L.I.M in case you were wondering, stands for less is more. It’s a collection from the Swedish brand that focuses on providing high functioning kit but in a minimalist, unfussy way. I’ve used a bunch of L.I.M products over the years – I even once ran 500 miles with the L.I.M waterproof jacket – and it never disappoints and I can confirm that this, the Haglofs LIM Down Jacket, has lived up to my expectations.

Weighing just 250g, this is a very lightweight and very packable down jacket but it also packs a punch in the thermal department too. OK, it’s not warm enough for winter in northern Scandinavia, but it’s not meant to be. This is one of those layers that just perfect for summer use; when you don’t really think you’ll really need any insulation (and don’t want to carry it) but still feel like you should take it just in case. I’ve also found it’s ideal for those summer wild camps too. The shoulder seasons will stretch its capabilities as your main insulator, but on those chillier days I’ve found it combines really nicely with a hooded fleece worn underneath it.

I’ve also found this excellent for ultra running too. It’s the kind of layer that you can cram into your running pack either for use during emergencies or simply for when you stop to refuel. At the time of writing, I’m just back from running the Ultra Trail Snowdonia and while a layer of insulation wasn’t on the kit list for the 50K event, I still took this with me as a just-in-case option. I didn’t use it, but that wasn’t too much of a problem because it didn’t really weigh me down either.

Details

The down used here has an 800 fill power. If you don’t know your thermal efficiency ratings, 800 is basically slightly above average. Haglofs haven’t provided details on the fill weight – it definitely feels light. It also has a hydrophobic treatment to ensure the down stays lofty (and able to insulate) even when it gets wet. Haglofs say that it can face up to 10,000 minutes of exposure to rain before the down flattens and I’ve found its performance has backed this up. I’ve worn this in light rain and it’s performed like a synthetic insulated jacket – I’ve even held it under a tap and seen water simply bead and fall off it. For me, this treatment hasn’t run out yet but when it does, I’m confident that a washing cycle with some Nikwax will get it back firing again.