Fill power: This refers to the thermal efficiency of the down fill. The lower the number the lower the efficiency. Anything upwards of 700 tends to indicate good thermal efficiency. A warm, waterproof shell designed to withstand the cold unpredictable months of the year. Rab says:

Similarly, the 700-fill power down is guaranteed to be 100% traceable and ethically produced. In fact, the Fjällräven Down Promise is recognised as one of the best in the outdoor industry. There’s a clever baffle construction too including stitched-through baffles on the arms where more articulation and dynamic movement is required and box wall baffles on the body where maximum loft and warmth is wanted. It’s clever stuff and it works excellently. What’s more, the box wall baffles are all offset, further reducing the chance of any cold spots. Main Insulation: 700FP Recycled Down with Nikwax fluorocarbon-free Hydrophobic Finish (199g/7oz Size 10) As for the fit, we’d call it slim or athletic. It’ll fit over a midweight fleece but anything chunkier will be a bit of a squeeze. It’s also pretty short on the hem but the articulation at the armpits prevents said hem from lifting when you’re reaching up.Main Insulation: 700FP Recycled Down with Nikwax Fluorocarbon-Free Hydrophobic Finish (205g/7.2oz Size M)

I only recently discovered that Rab, the upmarket outdoor clothing design house, are based just up the road from us in Alfreton, Derbyshire. We are based in Birmingham. For some reason I had always imagined Rab to be a Scottish company, owing to their founder Rab Carrington being a proud Scot. I felt a little deflated – Derbyshire just doesn’t seem as glamorous as ‘the Highlands of Scotland’ to my impressionable mind. Their gear is still rather good though! The cuffs are similarly excellent, using a hook and loop (i.e. Velcro) system to allow adjustment to a user-preference tightness. It’s mainly stuffed with 850 fill power responsibly sourced down but there’s also synthetic fill strategically placed in areas that are more prone to moisture, including the cuffs, shoulders and armpits.

Performance Comparison

Insulation: 170gof 800FP R.D.S Certified European Goose down. Pyrotec™ synthetic insulated hood and cuffs.

What was once the Arc’teryx Cerium LT is now the Cerium Hoody. There are a couple of updates, with new colour ways, different ingredient fabrics and perhaps most notably a new liner that’s derived from natural materials (castor bean oil). The Valiance has been given synthetic filled cuffs and hood which may seem strange but there's a good reason behind it. When it rains the hood is the first thing to get wet and eventually the water might seep through to the down, preventing it from doing it's job, taking longer to dry and ultimately leaving you cold. Same with the cuffs, as your grabbing your rope, bags etc, your wet gloves might seep water into the down in the cuffs. But by replacing the fill in both the hood and cuffs with synthetic insulation, it will carry on keeping you warm, even when wet. This may seem like over kill to some, but we see why this might be a sought after feature in tough winter conditions. We’re particularly impressed by the eco credentials of the Nordic Expedition as it’s made from bluesign approved fabrics, the down fill is certified by the Responsible Down Standard and the DWR treatment is PFC-free. What’s more, Haglöfs as a brand is a leading member of the Fair Wear Foundation and is a certified climate-neutral company. Ice-blasted, rain-lashed and weather-beaten, you can't control the weather. However, with a durable, waterproof Pertex outer and our innovative bonded box wall technology, in the Valiance, you can be sure of protection beneath even the darkest mountain skies.

Preview

The hood is a highlight for me, as stated above it is filled with Stratus synthetic and when cinched down feels incredibly comfortable and warm, it is adjusted with a drawcord around the crown, and has a stiffened peak to keep rain and snowdrift out of your eyes. During our tests, this felt luxuriously warm and incredibly lofty. It’s like wearing a big down sleeping bag. The material felt a little on the brittle side, but it still held up throughout a testing period. During our tests, we found that this had quite a boxy shape to it, but it felt very warm and comfortable. The outer shell fabric is a little on the thin side, though it still held up to our test period. It’s a shame that Klattermusen don’t make a version of this with a hood too. Full Specifications

RDS: This means Responsible Down Sourcing. It’s a certification that down has been procured through methods that prioritise the welfare of the animals and the environment. Unisex XXS-XXL / 800 FP RDS-certified, bluesign approved goose down / 20 denier 100% recycled polyamide with shoulder reinforcement Those who like a trim fitting down garment might want to look elsewhere as we found that this had quite a relaxed fit, spacious fit. Full Specifications The bonded box-wall design means that none of the main panels of the coat have any stitching or seam taping within the panel and so are remarkably waterproof. It could only be improved if they made the hood a little bit more insulated and made the main zip two-way. Full SpecificationsI bought the Valiance at the perfect time for testing it – the nights had begun to draw in around November time, and freezing rain was hammering Sutton Park (my local stomping ground) on a regular basis. Size-wise, I went for the Men’s XL which fitted me well at 6ft3 tall and average build. The shell material and inner lining in the new series are both made of 100% recycled nylon, and the face fabric is also finished with a PFC-free water repellent treatment. This ensures added resistance to moisture without the need to resort to environmentally harmful chemical compounds.