MTN WAREHOUSE

Snowdon Melange

RRP £26 Target Price £15 Sometimes keeping ideas simple is the best way forward. That’s certainly the case with the Snowdon Melange fleece from Mountain Warehouse. Let’s think about what you really need from a fleece. Warmth? Check. Comfort? Check. In fact, the fleece delivers these essentials and more, and for a sum of money that puts many other price tags to shame. I enjoyed the fluffy, luxuriously soft feel of the Snowdon Melange, and I wore it as a mid-layer on a long, fresh day in the hills, without needing to strip off. Thin and reasonably close-fitting it slips comfortably under an outer layer, and is one of the lightest fleeces you’re likely to find – an unobtrusive, packable and quick-drying piece of kit. So what’s missing? Well it’s not the warmest fleece, nor the most robust. The wind goes straight through it, and it won’t stand up to truly wintry temperatures. It doesn’t have a fulllength zip either, so some may miss the option to open it up on sweaty climbs. The other sacrifice in the name of value and simplicity is a pocket of any kind. What you see is what you get – a cosy, extra layer of warmth. RB