This down jacket, available in men’s and women’s versions, received a Recommended Buy stamp when tested by our expert gear reviewer Judy Armstrong


The extremely low weight of this jacket makes it rather special. Berghaus have achieved it by using a particularly lightweight Pertex, a small amount of high quality, high fill power down, superfine zippers and doing away with a hood. The cut is slim but still fits over a base layer and microfleece. With no hood, and a mid-height collar, it really is a perfect insulating layer,
easily worn under a hooded outer jacket.

‘So compact and lightweight’

I wore it as I would a fleece, or lightweight synthetic layer. The water-resistant down is applied in different densities: most is spread over the core and upper arms, a little less over chest and fore-arms and the smallest amount down the sides and underarms where it is needed least. There is only 50g total fill in the jacket – I found it useful only to about 5 Celsius – so it makes sense for this ‘three-zone mapping’ to prioritise it.

Along with DWR on the fabric, the down has been treated with a bluesign-approved water repellent finish which helps keep things dry and puffy. Hem shockcord, large hand pockets with tiny zips, skinny elastane at cuffs – all the bits an insulation layer needs, with nothing surplus. Ramche is so compact and lightweight, it is a no-brainer as an expedition mid-layer and for active, cold days when it is either keeping your bits warm or being stashed, like a feather, in a rucksack. This versatility means I wore it more than any other jacket in this test.