KEELA Coyote

RRP £75 Target price £75

The Coyote (men’s version: Condor) is an intriguing beast. It’s a convertible jacket that allows you to wear it with or without arms – either as a light windproof jacket or as a vest. The arms are attached by Velcro to the collar, and can either be entirely removed, or zipped on under the arms when you need a bit more protection from the elements. It feels a bit fiddly and complicated at first, but once you’ve taken the arms on and off a couple of times you get the hang of it (I wouldn’t fancy doing it in a gale though). Once on, the arms don’t form a ‘complete’ jacket: there is still a gap at the armpit. That seems entirely in keeping with the Coyote’s design though, which is aimed at dynamic movement where ventilation and versatility are paramount. Much like the windproof jacket from Columbia, the Coyote serves very specific weather needs, and performs well for its intended use: it keeps out brisk winds while staying breathable. The hybrid design is novel, but a bit too much faff for my money, especially as – without any warmth or comfort – the gilet option doesn’t seem to offer much benefit. RB