Windproof
GOLITE Wisp (£40)
The Wisp is a minimalist windshirt with no extra features, just a high, double-fabric collar, a short chest zip and a tiny hem pocket into which it packs. It’s ultralight – the lightest garment tested and the only one weighing less than 100 grams.
DARE2B Blow Out (£35)
The Blow Out is the least expensive garment tested. As it performs pretty well this makes it good value for money. It looks more like a cycling jacket than a walking one but that doesn’t affect its practicality.
EDZ Epic Trinity (£85)
The Trinity is an interesting top as it’s made from fabric in which each fibre is encapsulated in an ultra-thin waterproof polymer. Epic fabrics are said to be virtually waterproof while still being very breathable.
GOLITE Ether (£50)
The Ether is the lightest hooded jacket tested and performs just as well as ones made from similar thin fabrics, being windproof and somewhat rain-resistant. The fabric is mostly recycled too, a nice green bonus.
LOWE ALPINE Speedy (£60)
Lowe Alpine’s Alpine Speedy Jacket is a light hooded windproof comparable with the GoLite Ether and the Montane Lite-Speed. However it’s more expensive than either of these jackets and heavier than the Ether.
MONTANE Featherlite Smock (£40)
Montane’s simple Featherlite Smock is a basic windshirt with few features. It’s very light – only the similar GoLite Wisp weighs less – and packs into a tiny bundle.
MONTANE Lite-Speed (£50)
The original Lite-Speed has been one of my favourite windshirts for several years and I gave it a Best Buy rating back in 2006. The latest version has a collar in which the hood can be stored, an unnecessary addition in my view.
MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT Microtherm Alpine (£80)
As I was disappointed when it was dropped a few years ago I was delighted to learn that Mountain Equipment had reintroduced the Microtherm jacket, a lined windproof that is roughly equivalent in warmth to a lightweight fleece.
MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT Mistral Pull-On (£60)
The new ultralight Mistral Pull-On is made from Mountain Equipment’s He30.rs nylon, which has a good DWR that makes the fabric quite rain-resistant, at least when new.
PATAGONIA Alpine Wind (£75)
Back in the early 2000s Patagonia made an excellent lined windproof called the Zephur. Disappointingly it was dropped a few years ago.
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