The fit is typical Black Diamond – built for lean, rangy climber types. As such the cut is slim with good length in the arms and body, though it’s worth noting that if you’re carrying a little extra timber you might want to consider ordering a size up. Still, it makes an ideal layering piece that works well worn over a fleece or under a waterproof shell.

“Tipping the scales at under 300g, it offers plenty of warmth for its weight and is a versatile go-to layer for all sorts of alpine-type pursuits.”

A streamlined feature set keeps weight down, but you still get an insulated, elasticated hood with drawcord adjustment, a full-length zip and three zipped pockets – two for your hands, plus a single chest pocket that’s big enough to hold a smartphone or a couple of Clif bars. There’s no hem drawcord, though the jacket sits nicely on the hips, and cuffs are elastic-bound to lock in warmth.

We love the supreme packability of the Approach Down Hoody. It stuffs into its own pocket and has a loop for attaching a carabiner. It’s super-small pack size means that it fits easily in a rucksack, but could also clip to a harness for what Black Diamond calls those ‘no pack and a pared down rack’ kind-of-days.

Tipping the scales at under 300g, it offers plenty of warmth for its weight and is a versatile go-to layer for all sorts of alpine-type pursuits.

Tester’s Verdict

Jordan Tiernan, OM Staff Writer

“Black Diamond are beginning to flex their clothing design muscles more and more and the Approach Down Hoody is a good example of this. The classic down jacket design is brought into a typical Black Diamond streamlined package, creating a garment that’s lacking any overcomplicated features, but that does what you need it to do – keep you warm and not weigh you down.

I found layering the jacket over a light fleece felt pretty tight, but can definitely see the ability to use this as a standalone next to a baselayer when the summer evenings come round. As the mercury begins to drop, I’d expect to start wearing it as a mid layer insulator under a shell – the slim baffles and trim fit make it ideal for this.”