MID LAYERS: CLASS OF 2017
EDZ MICROFLEECE £30
A great value fleece: simple, light, breathable, packable. Lacks body-mapping and pockets, but works beautifully as a summit throw-on. www.edzlayering.com
QUECHUA WINDWARM 800 HYBRID £55
A slick hybrid of soft shell and insulation. Great body mapping and very warm, but the hood is small and the shallow tail rides up. www.decathlon.co.uk
BERGHAUS PRAVITALE LIGHT £70
Forsakes luxurious fleece for a practical stretch fabric which works beautifully, especially on hill-climbs on cold days. Two well-placed handwarmer pockets and near-limitless adaptability. www.berghaus.com
ROHAN TROGGINGS £79
One of the most versatile soft shells on the market. The light, stretchy outer fabric married to a fleecy interior, and freedom of movement is great. www.rohan.co.uk
SPRAYWAY MINOS £40
Classy country looks, and a clever fleece blend which manages heat nicely and doesn’t bobble. It’s a bit baggy though. www.sprayway.com
SHERPA KARMA £45
Slimline and feathery-light, the Karma still packs a punch in terms of warmth if worn as a mid layer rather than an outer. Fit is very tight. www.sherpa adventuregear.com
MTN WAREHOUSE EXODUS £70
A soft shell by name, but realistically a hard shell. Holds out the wind courtesy of clever face fabric and soft, fleecy interior. Stiff and heavy, but fairly adaptable. www.mountain warehouse.com
CRAGHOPPERS MOORSIDE £80
A big soft shell that gives you a warm bear hug as soon as it’s on. Not terribly adaptable, but an excellent jacket for less strenuous walks on very cold winter days. www.craghoppers.com
REGATTA SHYANN III £80
At a miniscule 220g, it’s super-light; feels like pulling on an outdoorsready negligée (says Rachel). Comfy and breathable, but less water-resistant than we’d expect. www.regatta.com
MAMMUT MERCURY £100
A really slick, light and stretchy fleece using a clever weave by Italian firm Pontetoro. Brilliant at regulating heat, but quite expensive and the pockets are useless under a rucksack harness. www.mammut.ch
PATAGONIA BETTER SWEATER £110
Beautifully tailored, with superb features from perfectly placed pockets to thumb loops and the cosiest hood of any fleece we tested this year. Fairly heavy and expensive, but it’s money well spent. www.patagonia.co.uk
RAB KINETIC PLUS £180
A true amphibian, the Kinetic Plus is as much a waterproof as a soft shell. Taped zips, wired peak – but none of the hot clamminess that comes with most laminate waterproofs. Soft, supple, light and luxurious. www.rab.equipment/uk
REGATTA CARTERSVILLE III £90
A clever hybrid, this: a mix of cosy cable-knit face fabric plus a smooth interior, stretchy elastane panels, and a soft shell chest panel. The dense, dry wool won’t suit everyone, but definitely try it on. www.regatta.com
ODLO STUFF SKI MID LAYER £100
Lovely texture, superb heat management and you can wear it almost anywhere. Has some odd flaws though: tiny, zipless pockets, no hem adjustment and a cut that is annoyingly short. www.odlo.com
HAGLÖFS HAGL BOA HOOD £140
Not unlike a second reptilian skin, said Rachel – and in a good way. Brilliantly weatherproof – it even handles rain well. A slimline fit, well-placed pockets and a fifine fine hood. www.haglofs.com/gb
PÁ PÁRAMO VELEZ ADVENTURE SMOCK £245
A soft shell that’s also effectively a waterproof (you’d hope so at £245). A tried and tested package; also comes as a jacket. www. paramo-clothing.com