Craghoppers

CompressLite II

£65 Men's S-XXXXL Women's 8-20 Weight 484g (size L) Outer polyester Insulation ClimaPlus hollow fibre polyester

IT'S GOOD

The low price and weight make this attractive to backpackers but it also comes with a small 23x12cm stuffsack, which makes it very compressible. You get a good size range compared to other jackets, too. There is a hem drawcord and a draught strip behind the front zip, which are lacking on some jackets. The hood has elastication and there are two waist pockets with zipped access. The hood fits reasonably well despite not having any drawcords. The insulation level is good for autumn and spring and useful for stashing in your rucksack all day and throwing on for a short summit brew.

HOWEVER

Other jackets are much warmer and more suitable for winter or chilly nights in a campsite. Annoyingly, the cuffs are quite loose with large draughty gaps that allow warm air out and cold air in. The forearms are a little baggy in general, while the body is shorter than others. Overall the fit is a little unusual, so try before buying. Like many jackets, the pockets are quite low so access is easily obscured by a rucksack belt.

VERDICT

A low-priced, lightweight, compact jacket that is great for short summit visits, but the fit is a bit unusual and it’s not the warmest.