Berghaus Hyper 100 £250

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Incredibly light and packable, stretchy and comfortable, great cut

- Delicate fabric, minimal features

This featherweight shell from Berghaus is billed as the world’s lightest 3-layer jacket. The fabric is Berghaus’ Hydroshell Elite Pro, which has a nylon face with a PU membrane and a soft tricot backer. This offers pleasant next-to-skin comfort compared to clingy 2- or 2.5-layer alternatives, yet the jacket’s total weight is just 97g (men’s M) – that’s less than two Mars bars.

The ultralight fabric is reliably waterproof and breathes well even when working hard on the hill. It has some stretch too, making it ideal for dynamic activity. The flipside is that it feels thin and delicate. It would be easy to puncture, and we also worried about abrasion from pack straps.

The jacket is trim fitting but superbly cut, offering full freedom of movement and decent all-round coverage, with a drop tail. It crams into a minuscule stuffsack that fits in the palm of your hand.

Otherwise, features are intentionally minimalist. Cuffs, hems and hood are elastic-bound but not adjustable. There is a small inner chest pocket, just big enough for a bank card or car keys. The zip is a weak point though. It’s a reverse coil design backed with an inner stormflap, but the zip isn’t waterproof and can occasionally allow moisture to seep through.

■ Weight 97g ■ Men’s sizes XS-XXL ■ Women’s sizes n/a (Hyper 140 8-16)

Verdict

Great ‘just in case’ jacket for weight and packability, but its features may be better suited to elite fell runners.