Zhik isotak 2
Jacket £499 Salopettes £425
Australian brand Zhik’s Isotak 2 range is one down from their top-end Isotak Ocean product. It includes many of the same features but aims to do so at a lighter weight and slightly lower price, bringing it in at under the £1,000 mark. The own-brand fabric is claimed to remain both waterproof and breathable for longer than the other products.
Jacket
The jacket, has a high fleecelined collar with large hi-vis panel. The storm flap over the face had Velcro adjustment on both sides and could be snugged in securely, as well being fully removable. The top of the collar was adjustable, though we found the same issue with the toggle pushing against the head when the hood is up. The hood is easily adjustable with one hand and includes a drip gutter. A flap folds over the hood for stowage, rather than a full pocket. The sleeves had a comfortable articulated design, and there was reinforcement over the seat area, both inside and out. Fleece-lined pockets behind the large cargo pockets were nice and warm, but there were no chest pockets. Instead, there was a zipped pocket on the sleeve for a phone or knife.
Salopettes
The salopettes are of a unisex design, with no drop seat on offer. There was a good amount of space in these salopettes with elasticated waist adjustment. The soft neoprene shoulder straps were also innovative, with the loose ends being fed into the body of the salopettes and held securely by Velcro on either side – a neat alternative to buckle adjustment. There are no hand-warmer pockets on the trousers, although there was a secure zipped chest pocket and two large cargo pockets on the thighs, as well as a small pocket for a knife.
test VERDICT
On our water test, the PU inner cuffs gave the least effective seal other than the Decathlon jacket. This could benefit from a softer rubber fabric. A tiny amount of water got in through the neck, but the jacket was extremely comfortable to wear with a great range of movement – the design of the fit is excellent.