A complete lack of adjusters anywhere on the Outspeed is an unusual step, usually only preserved for the most ultralight of walking jackets. The hood has but a slither of elastic in place of the more usual drawcord adjuster. Despite this it's surprisingly effective in wind and rain, not only staying put on your head but moving with it as well. There's no loss of peripheral vision and the slightly stiffened but wireless peak does its job of channelling water away from the face. The zips run smoothly and have so far been snag free. With the main zip fully done up the material around the chin feels comfortable as well as spacious, although the jacket sits lower on the face than some, lessening the protection it offers.
The 3 layer construction is rugged and durable, surprisingly so for such a light jacket, it's also soft, comfortable and quiet to wear. In fact this is possibly one of the most comfortable jackets on test with great next-to-skin comfort and a modicum of stretch.
The cut is athletic but with plenty of room for layering underneath and Salomon's 'Motionfit' technology has been put to good use allowing for unrestricted arm movement. The slightly dropped hem finishes around mid bum and the cuffs are long with a tapered finish that effectively covers the backs of the hands. The cuffs aren't adjustable in any way, relying only on a sewn in lycra sleeve that looks like it's been lifted straight out of the trail running range. We're not sold on this feature as it seems to hold heat inside the jacket rather than letting it ventilate out.
There are two chest pockets placed in perfect spots so as not to interfere with pack straps, these are big enough to be map compatible. They're lined with solid material rather than mesh so don't ventilate and there are no other ventilation options on the jacket apart from the obvious main zip. Despite this we've found breathability to be excellent in very humid conditions.
The jacket can be stuffed into one of its pockets, as the pockets are rather large it doesn't compress down too much but what results is pliable enough to be squidged and squeezed into miniscule spaces.
The garish yellow on test isn't ideal for incognito travelling but reflective striping on the hood hints at potential for use in other disciplines such as cycling and, at a push running. For those wishing to be more conformist there's also a much subtler black option available.
The Outspeed jacket is a curious proposition, but it's one that we've grown to love. When you consider what it offers i.e. a 3 layer construction, great breathability and waterproofing and a light weight and small pack size you can forgive its lack of 'traditional' walking jacket features.
