ESSENTIAL JACKETS
Hey, shell seekers! Here are four coats to keep you warm and dry
INOV-8 Thermoshell Pro Insulated Jacket 2.0
£210|6-16|inov-8.comTester Esther
This jacket is so light, and packs up so small (into its own pocket!), you’d be forgiven for thinking it’ll be little more than a shell; in actual fact, this is an incredibly toasty number. Created especially for longer days out on the trails, it’s easy to wear and easy to pack away too. The quilting is more narrow than usual, and this, along with 4-way stretch, allows more freedom of movement, and prevents the padding from moving within the jacket, ensuring you stay warm. The fit is spot on; it’s close but not tight, and it’s thin enough that a hydration pack fits neatly over the top. A few more high vis elements would have been nice, even if it is a mid-layer (I’ll mostly wear it without an additional shell), but that’s me just trying to find something wrong with it! The arms are lovely and long, and the hood is snug and stays put. Windproof and water resistant, with a dipped hem and zipped side pockets, this is a smashing piece of kit for the trails.