Weight: 400g (M/W)

Best for: Wind and water resistance in cooler weather.

Overview 

The Vigor Plus doubles as an extra-warm midlayer for the cooler months or a standalone jacket year-round. It has the close-fitting attributes of a technical garment, but the main fabric is an advanced grid fleece with a wind- and water-resistant face; the interior is a dense grid of very fine fleece for warmth and wicking. It has a stretch hood, long-life Vislon zip, two handwarmer pockets, interior drop-in pockets and a single chest pocket. A lighter fabric (also wind resistant) is used under the arms and inside sleeves for additional stretch.   

Performance

‘Winter weight midlayer meets softshell’ is a convenient summary for this jacket that has become a cold-weather favourite for both the mountains and around town. It has a cosy, high collar and the hood fits well under a helmet. The densely woven fabric is noticeably more windproof and abrasion-resistant than a typical fleece, making it versatile as a mid- or outer layer. I prefer to use it as a breathable outer layer when moving, because I find it too warm as a midlayer beneath a shell unless my pace is slow, but that warmth is valued when you are static. It’s bulky to pack and the sleeves felt restrictive at full reach, despite the stretch underarm panels.

What we liked: Very warm, wind and water resistant, excellent fit.

Limitations: Can be too warm for high-intensity use; weight and bulk.

Why buy the Vigor Plus? 

The softshell attributes of this advanced fleece make it an excellent heavy-duty midlayer for cold weather and a practical standalone jacket for year-round tramping, climbing and casual use. 

Overall score: 84%