A lightweight and very packable jacket that, according to our tester Will Renwick, is excellent for fast and light pursuits
This jacket is part of the Swedish brand’s lightweight and packable L.I.M (‘less is more’) series. As that name suggests, this is apparel designed for those who like to move ‘fast and light’ on their trips.
It’s made from Gore-tex Paclite Plus 2.5-layer fabric. With this type of waterproof system, a membrane is glued to a light outer fabric and a light layer (that’s not a fabric) is bonded onto the inside. This inner layer guards the membrane from abrasion and stops sweat and dirt from blocking up the membrane’s pores.
Haglöfs say that this inner layer is a dry-touch carbon print. This feels quite durable – more than the standard sprayed on layers you normally find on 2.5-layer waterproof jackets and it definitely feels nicer against the skin than the somewhat slick and clammy Paclite fabrics of old.
Will using the Haglöfs L.I.M in Sweden’s Dalarna region. Photo: Giles Dean
It has simple but effective mesh-lined hand pockets that double as air vents. The zips throughout the jacket do not have any water repellent coatings or coverage to keep out moisture, although there is a flap under the main zip. I haven’t had any problems associated with ingress here but but I suspect that in the worst of weather there will be a risk of it. The cuffs and hem are elasticated and the hood has an elasticated binding around the face along with a slight peak to deflect rain.
The main zip has two press studs – one at the bottom of the jacket and one at mid-chest which is attached to an elasticated tab. This allows you to vent the jacket easily without it flapping open.
I’ve used the Haglofs L.I.M GTX a lot over the past year and I like it. It feels breathable and the outer fabric has held its water resistance over repeated use. I’m 5 foot 10 and have an average build and the size M, which is my usual size, is a great fit. I’ve found that it can easily fit over a mid weight layer of insulation without feeling too baggy when it’s just worn over a baselayer.
A few years ago I ran all of Wales’ mountains in one solo, self-supported journey and, due to some unfortunate conditions, spent pretty much the whole thing in the previous iteration of this jacket. I loved that jacket but its big pitfall, for me, was its lack of pockets. As such, I was really pleased to see Haglöfs have added two big venting hand pockets with this new version. What’s unfortunate, however, is that they’ve removed the toggle that allowed you to cinch the hood in. Because of this, the hood on this latest model doesn’t hold well in strong winds, which is very frustrating. The same goes for the waist; they’ve removed the toggle and it’s just held by an elastic rim, so you can’t really hunker down in this when it’s cold, windy and wet.
Those are both quite big downsides in my opinion. Still, I do think this is a good jacket and those issues haven’t stopped me from using it on a lot of my trips.
Price: £161
Weight: 11.64 oz | 330g
Available at: haglofs.com
Materials: Gore-Tex Paclite Plus (40D polyamide, ePTFE membrane, carbon print inner) | Hydrostatic head: 28,000mmm | Details: two zippered hand pockets, elastic cuffs, hood and hem, stiffened peak, reflective details | Sizes: men’s S-XXL; women’s XS-XXL.
