Used & abused

Scores on the doors for Trail gear

One of the things I love most about winter is wrapping up warm. Some people have lots of shoes, some have a lot of bags. Me, I have a thing for jackets. But not all jackets are equal. A jacket might excel in certain conditions, or it might be an all-rounder. Others just languish at the back of the cupboard, outshone by better-performing layers. Over a couple of months’ use, the Hydrogen has established itself as a cosy, cold-weather, hill-going jacket, and has also taken on the mantle of being multi-functional because it looks so good on and off the hill. That means more value for money.

It’s made from thick Polartec Alpha

Direct fleece, which is fantastically light for the warmth. There’s a windproof and water-resistant but highly breathable Pertex Quantum Air shell, which means it can be used when it’s very cold, when working hard up those hills or as a throw-over layer. Both men’s and women’s versions come with three zipped pockets and a helmet-compatible hood. As with all deep-pile fleece, frequent washing can mean the lovely fluffiness won’t last forever, but with the right care, no performance should be lost.

VERDICT

Super-cosy, multifunctional and highperforming fleece jacket for cold weather conditions.