SALEWA Ortles Hybrid TWR Jacket

RRP £200 Target price £180

Salewa were clearly thinking outside the box when they magicked up the Ortles. It’s like they’ve taken the best parts of other jackets to create something that doesn’t fit into any one category. The fore and underarm parts are made from Durastretch softshell fabric, whereas around the shoulders, back, chest and adjustable hood, it’s lightly padded with Salewa’s ingenious Tirolwool Celliant insulation. This combines wet-defying wool from Tirolean sheep and polyester fibres imbued with thermo-reactive minerals, which Salewa say acts like an body heat sponge, absorbing it and reflecting it back. The result is a jacket with flex, freshness and warmth exactly where they’re wanted. Admittedly most walkers don’t need anything quite so snazzy, sophisticated or expensive, but it might be what you’re after. It fitted snugly over a fleece and comfortably underneath a waterproof, taking up less space in my rucksack than my lunch when fully compressed into the inside chest pocket, which cleverly turns inside out to become a stuff sack. There are two handwarmer pockets as well.

All told, an impressive jacket. PT