I liked the clean and minimalist design of the Salewa Moiazza, which performed very well and is the best choice for hillgoers who want minimum weight and pared-down features, yet with good performance.

But its Gore-Tex Paclite construction offers complete protection against the elements, and good breathability and, despite its light weight, feels robust. The Rab Kangri GTX is a very traditional design, with good performance, aimed at the all-year-round hillwalker. The brand’s widespread distribution in the UK, Europe and the USA means the Downpour is available from multiple retailers, both online and in-store. As such, it is often discounted, making it an even better value buy. Full Specifications The Prosport’s main zip is protected by a storm flap which uses press-studs to secure it. I found these less convenient than hook-and-loops strips, and a bit more difficult to fasten when wearing gloves. There are soft tricot areas at the top of the zip and in the chin area for added comfort. The zip is two-way, with double pullers.The Gravdal also has a powder skirt to keep out the snow on the slopes or when winter mountain walking. It has twin press-stud fastening and can be removed by unzipping it.

The Sports Gravdal XO 2.0 provided protection against wind and rain and also provided warmth on winter days on the hill. It’s certainly no lightweight, but has all the features needed and quality was good. Styling was traditional and fit was standard, with quite a long design. It has a snowsport feel and doesn’t feel out of place in urban environments too on those cold, wet winter days. Berghaus says it makes its products to last, to enable the best sustainability. It also offers a free repairs service for its clothing. It recycles clothing at the end of its life or donates garments to four organisations to continue their use. It uses 100 per cent renewable energy in its offices. It’s also a member of the European Outdoor Conservation Association.Rather than pit zips, the Definition has twin zipped side vents. These sit under the sleeve area and are easier to open and close than zips in the sleeves, which can be fiddly to use and access, but the side vents do have a slight tendency to gape open, with the chance of letting in rain in crosswinds. The Ridgemaster has a robust feel, with fairly stiff fabric which was a little noisy while on the move. It’s among the lightest in the test and has a clean, simple design. Despite its lightness, the nylon fabric feels robust. It uses Pertex Shield for waterproofing, which has a rated hydrostatic head of 10,000mm. The Prosport offers good value for money, with all the features you need to keep you protected on Britain’s winter hills. It’s fairly traditional in design, so will appeal to those who prefer that look to a slimmed-down minimalist look.

The Meteor’s overall fit is trim, but with enough room for layering. There’s plenty of length in the arms and torso as well as a scooped hem for added rear coverage. As an all-rounder for general outdoor use, it does the job extremely well, and is justifiably popular. Full Specifications The Meteor uses a 40 Denier PERTEX® SHIELD for full waterproofing with a DWR coating for highly effective water shedding. PERTEX® SHIELD fabrics offer enhanced protection alongside ample breathability without added weight so you can keep performing at your best. The three-layer fabric is quite stiff and rustly when on the move. It does feel pretty bomb-proof though, and should give long service. The hood has a rear halo adjuster with spring toggle and there are twin front cord adjusters. The peak has a wire adjuster and the hood can be rolled up and secured using a flap with press-stud closure. It is big enough to be worn with a helmet. Craghoppers uses about 70 recycled bottles in the men’s version and 60 in the women’s during manufacture of the Dynamic. The durable water-resistant treatment of the outer shell is PFC-free, and uses Ecoshield plant-based treatment. The garment is covered by the brand’s Guarantee for Life. The company says it uses minimal water in its dyeing process. It imports its goods to Liverpool, reducing road miles by 400,000 a year and has zero landfill waste from its facilities. It says it is committed to net zero by 2050.Alpkit say they have designed the Definition for winter days in the Scottish mountains and year-round Munro bagging.

Best uses: winter hillwalking; all-year hillwalking; mountaineering; fast and light activities; trekking. The Montane Meteor and Craghoppers Dynamic will suit those on a limited budget. The former will suit fast movers while the latter has a design that doesn’t look out of place on the High Street as well as on the country trail. The design also makes it a good choice for use in urban conditions in winter, without looking too technical. The hood has a single adjuster at the rear, which combines a halo-type elasticated cord tethered to the sides of the hood, so it pulls in around the face when tightened. This was less effective than a separate front adjuster and left small gaps at the side of the face when tightened. The hood did, however, stay up in strong headwinds though it had to be tightened fully, and turned well with the head. It’s big enough to go over a climbing helmet and has both a stiffened peak and a wired section to shape it to provide the best cover for the face. On sustainability, Montane says it uses C6 PFCs in its durable water-repellent treatments, but is not yet satisfied that adequate performance can be achieved by PFC-free treatments. It says it puts durability at the heart of its garments and offers a paid-for repair service.Hoods – Hoods come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with similarly varied types of adjustment. Being able to reduce the overall volume of the hood is useful, to stop it billowing around in the wind, and getting a tight fit around the face is preferable too. If you’re climbing a lot, then hood that fits over a climbing helmet is essential. Alpkit has built its business on providing good-value gear without compromising performance, and the Definition fits that description. It’s nicely cut, with durable fabric and good quality fittings. The unbranded waterproof membrane has performance figures comparable with many well known membranes. The Ridgemaster 3L is cut fairly long, so provides good protection against the weather, but is an athletic enough design to be used on technical routes and winter mountaineering trips. One thing to note: the Moiazza was quite a snug fit, so you may need to consider trying a size larger than your normal choice. The main material has a 15,000mm hydrostatic head – that’s not high spec but not to be sniffed at either – and it’s made partially from recycled materials and with a plant-based EcoShield treatment. Full Specifications