Keela Stashaway Pro
£50
The Keela Stashaway Pro is designed as a unisex jacket, using the company’s own waterproof, breathable and windproof lightweight nylon material with hydrophilic coating, taped seams and waterproof zips to keep the wind and rain on the outside of the jacket.
Although we’re not keen on the foldaway hood, which doesn’t provide decent peripheral vision when fastened tight, and flaps around in the wind if left loose, the Stashaway Pro has a good range of features for the cost.
These include a scooped back, elasticated cuffs with Velcro adjustment, two map-sized chest pockets with stormflaps, a full-length zip with internal stormflap and a two-way drawcord adjustable hem. Easily packable, it even includes its own pocket-sized stash bag.
Value: 4.5
Quality: 4
Performance: 3.5
looks: 4
Overall: 4
Berghaus VapourLight Hyper Smock 2.0
£100
Weighing little more than 100g, you literally will not know you’re carrying the VapourLight Hyper Smock 2.0 – which comes with a tiny 12cm by 8.5cm stuff pack.
The HyperLight is aimed primarily at trail runners, but works for walkers and backpackers who are obsessive about weight and packabilty in the warmer months.
Made out of Berghaus’ new Hydroshell Hyper waterproof and breathable fabric, it has fully taped waterproof seams, and considering the ultra-light weight comes with a surprising number of features.
These include an elasticated hood with peak that gives effective protection and range of vision, a half-length zip, a zipped chest pocket and elasticated cuffs.
If you want light weight and packability above all else, the VapourLight Hyper is hard to beat.
Value: 4
Quality: 4
Performance: 4.5
looks: 3.5
Overall: 4
Jottnar Hymir
£230
Okay, not everyone will like the smock style of the Hymir, mainly because it’s more hassle to get on and off than a regular jacket, but if smocks are your thing you’ll love it.
Build quality is great, and as well as being light the Hymir is also breathable, waterproof, windproof and very packable in its own paperback book sized stuff sac. There is one large, map-sized harness compatible chest pocket.
All-in-all this was our favourite shell and one that anybody considering buying a smock should take a look at.
Value: 4
Quality: 5
Performance: 4.5
Comfort: 5
Overall 4.5
Bergans Helium
£160
With a weight of 350g Bergans’ Helium jacket lives up to its name; it also has a low packing volume.
Build quality is also sturdy thanks to its tough 2.5 -layer Dermizax fabric.
The Helium is waterproof, windproof and breathable and has fully-taped seams, and there’s plenty of room for layering underneath – you could even drop a size.
Apart from a well-designed hood, there are two map-compatible, zipped mesh hand pockets, pit zips, ergonomic, Velcro-adjustable cuffs and an extended back.
Not the lightest jacket we tested, but certainly a great all-rounder.
Value: 4.5
Quality: 4.5
Performance: 5
looks: 4
Overall: 4.5
Craghoppers Kimba Lite
£170
the Kimba Lite wasn’t one of the lightest jackets we tested at 500g, but this is due to its excellent features.
The Aquadry waterproof, windproof and breathable outer fabric has a mesh lining, which is mainly responsible for the extra weight. Despite this, it still packs neatly into the right-hand pocket.
The ‘grown on’ integral hood restricts vision a little, but there is a huge inner chest pocket, two hand pockets and the main zip is waterproof.
The Kimba Lite is a decent value waterproof that’s usable all year-round.
Value: 4.5
Quality: 4.5
Performance: 4
looks: 3.5
Overall: 4
Didriksons Elbe jacket
£70
The Elbe is more of a casual-style waterproof than a serious mountain garment, but it looks great, and with its waterproof, windproof and breathable ‘Stormsystem’ shell, with fully taped seams, it will work just fine if you’re caught out in bad weather in the hills.
In fact it even has a level of insulation thanks to a net/taffeta lining, although this does add to the weight. Despite this the Elbe packs away easily in its own small stuff sac.
Our only niggle is the fixed hood, which has an elasticated hem and isn’t adjustable, but it fits well.
What we do like is the comfy and generously-sized microfibre chin/neck guard and the large inner storm flap on the full-length zip. Overall the Elbe is comfortable and ideal for casual wear in all but the coldest months.
Value: 4.5
Quality: 4.5
Performance: 3.5
looks: 4.5
Overall: 4
Odlo Atmoos jacket
£165
The Atmoos is a nice looking jacket, with, understated good looks which Odlo recommends for hiking, cycling and ‘going out’. Hiking and going out certainly. But serious cyclists would probably prefer a cycling-specific jacket.
The 2.5-layer Odlo Logic waterproof fabric keeps the rain and wind out and is also both light and packable. In terms of fit, the hood fits very well, there is a drop tail hem and adjustable cuffs.
All the jacket’s zippers are waterproof, and touches like the soft chin guard add to the comfort factor.
The slim fit is ideal for summer use without many layers on underneath, but if you do plan on layering up underneath you may want to go for a larger size. Our only quibble is the small hand pockets.
Value: 4
Quality: 4.5
Performance: 4
looks: 5
Overall: 4
Sherpa Asaar
£150
The Sherpa Asaar has been designed in collaboration with the company’s sponsored alpine athletes, so it comes as a neat package combining low weight and stowability in a Pertex Shield fabric, with a two-layer seam-sealed laminate that’s waterproof, breathable and windproof.
An excellent compromise between minimalism and functionality.
Value: 4
Quality: 4
Performance: 4.5
looks: 4
Overall: 4
Regatta Vaporspeed
£85
Regatta’s Vaporspeed comes in men’s and women’s versions and is good value for money.
It actually looks and feels technical, with a waterproof and breathable Isotex 10000 ripstop fabric, and taped seams to keep the moisture on the outside.
When you’re not wearing it the Vaporspeed is certainly light and packable enough to disappear into your pack.
But other than that the Vaporspeed is a great value option with all the essential features you need in a lightweight waterproof jacket.
Value: 4.5
Quality: 4.5
Performance: 4.5
looks: 4.5
Overall: 4.5
Black Diamond Mono Point shell
£100
The Mono Point is Black Diamond’s lightest Gore-Tex shell, using Gore-Tex Paclite fabric with relatively minimalist features to give a weight of 253g.
It packs away with ease, but at the same time you still get the waterproof and breathable qualities for which Paclite is known. All the seams are taped too, of course, for extra water-proofing.
Value: 3.5
Quality: 4.5
Performance: 3.5
looks: 4.5
Overall: 4
