Scotland’s wilderness can be a cold and unforgiving place when it wants to be. The kind of environment that, while undeniably epic in terms of landscape, really doesn’t care if it saps virtually all warmth from your body with its howling winter winds and freezing rain that stubbornly refuses to quit.
During those moments when you’re completely exposed to the low temperatures of an outdoor adventure in Scotland, you want a nightclub bouncer of a jacket; a coat that’s not afraid to look icy weather square in the eye and say “Your name’s not on the list, you’re not coming in.”
“A warmth-to-weight insulation unparalleled in synthetic insulation”
This jacket, we’re happy to tell you, exists in the form of Alpkit’s Apogee Jacket; a packable and lightweight belay number made specifically for keeping you warm on chilly Scottish excursions.
Built with the Cairngorms’ crags in mind, the Apogee has a number of well- thought-out features that underline its mountain climbing credentials. The hood, for example, that fits comfortably over that all-important helmet which protects you from falling debris and the like. Factor in the integrated wrist-warming cuffs, dropped hem on the back, and internal zip baffle for keeping out draughts, and it’s clear you’re dealing with a jacket that knows what’s needed of it.
The two-way zip on the Apogee gives you quick and easy access to your harness, while the relaxed cut means you’re free to layer up when the temperature plummets. Freedom of movement, something all climbers obviously require in their clothing, is ever so slightly improved by the use of a slightly lighter fill in the arms than elsewhere on the jacket.
The Apogee has a durable and water resistant outer fabric, and a PrimaLoft Gold fill that offers a warmth-to-weight insulation unparalleled in synthetic insulation. The fact that it retains its thermal properties, even when wet, means you’ll be able to crack on with your outdoor shenanigans even if it’s raining cats, dogs, and a variety of other domesticated animals. This could very quickly become your grab-it-and-go jacket of choice.
