Haglöfs LIM Ultimate Jacket Tested

There are some features despite the minimalism including a full main water-resistant zip, backed with a protective flap, a single pocket complete with drain hole and like all Haglöfs hooded jackets, an adjustable hood that's large enough to accommodate a climbing helmet.

The other feature which you'll either love or simply disregard as an irrelevance are thumb holes in the cuffs. They're there to be slipped on under gloves and keep your sleeves from riding up. Of course in the UK that'll mean water running down inside your gloves unless you're prepared to keep them pointing skywards at all times, but it makes more sense in cold, dry, high mountain environments.

Fit is good, albeit cut short to save weight and avoid restricting leg movement, so walkers may prefer a longer style or to team the jacket with a pair of lightweight LIM pants for greater comfort. We also liked the hood and its ability to cover a climbing helmet which makes it an option for clipping to a harness or pack for long mountain routes.

The Paclite 2 fabric used is distinguishable from the original Paclite by dint of its more discreet grey background. It's effectively a highly breathable two-and-a-half layer fabric, with small, polymer dots protecting the membrane from abrasion on the inside.

It's one of the most breathable conventional waterproof fabrics on the market today and despite its lightness, still feels reasonably tough, though we wouldn't recommend extended heavy pack use with the un-reinforced shoulders, though the build quality feels first rate.

The breathability has limits and you'll still get hot and humid when things get really strenuous, but it's appreciably better than other lightweight waterproof fabrics we've tried. One point to bear in mind is that in cooler conditions, the inside of the jacket can feel a little slick and the slight stickiness of the polymer dots mean that Paclite doesn't slide over some underlayers as easily as some shells and feels a little odd if you wear it directly against the skin.

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