like comparison would be the The North Face Summit Series Futurefleece Hooded Jacket, which also goes after warmth-to-weight ratio, targeting breathability and stretch over all-out insulation. That will set you back £135, though.

More in the Lumiko’s ballpark, however, would be the Adidas Terrex Xperior Light Fleece Hooded Jacket, retailing at £85. It’s another lightweight, highly breathable and versatile option that we think is well constructed, swapping out the chest pocket for two mesh-lined hand warmer pockets.

The ribbed, or internal ‘gill’ structure, as dubbed by Mountain Equipment, makes it difficult to directly compare with fleeces using different insulation. However, if you’re after more warmth in a less active fit, the Rab Superflux Hoody is a great shout at £100, as is the Montane Fury Lite Hooded Fleece Jacket for the same price.

Sustainability

The Lumiko has a 93% recycled polyester construction, which will please those looking for a fleece with strong sustainability credentials. In comparison, The North Face's Summit Series Futurefleece Hooded Jacket previously mentioned has a 45% construction from recycled materials, as does the Rab Superflux Hoody.

As well as being a member of the Fair Wear Foundation, Mountain Equipment publishes a wealth of information on its website that details the strides the brand is making on the sustainability front. Here, you can read the extensive Impact and Responsibility Report, which breaks down the brand’s progress across various areas including emission reduction, materials, ethical sourcing, packaging, labour, conservation and more.

It's a level of transparency that Mountain Equipment should be applauded for.

Verdict

This is a highly versatile fleece jacket that really does move like a base layer and warm like a mid-layer. I can’t think of many mountain scenarios where this garment won’t serve at least one useful function.

It’s not your answer if you’re looking for top-notch insulation that holds its own when the temperature dives. But due to its high next-to-skin comfort and low-bulk construction, you can employ the Lumiko as a highly effective base-layer instead – albeit an expensive one.

Nevertheless, what I initially thought was a steep retail price (£80) now feels a little more reasonable. My biggest concern remains the athletic fit, which I think could split the crowd.

All things considered, this jacket gets 4 stars from me. It’s better suited for more technical ascents, in my opinion, which is why if long, slow walks are more your thing, then I’d be looking for a warmer fleece alternative.

About the author

Ross Tugwood is a contributing equipment writer for LFTO. Before becoming a sports journalist he spent a decade supporting elite athletes as a biomechanist with British Athletics, which included two Olympic cycles.

These days, his day job sees him write and tests kit for Today's Golfer as a senior writer, but when he's not at his desk he's often exploring near his home in the wild and wonderful Snowdonia National Park, North Wales.