Staying warm outdoors on the mountains of the UK during winter months is a challenge. You’ll need the right gear for the wrong weather. A synthetic insulated jacket is ideal for keeping you warm and has the advantage over down jackets in that it will keep you warm when wet.
The jackets we have compared in this review fit the following criteria –
- Synthetic Insulation
- Available for under £100
- Ideal for hiking in the UK
Columbia Men’s Buck Butte Hooded Jacket Review
Specification
- Shell: Water-resistant fabric
- Insulation: Faux down insulation
- Features: Adjustable hood
We love the styling on the Columbia Buck Butte Jacket. The two-tone color is very popular at the moment and the stitching is top notch. The sizes are American which is good if you are a larger guy as the large is very accommodating. The jacket is very warm but breathes well so it is perfect for cold weather mountain walking when energy levels can vary considerably.
The only thing we didn’t like is they zipped internal pockets are on the opposite side to most jacket but you soon remember where you have put your phone.
Rating: 8/10
Best price: £78
Berghaus Men’s Vaskye Jacket Review
Specification
- Shell: Pertex Quantum
- Insulation: Hybrid Synthetic Polyball
- Features: Adjustable hood, Chin Guard & Stretch Cuffs
The Berghaus Vaskye Jacket is a great jacket for hiking the mountains. It’s water repellent, lightweight and packable which are the 3 main attributes you would want in an outdoor jacket. The adjustable hood and chin guard allow you to block out the cold from around the head without discomfort. And the stretch cuffs seal in warmth around the wrists.
The jacket is Bluesign approved which means it is environmentally-friendly due to using sustainable and resource-saving manufacturing processes
Rating: 10/10
Best Price: £84
The North Face Men’s ThermoBall Eco Jacket Review
Specification
- Shell: 100% Recycled Nylon
- Insulation: Eco synthetic insulation
- Features: Stows away in hand pocket, 430g
The NorthFace ThermoBall Jacket has become a modern classic and will be around for many years. The award-winning jacket is made from 100% recycled polyester so it is as eco-friendly as they come. It’s water repellent shell allows you to shake of the showers while the internal cuff with hem cinch cord allows you to lock in warmth. The 430g weight is relatively low for a jacket that will keep you warm and dry in showers. The sizing is quite snug so if you have a belly you might want to consider the Columbia Buck Butte.
Rating: 9/10
Best Price: £100
Ayacucho Men’s Mount Everest Hooded Jacket Review
Specification
- Shell: Outer fabric and filling 100% polyester
- Insulation: Teflon Eco Elite: Dupont Sorona
- Features: Elastic hem drawstring, Elasticated cuffs, Adjustable hood
Ayacucho was founded in 2009 and was named after the Peruvian city of the same name. The Mount Everest Jackets name is probably a bit misleading as it is much more suited to Scafell Pyke than the world’s highest mountain. The Teflon Eco Elite insultation is made from renewable materials which ticks the eco-friendly box. The adjustable hood worked well but at 550g it is a tad on the heavy side for its warmth.
Rating: 7/10
Best Price: £63
Verdict
We’ve reviewed four great jackets here and with varying prices, there is a good jacket for budgets from £63 to £100. The truth is there is quite a lot of difference in performance between the lowest price (Ayacucho Mount Everest) and the highest price (ThermoBall). The best compromise for price and performance is the Berghaus Vaskye jacket. It performs just as well as the Northface ThermoBall but comes at a lower price of £84. We also prefer the styling of the Vaskye, but that is personal preference.
The Columbia Buck Butte is a great-looking jacket but does not perform quite as well as the other two higher priced jackets. The Ayacucho jacket is the lowest performer in terms of warmth but for the low price it is a great mountain jacket that won’t let you down.
So, our winner is the Berghaus Vaskye, a great mountain hiking jacket at a great price.
That’s a brilliant price for the Vaskye Jacket from Berghaus. The full retail price is £140 – love the black version too.