A down gilet like the Craghoppers Akim is one of those things you never knew you wanted until you get one, then once you do you wonder how you ever lived without it.
A lightweight, low volume down vest like the Akim means that your core begins to warm up the minute you put it on, whilst its packability and light weight means you can stuff it into your pack whatever the season and forget about it until you feel chilly.
The Akim is filled with 500+ fill power duck down and has ‘SmartDry’ technology applied to the outer fabric to repel rain and stains; naturally enough the features are minimal in what is a relatively minimalist garment, consisting of elasticated armholes for a snug fit, two zipped handwarmer pockets and a large zipped inner stow pocket.
The cut is generous so there’s plenty of room for layering underneath, and it also means you can slip the Akim on over the top of a hoody or sweatshirt for instantly accessible warmth.
