Just in case no-one knows the Outside shop in Hathersage now stocks a range of Westcombe and Outdoor Research clothing. This includes the Outdoor Research Fraction Hoody as reviewed Cameron MacNeish in the March edition of TGO.
The Westcombe Specter LT Hoody is a 300g Event jacket with full length zip for the lightweight gear freaks out there. The weight savings are acheived by a slightly short length, a closer fit and only one small pocket. The hood doesn't seem to move with the head or if it does it doesn't do it well. The peak on the hood is floppy but otherwise the hood is a good fit with plenty of volume. I do like the slight diagonal cut at the sleeve cuffs. This means the thumb is clear but the sleeve runs on just a litle bit longer on the other side of the hand. Velcro cuffs. I also like the fact that the jacket runs the hood adjustment 'string's' down inside the jacket so they can't flap into your face.
Both makes are a slightly smaller fit than their Rab counterparts so I found that the large size in the Westcombe and Outdoor Research jackets was a nice, slightly close fit. By comparison a large Rab jacket was a little 'blousy' and more able to accomodate a fleece underneath. To wear a fleece under the Westcombe & Outdoor Research jackets would have been snug.
Westcombe also produce Event jackets with insulation. I think one of them actually uses down filling. Expensive but probably worth it AND they have a sale on.
