Mountain Equipment Cosmos

£120 Men’s S-XXL Women’s 8-16 Weight 324g (size L) Material Exolite 125 double stretch weave (100% nylon)

The nylon fabric offers more durability than polyester, is breathable and can fend off light moisture, making the Cosmos good for hillwalking and scrambling. It’s a snug fit, but is comfortable when worn over a thin fleece layer. There is slightly more length in the body than some and hardly any movement in the cuffs when scrambling. The hood fits well enough to allow vision, while the OS-sized main pockets are placed to allow access when wearing a rucksack hipbelt. The third chest pocket is very small but just about takes a GPS receiver or compass.

It’s not as warm or water-resistant as the higher-priced heavier jackets tested here, so you will need insulating layers more often with this soft shell than others. It’s more of a stretchy windshirt than insulating jacket, which is great if that’s what you are looking for. Both the hood and cuffs are elasticated, but have no other adjustment so either fit or they don’t. I found that the hood would benefit from adjustment as it didn’t move well enough due to it not ‘hugging’ my head. The small chest pocket is okay but its use is limited by its dimensions.

A breathable and stretchy windshirt style with good features for hillwalking and scrambling in mild conditions.