- Mammut Crater HS Hooded Jacket £325
Excellent HH rating, good features, all-round performance
Extremely large hood, expensive
It doesn’t quite perform highly enough to be remarkable, but this is a solid jacket that does what it needs to – keeping mountain folk dry. A sky-high 28,000mm HH achieves this rain-blocking effect courtesy of a Gore-Tex membrane sandwiched between a polyester face fabric and polyester lining in a classic 3-layer construction. A sturdy internal stormflap behind the main water-resistant YKK AquaGuard zip further prevents water ingress. Two-way zippered underarm vents enable effective temperature regulation when you’re working hard, and an adjustable hood with a stiffened (rather than wired) peak keeps rain off the face. However the helmetcompatible hood is utterly humongous and once tightened has an odd shape which isn’t the most comfortable. Two large waist pockets will take a full-sized OS map and a small internal pocket is useful for car keys (but too small for a phone), while all of the zips and cinch cord mechanisms feel sturdy. The cut – which Mammut calls ‘Georganic 3D Technology T Shape Pattern’, has been specifically designed to mould to the posture and movements of a hillwalker or climber. The result is a tailored fit and great freedom of movement.
■ Men’s sizes S-XXL Women’s sizes XS-XL Weight 536g (men’s S)