Smartwool’s gilet doesn’t fit into any obvious pigeon holes. By far the heaviest gilet in this test, it isn’t the warmest or even the most comfortable (not everyone gets on with wool next to skin). But it is very warm – I can feel the temperature rising within minutes of pulling it on – and, while it tips the scales hard, it feels lightweight on the body. The merino kings have, very sensibly, opted to reinforce wool with a high dose of nylon, giving it a slick outer face which is durable and resists rucksack rub. Length is generous, half-covering my backside, and there is masses of stretch in the fabric which allows it to fit snugly but without any restriction. Armholes and collar are cut for layering, and the zip is covered by a chinguard. Two zipped side pockets are mesh-bagged and convenient for hand-warming. The hitch for hillwalkers and backpackers is the weight: if you’re not wearing it, it’s a chunk in a rucksack; and if it gets wet, it’s even heavier. I love it for apres-hill, though…