The Review:
This is a high-end shell designed for general mountain use, including winter climbing, and it has a level of protection to match. The fabric used is excellent - exceptionally breathable and waterproof, with just enough stiffness to offer a good level of wind resistance too. It sounds a bit crinkly when new but does settle down with use. Thanks to good ventilation (two-way waterresistant underarm zips), I found it comfortable on all but the warmest days, and weight is decent for the level of protection offered. I found it almost impossible to wet the fabric out even in sustained use under rucksack straps. In short, it's more versatile than you might expect for a winter jacket.
It has an excellent hood: nice and deep with a broad peak,offering full protection in the worst weather. The shaped cuffs are the best of any men's jacket tested thanks to a generous Velcro stripe. As you'd hope for a jacket of this calibre, the back is extended too, so you won't get a soggy bottom, and it doesn't ride up at all when you raise your arms overhead (great for scrambling). Although there's no external storm flap on the main zip, it never leaked. The pocket layout is very practical: a lower chest pocket on either side, one smaller chest pocket near the middle, and a large inner stretch pocket. All but the smaller chest pocket willtakeanOS map.
Fit is generous but not baggy;
I can easily fit a thick fleece under it. This makes it well suited towinter hill days. This is a superb choice for year-round use in the British mountains, and if you were to pick a single jacket to cover every eventuality you could do a lot worse than this one.
Men's Alpine Resolve Jacket | Women's Alpine Resolve Jacket
