COLUMBIA OmniTech Ampli-Dry

RRP: £135 Target price: £135

This brand new jacket exemplifies Columbia’s approach: it’s sleek, racy and packed with technologies developed in-house by the brand’s own scientists. The first thing to note is the face fabric, which is probably the smoothest and most pleasantly tactile of any in this test. This is a jacket that feels lovely when pulled on, right down to the strip of soft fabric that lines the chinguard. And as a rainstopper it’s very reliable, thanks to the Omni-Tech membrane within the shell. It’s a generous cut, to the point of being quite baggy, so you might want to size-down for a close fit. There’s a tidy, phone-size chest pocket and the back is neatly scooped. There are just a couple of niggles though: the hood (while nicely adjustable) lacks a stiff peak, which means rain can hit your face, and there’s a slight flimsiness to the jacket as a whole; it somehow feels less firm and snug than the Quechua or the Jack Wolfskin offerings. But on the go, it performs just as it should, especially if you like a lighter, cooler jacket. It’s a good all-rounder; its one failing is that, in a crowded market, it somehow doesn’t feel exceptional. NH

INFO Sizes: S-XXL Weight: 391g (M) Fabric: Omni-Tech coated nylon Contact: 0800 464 0876, columbiasportswear.co.uk

+ Lovely feel, longer cut, great build, good features.

– Feels a bit flimsy, hood is lacking a firm peak.

BEST FOR: Walkers looking for a decent all-rounder with a comfy feel.