The hood provides reliable head protection. It can be cinched in for a snug fit that moves with you, meaning visibility can be fully maintained when you can’t afford to lose it. There’s also a wire stiffened peak that provides an impressive amount of face coverage. 

Another feature we really like about this is the scooped tail, with hem drawcord, for additional protection, temperature control, and precision fitting. We also like the central chest zip, which can be used to provide additional venting when you’re working up a sweat. Then there are the cuffs with Velcro fastenings – these can be pulled up and conveniently fastened around the elbows when you want some air on your arms.

New updates to this jacket include a slightly more athletic trim – including a shorter front length on the hem (a touch that’ll be of benefit to cyclists) – and the addition of reflective, safety conscious, piping on the front and back.

Wet Weather Protection

The Fuera Smock is only water resistant and not waterproof. You could, however, combine it with one of Páramo’s fleeces, the Ostro for instance, to up its wet weather creds. With those two Nikwax-treated layers working together, you have a system designed to help you see out some pretty rough stuff. More on this from Will in the Tester’s Verdict further down.

Priced at £75, we think the Fuera Smock Classic is very decent value for anyone looking for a versatile bit of kit that will do a job for them in numerous outdoor scenarios. 

It’s such a packable, and low-bulk product that we can envisage a lot of people buying one and then quickly turning it into an essential backpack item. It might spend periods of time hidden away but, when you need it most, it’ll be there – ready to go. 

Tester’s Verdict

Will Renwick, editor of Outdoors Magic

“This is one of those versatile kinds of jackets that I can see myself using a heck of a lot and across a number of different activities, from hiking and trail running to climbing, cycling and mountain biking.

“As a windproof and water resistant layer the Fuera Smock really is excellent.”

“First things first, this is so light that I’ll never regret having it with me, even if I don’t end up calling upon it.

“My most notable trip with it was a recent two-day backpack in the Brecon Beacons where I wore it the entire time (not in the night though, obviously). On the first day, it kept the cold wind off me and didn’t cause me to overheat while climbing some hills. Climbing Pen y Fan on the second day, the weather was utterly atrocious and instead of throwing a waterproof layer on, I combined this jacket with Páramo’s Ostro fleece to test out the weatherproofing the two-layer system would offer.

“To cut to the chase here, I got pretty wet and felt the rain getting through to my baselayer t-shirt. I wouldn’t say I got saturated, however. I could sense the two layers working away to push the moisture out and away from my body so that when the rain did ease up, the two layers seemed to dry up in an instant. What was particularly noticeable was that despite the long and steep climb wearing these two layers with a heavy pack, I wasn’t left with that lingering clammy feeling that a waterproof jacket would’ve created.

“The crucial thing here, however, is that the rain did ease up for me, and this meant the Nikwax treatment could do its quick-drying job. On those days where the rain just doesn’t quit, I reckon you’d end up pretty wet and cold. So with all that in mind, I’d say the Fuera and Ostro combo is great for those on-off conditions but it might be problematic in relentless conditions.

“Anyway, as a windproof and water resistant layer the Fuera Smock really is excellent. It’s something that I can see myself carrying on just about all of my outdoor excursions from now on – be they big or small, fast or slow.”