Is there any such thing as a windproof jacket? Surely if it’s howling a gale outside, even the most robust materials will not protect you from the chilling wind. Not so according to Ronhill, which produces performance sportswear for runners. Its running jackets are super lightweight with new Windlite™ fabric to prevent the chill factor on the trail. Windproof jackets are especially beneficial to runners and cyclists as they stop their sweaty bodies becoming cold and uncomfortable in the wind. Salomon produces a highly technical Windstopper™ Jacket precisely for this purpose.

But windproof properties are also used in walking jackets for the same reasons. Imagine climbing to the top of a mountain to be penetrated by a biting wind which attacks your core body temperature. It doesn’t bear thinking about. Most manufacturers of hiking jackets will combine waterproofing, breathability and wind proofing to produce multi-functional jacket that protects you from the elements. The Mountain Equipment G2 Alpine Jacket is one such coat – its Windstopper Soft Shell offers ‘total’ protection from the wind. The Mountain Hardwear Escape Jacket offers similar protection due to its Goretex Performance Shell material.

Whether or not they are 100% windproof, there’s no doubt that they substantially eliminate the bite from a bracing breeze. For anyone who walks regularly in the UK, this is a handy piece of kit to have.

As the temperatures dip towards freezing, winter gloves become a necessity in protecting your fingers from frostbite, or just keeping them cosy.

Outdoor Designs has the Taku Stretch for £20. They are wind resistant, have a bubble grip palm and dry fast. They look pretty good too, with nice slim fingers. Personally I prefer gloves that aren’t too bulky on the fingers or they feel like splayed sausages after a few hours.

The North Face has come up with a real treat for music lovers who like hiking or skiing – the Etip Glove. These beauties enable you to browse your music on your MP3 player without having to take your gloves off. It’s a bit self-indulgent, but for £22, not overly so. The palms have silicone grippers too.

The Powerstretch glove by Lowe Alpine contains the Polartec Powerstretch fabric, so not only do they offer wind protection, but they also come with pre-curved fingers to help your fingers stay in their naturally flexed position. They also weigh a miniscule 38 grams, ideal for packing light. All this for £20.
Finally, we come to Marmot XT glove for £35. It’s quite a bit pricier in comparison to the others. So what do you get for your money? They are made from stretch nylon which forms a waterproof, breathable vapour barrier. The way the gloves are made guarantees the ultimate in stretch and flex, ideal for fiddling about in a back pack without too much hassle. They have been designed especially for skiing and snow shoeing, but will crossover to general mountain use. A bizarre feature is a nose wipe. I would hope with a feature like that they would cope well enough with laundering. The main thing is that your hands stay warm.

Whether you prefer hiking in the buff like Mallory, or covering yourself in seal skins and wool, at some point you might have to become a little more technical and get yourself a decent hiking outfit. For this time of year in the UK, you’ll need to have a bit of extra warmth for hill walking. Layering, layering, layering! I can’t stress enough how important this is. If it’s cold, you can add a layer; if it’s hot, you remove a layer. Today’s hiking clothes come with a variety of layers to suit every climate.

You need to start with a base layer, something to keep the warmth in but also let any sweat escape. New, superior fibres are great as far as wicking and warmth are concerned. If you want to stay natural, merino wool is second to none in warmth and breathability.

The next layer can be something like a shell or fleece. A shell blocks the wind and can also act as a shower-proof garment. However, fleeces are getting more and more technical and can provide the same level of protection. The main thing is to buy a fleece or shell that will suit the weather conditions. Look out for breathability, wind-proofing, shower-proofing and above all warmth. It’s worth researching fleeces and shells so you get something that can cope with plenty of laundering.

Finally, a good rain coat is essential. For me, I like lightweight coats that can pack down nicely into a day pack. Again, you need to check for good wind-proofing and make sure that the fabric is breathable. Rip-stop fabric is a must for all hardcore trekkers. Another feature that is worth looking out for when you try on the jacket is range of movement in the shoulders so that it’s not a fight to get a backpack on and off. Extra fabric over the shoulder area is also good if you do a lot of back-packing as this will stop it wearing through quickly. Put the hood up when you are trying jackets on to make sure the hood will stop rain entry, and will also have good peripheral vision.

Happy layering!