Keela Talus

£140

Let’s face it, nowhere in the UK does cold and wet weather like Scotland. So we were interested to test Fife-based Keela’s synthetic Talus jacket.

It ticks plenty of boxes, utilising tried and tested 60gsm Primaloft Gold wadded sheet insulation for core warmth, with lighter Primaloft fill on the arms, plus side stretch panels made from a heavyweight, hard-face fleece fabric. This combination of fabrics and fills makes it pretty much windproof, yet offers improved articulation over conventional insulated jackets.

It’s comfortable to wear, though roomy, and you may want to consider sizing down for a more tailored fit.

The jacket has twin fleecelined zipped hand pockets, plus both inner and outer chest pockets. Elastic-bound cuffs and a hem drawcord help to minimise heat loss. The main zipper is a reverse coil design with an inner stormflap and a chinguard.

You also get an excellent grown-on hood with threepoint adjustment and, uniquely among the synthetic insulated jackets we tested here, a wired peak.

On test, it proved a cosy and protective layer that combined all the advantages of synthetics – superior wet weather performance and quick-drying ability – with high comfort levels and practical features. The Talus is just as good as most of its higher-priced hybrid synthetic rivals, making it a great value buy.

IF WE’RE BEING FUSSY

We’d like a little more length in the body for even better coverage. It would be good to see the use of recycled fabrics or fill too, in line with the approach taken by other brands.

■ FABRIC 100% nylon shell and lining, stretch fleece panels made from 49% polyester, 40% nylon and 11% lycra

■ FILL Primaloft Gold 100% polyester insulation

■ MEN’S SIZES XS-XXL

■ WOMEN’S SIZES 8-16

■ WEIGHT 540g (men’s M)

Verdict

A no-nonsense synthetic layer that uses high-quality fill and boasts plenty of features, offering performance, practicality and good value.

“Cosy, protective and great value”