Berghaus Changtse £290

You’d struggle to find a jacket packed with more features than the Changtse (named after a Tibetan peak). Berghaus describe it as a feat of engineering and we can’t disagree. Designed as an all-purpose jacket, it’s so well-articulated that even if you only use for mountain biking you won’t feel short-changed. Let’s start with the material, because with a combination of three types of Gore-Tex, that’s a science all in itself. The main body is made from highly-breathable Gore-Tex Active, because it covers your heatgenerating core. On the chest and arms, Gore-Tex Paclite Plus is used for its abrasion resistance and durability. Finally, Gore-Tex Topo Stretch is used at the hem and cuffs for extra give, meaning no need for additional adjustment. This approach really works, making the Changtse so comfortable when you’re working hard that, even in mild weather, we didn’t have to open up the two-way pit zips. All the zips are water-resistant. The full-length front zip is also two-way, so you can use it for extra ventilation, and the zip-pull makes it easy to close up before descents. You can fit the hood over a helmet, and Berghaus’s mountaineering heritage is telling in the protective height of the front collar. From the simplicity of the long zip-pulls to the complex fabrication, every detail of this jacket has been meticulously designed. It’s a worthy winner, despite not being MTB-specific. www.berghaus.com