Fiona Russell returns to another classic, the OMM Kamleika Jacket, for its all-round mountain readiness.
This is the sixth generation of the original OMM Kamleika jacket, which was first launched 20 years ago. It’s my second version of the jacket and one that I have consistently chosen to wear for trail running and hiking in spring, summer and autumn conditions in Scotland.
Fiona Russell highly recommends
The jacket is priced at £200, which is not cheap, but I know from prior experience it will give me many years of wear.- comfort
- fabric
- elastic cords
- a little fraying
| Quick Specs |
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| Price: £200 (available from SportsShoes.com) Weight: 247g (W medium) Fabric: Waterproof, nylon/spandex mix Features: PFC-free DWR and PFAS-free membrane, taped seams, YKK AquaGuard zips, two zipped hand pockets, adjustable cuffs and integrated thumbloops, adjustable elasticated hem droptail, adjustable hood with a wired peak Sizes: XS to XL Men‘s version: Yes theomm.com |
The fabric of my previous Kamleika wore thin after about five years of use, although the new model has a new tougher nylon face fabric. Other enhancements are a PFAS-free membrane and PFC-free DWR treatment. This is a positive nod towards protecting the environment from chemical nasties. I like the fit and flattering shape of the female specific jacket. My older version was a small, while the latest jacket is a medium.
As a fairly tall size UK10, the jacket has a bit of room underneath for several layers but doesn’t feel bulky and baggy when worn only with a t-shirt. The jacket arms are long enough for me to use the thumb-loops when it’s particularly rainy and I want to stop the wet getting to my baselayer. The droptail is a thoughtful extra feature for further rain protection. The soft-feel fabric is very quiet compared to other lightweight waterproof jackets which rustle in the breeze. There is nothing worse than feeling “hangry” and having to deal with a rustling jacket!
The hand pockets are well placed on the lower part of the jacket so they do not interfere with my hydration pack and the zippers, just like the front zip, have decent-sized OMM-shaped plastic pulls that I can operate when wearing gloves. The hem and hood are easy to adjust, and I especially like the hood that fits snuggly, even in strong winds, around my face. The wired peak keeps some of the rain off my face and specs, and there is a chinguard over the top of the zip.
I can find little to criticise, except perhaps that the long length of adjustable elastic cord at the rear of the hood flaps a bit and sometimes taps the back of my head annoyingly when the hood is drawn in tightly. Another minor negative is that the fabric on the velcro cuff adjustors has started to fray a little after a few months of wear.
This is not the lightest jacket I own – the Montane Spine Gore-Tex is lighter, for example – but I am happy to have the extra weight because the fabric is so good. The four-way stretch gives excellent freedom of movement, and it is also the most waterproof and breathable lightweight jacket I have ever tested. It has a hydrostatic head of 20,000mm and breathability of 20,000g/m2, but performance seems to excel even past these impressive metrics. OMM utilises what they call “37.5 Technology”, described as “particles that have been added to the fabric to enhance vapour management and maintain a comfortable active temperature”.
I have found that of all running jackets I’ve owned, this is one that I can continue to wear in wet and windy weather even when I am working hard and sweating. When wearing other jackets I find I get too hot, too quickly, although this may be due to my menopause-affected body thermostat that means I can get very hot, very quickly. The jacket is priced at £200, which is not cheap, but I know from prior experience it will give me many years of wear.
Testing Conditions
Fiona tested the Kamleika on the moors and mountains of the Scottish Highlands over the winter and early spring of 2024-5
