Insulated jackets

Lightweight, warm and luxurious – treat yourself to a cosy jacket. Vital tool of the trade you know.

OUR TESTING PERIOD for these jackets included a wild and windy Bonfire Night, and it was fun to look around and see the extent to which the insulated jacket has conquered ‘normal life’. Pretty much every adult human in attendance was wearing one – many of them from the pricier end of the outdoor market. The insulator has become an autumn/winter essential – and it’s likely to be the most expensive item in your outdoor armoury. The funny thing is, though, that Bonfire Night is no test of a proper walker’s insulator – because you’re standing still. Most of the insulators we test aren’t made to stand still; they are made to manage, circulate and regulate your heat while you are moving. So unless you’ve got a supertoasty duvet of an insulator (the kind they make for photographers, anglers and birdwatchers), you may still feel the bite if you’re just watching the fireworks. But out in the teeth of a January day on the moors, fells or exposed coastlines of the UK, when you’re moving for pretty much every hour of the daylight – that’s when these jackets turn into miracles. tested five each; most are available in men’s and women’s versions (denoted by these dots ). To reflect the market, we’ve chosen a wide variety of styles, including mix of natural down and synthetic filling. Some are hybrids of insulation and fleece or soft shell; some are lightweight gilets, others are full jackets; most make claims about water-repellency. We don’t pick an outright winner given the variety of styles, but Nick and Rachel have each picked a personal favourite. We also nominate a ‘best value’ option.