What's It For?
The Halo Vest and it's women's version, the Halo Q, is part of Haglofs' Intense Series of lightweight kit aimed at fast-movers like lightweight walkers, runners and cyclists. The windproof front section is intended to give weather protection while the mesh back allows for maximum breathability.
The Techy Bits
The Halo Vest is all about fabric choice. The front is a thin, Windstopper soft shell fabric - the lightest that Haglofs uses - with a soft, knitted backer for wicking and a little added warmth and a DWR to shrug off showers. Windstopper is effectively waterproof, though seams aren't taped and in this case, the mesh back means full waterproofing is a tad academic.
The rear section uses Haglofs Dryskin 961 mesh which is dead stretchy, breathes and wicks well and incorporates silver treated yarn to minimise any smells. It's a mix of 93% polyester and 7% Elastane.
How It Performed
We like gilets and for a supposedly 'niche' bit of kit, the Halo has had a hell of a lot of use. More than we were expecting in fact. First off, it's very light - a real 190 grammes - and the stretch means it's a close fit which is great both for wicking and for avoiding flapping in windy condition or on the bike, if you cycle.
We've always found full-on Windstopper tops a tad too warm for really high-tempo activities in the UK, but the huge cooling effect of having exposed arms and a mesh back means you can have your cake and eat it. The lightweight Windstopper front takes the brunt of wind and rain, but without cooking you. It works really well on a bike or when running into the wind.
As a bonus, adding a pack protects a fair bit of your back making it a reasonable choice for short, sharp outings in light rain. When things get properly wet, you can throw a lightweight waterproof over the top without huge breathability issues.
And while it's quite a minimimalist bit of kit, the laminated chest pocket is spot on for carrying keys and some cash while out back, a cycling-style twin-compartment back pocket is ideal for packless runners and riders to stash a couple of energy bars, some gel and, at a pinch, a rolled up map.
One trick we think Haglofs has missed is colour choice. The inner of the soft shell front is actually bright and distinctive 'Budgie Green', but the face fabric is a dull charcoal. Fine if you want to look mean and moody, but much harder to spot if you're out on the road running, walking or on a bike. A brighter colour would have made a lot of sense from a safety sense of view.
Verdict
Fantastic bit of kit if you move fast and light and tend to prioritise losing heat rather than retaining it. Bare arms and mesh back do ace cooling work while the front copes with weather protection. Rear pockets make pack-less short outings feasible and as ever, build quality and design are top notch. You do pay for it, though the versatility offsets that a little.
Buy if... you're a heat-pumping, fast-mover who finds full windproofs a bit boil in the bag and are looking for a balance between protection and ventilation.
