Mtn Equipment Frontier £140

+ Comfortable, fully-featured

- Would like a stiffer peak on hood Another mountain-focused soft shell, the Frontier is available in both men’s and women’s options. We tested the latter, which has a great cut: nicely fitted yet unrestrictive thanks to the four-way stretch fabric. This is a double-weave nylon-elastane blend called Exolite 210, with a soft inner for added next-to-skin comfort. The face of the fabric feels fairly tough, and we’d expect this to be a hardwearing jacket. The Frontier’s long arms give good coverage in windy or wet weather, as does the generous helmet-compatible hood. This has three-point adjustment and a pre-shaped, stiffened brim, though lacks a mouldable wire peak. An inner Velcro tab means it can also be rolled away if preferred. Hand pockets are well placed above the hips and lined with mesh, which means they can be opened for venting. The women’s version lacks the chest pocket of the men’s jacket, but you do still get a small internal security pocket to stow keys and valuables. There are dual tether hem drawcords, which provide easy adjustment while eliminating the risk of snagging. We also liked the semi-elasticated cuffs with Velcro adjustment tabs. This gives you the best of both worlds, since they can be cinched in tightly or pushed up the forearms for cooling in warmer weather. In the hills, the jacket wicks well and rarely gets too warm or too clammy, while also cutting out wind effectively. It’s an impressive and versatile mountain layer.

■ Weight 500g (women’s 12) ■ Women’s sizes 8-16 ■ Men’s sizes S-XXL ■ Fabric Exolite 210 double-weave soft shell with DWR finish (92% nylon, 8% elastane)

Verdict

Pretty much the ideal mountain soft shell – well cut, fully equipped and comfy, yet protective and durable.