OMM CORE FLEECE JACKET

£110 Lightweight running wear from the mountain specialists

85 %

VERDICT NOT THE CHEAPEST BUT A MASSIVELY VERSATILE JACKET FOR OFF-SEASON RUNNING

The pocket seams and woolly outer aesthetics on the Core look like something our geology teacher uncle would don for a field trip. And yet, there’s more to the eye here than just being a solid choice of outerwear while studying Sidmouth’s coastal erosion, with the looks belying plenty of in-fabric tech.

From the new OMM range (Original Mountain Marathon, first held in 1968 and currently set for Grasmere, Cumbria, in late May), the lean 195g Core Fleece is largely constructed of the ubiquitous insulating wonder that is Primaloft (also seen on outerwear from Inov-8, North Face and more). So it ticks the warmth boxes, keeping us toasty on joyous snow and frostheavy runs in January.

Where it overcame our initial scepticism was just how well the synthetic yarn dispenses with sweat build-up and feels breathable, staying dry under a waterproof shell and also providing ventilation for when our tempo – and the outdoor temperature – stepped up. The result was that we didn’t need multiple layers underneath, with just a run tee sufficing even in sub-zero conditions.

Further brownie points are awarded for the flatlock internal seams, quality YKK zippers and 58% of the garment being constructed with post-consumer recycled materials. It was also a welcome presence for post-open-water swimming adventures and will be top of our early morning transition wear list once multisport racing returns.