OEX’s Zenon Ultra LT down jacket is designed as a mid-layer to boost your warmth over a base layer and under a shell. Sold by Go Outdoors as an exclusive own-brand, it’s also intended to be affordable.
In use, it ticks all these boxes and more. Weighing just 217g, the Zenon is certainly light – but it’s packable and stashable too, with the whole jacket squeezing down into one of its own pockets.
Impressively, of those 217g, 90g are taken up of ethically sourced 800 fill hydrophobic duck down insulation. The net result is that the instant you pull the Zenon on, and do it up with its competent YKK zips, you’ll feel warm, while hardly noticing that you’re wearing a jacket.
Looks are stylish and – certainly with the black version and its snappy orange zips – easily understated enough for the café or pub. Cut is spot on, with good arm and below-belt body length, well-judged elasticated cuffs and a close-fitting hood that wraps your head without blocking any peripheral vision or restricting movement.
Apart from a subtle inner hem adjusting toggle and two hand pockets, there are no other features. But that’s the beauty of the Zenon, its simplicity, effectiveness and delightful lack of bulk making it a delight to wear.
On the outside is a DWR treated 7D x 15D mini ripstop nylon fabric which shrugs off thorns and beads up light rain and moisture, should you get caught out without a shell or simply drop it in the snow. Better still, the hydrophobic down will retain its down and therefore its insulating properties, even when damp.
The only thing we didn’t like was the fact that the hand pockets do a very convincing impression of doubling up as inner pockets too – until you pop your phone into one and it goes straight through to the floor. You won’t do it twice…
The Zenon is advertised for £170 although signing up to a GO Outdoors loyalty scheme will bring it down to £130, which is exceptional value for such a well-judged, warm and versatile down jacket.
