Alpkit Women’s Balance Jacket – Performance

‘I’d buy this jacket’ said review crew member Lynn and no-one had a bad word to say about it, which was slightly amazing.

For starters, the cut is a bob-on Goldilocks affair. Not too long or short, narrow or wide, just impressively woman shaped.

‘At the back, the jacket glides gently down over hips, ending at a natural mid point, a nice length for a jacket, not ridging up around the waist, and not so long it restricts movement at all.’ Said Alison.

‘It was the only jacket on test I didn’t overheat in at some point going uphill or pushing the pace’

Then there’s the light but not flimsy feeling fabric. It’s comfortable against the skin thanks to the ‘special wicking knit backer’ and the lab figures don’t lie. It really is decently breathable, ‘the only jacket on test I didn’t overheat in at some point going uphill or pushing the pace a bit’ said one tester.

The pockets are pleasingly large to take a map easily, have big openings and also double as useful vents thanks to a part-mesh lining. Easy-to-use pull tags make them easy to open and close as well and they sit above a pack waist-belt.

And then there’s the hood. Everyone loved it for its slick fit, adjustability and combination of peripheral vision and protection. The stiffened and wired peak is good call. And the ace in the Balance hole is neat side elastication which means you can ease the hood off even with the main-zip fully closed.

It’s a similar set-up to the Gravitas Jacket we’ve also been using and works really well. The hood will also just about take a helmet if necessary, though it’s not really touted as a helmet hood.

Alpkit Women’s Balance Jacket – Verdict

Everyone who tried it loved the Balance. From its school cagoule blue colour through to the thoroughly designed hood, it simply gets on with the job of keeping you dry and comfortable regardless of whether you’re walking, biking or even running.

The fabric is very waterproof and properly breathable and the cut, oh, the cut is the polar opposite of the sort of ‘shrink and pink’ versions of men’s jackets that used to pop up everywhere. It’s shaped to fit neatly and unrestrictively with a ‘just right’ fit that’s neither too long or too short.

And then there’s that magic hood. If we were being really fussy, we’d have preferred a moulded tooth Vislon zip for its easy of, well, zipping, but in all honesty, there’s nothing particularly wrong about the zips it has.

All this and a highly competitive price-tag of £175. Just a really good all-round, lightweight waterproof jacket. Recommended.