Chris Townsend gives his verdict on the Salomon Nebula Stretch jacket – and explains why he chose it as a Recommended Buy
Salomon’s AdvancedSkin Dry is a soft flexible fabric with a slight stretch that is very comfortable to wear. It’s so soft it doesn’t feel like a waterproof. Breathability is pretty good. And venting is excellent as the jacket has side zips that reach the hem and undo upwards so you can open each side fully and even fasten a pack hipbelt inside the front of the jacket.
If you don’t want the sides open from the hem there is a stud closure to keep the bottom fastened when the zip is undone. The Nebula Stretch is quite short and has a slightly extended back.
The hood is slightly stiffened and has just one drawcord at the back. I found that to keep the hood on in strong winds I had to tighten the cord rather more than was comfortable. This also flattened the peak on my forehead so it was ineffective. The pockets are quite roomy and accessible when wearing a hipbelt though the bottom of them is cut off. The Nebula Stretch is very light and the cost is reasonable. It would make a good three-season backpacking jacket.
Reviewed in May 2016
