Jack Wolfskin JWP Down £130

Good value, comfort, excellent warmth-to-weight

Durability, risk of down becoming patchy, no hood

The down in this jacket feels loftier than all others on test, courtesy of the slightly wider baffles, which give the down more space to plump out and trap air, and the high fill weight of 110g (men’s M). The result is an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio and a slightly stouter, thicker feel – a combination that kept me warm during a bitterly cold day of Borrowdale hiking during Storm Arwen.

The trade-off for all this plush downy loft is that the JWP Down jacket doesn’t fit as seamlessly under a hard shell as other options, and there’s also a risk over time that the down may become patchy in those wider baffles. The shell material feels a tad flimsy too, and may be vulnerable to rips.

Nonetheless, this jacket still ticks all of the boxes: it’s impressively warm, very light (266g), super comfy and pretty breathable, with good features including a PFC-free DWR coating, Stormlock windproof shell, and separate pack bag (7g) into which the jacket compacts down to 20x11cm.

There’s no hood (a positive for some), the elasticated waist is non-adjustable (but the fit is spot-on), and 700 fill power is good but not spectacular. At £130, however, this minimalist jacket is very well-priced for such warmth.

■ Insulation 90/10 duck down,

700 fill power

■ Sizes: Men’s S-XXXL Women’s XS-XXL

■ Weight 266g (men’s S)

A fluffy, cosy down jacket with a good warmth-to-weight ratio – but it’s not great as a midlayer.