Outdoor Garments
Field Tested In The Highlands
The Cuillin Down Jacket
Our Outdoor Garments Cuillin Down Jacket undergoing real world testing with Forest Ranger Evan Holahan. Few landscapes test outerwear like the Cairngorms. We catch up with Evan to check in on how it holds up out on the Plateau.
How long have you had the jacket? And specifically as a forest ranger, how often do you wear it? What do you do with it on?
I have owned the jacket since October of 2024, so it's seen about one autumn/winter cycle of use with another season on the horizon. Throughout the autumn and winter I tend to wear it three to four times a week depending on my work schedule.
The work I carry out while wearing it ranges from tree planting, to mountain path maintenance, patrols, and ecological surveys. I also volunteer as a photographer for Scottish Mountain Rescue where I wear it while accompanying mountain rescue teams on training exercises.
It's especially useful because I tend to be standing still for longer periods in rain, sleet and wind so having proper insulation is key. It wouldn't be very ideal to get hypothermia and turn the training exercise into a live rescue! I own the orange variant of the jacket so the high vis has also been really valuable for my time out in the hills.
Field Tested In The Highlands
The Cuillin Down Jacket
Our Outdoor Garments Cuillin Down Jacket undergoing real world testing with Forest Ranger Evan Holahan. Few landscapes test outerwear like the Cairngorms. We catch up with Evan to check in on how it holds up out on the Plateau.
How long have you had the jacket? And specifically as a forest ranger, how often do you wear it? What do you do with it on?
I have owned the jacket since October of 2024, so it's seen about one autumn/winter cycle of use with another season on the horizon. Throughout the autumn and winter I tend to wear it three to four times a week depending on my work schedule.
The work I carry out while wearing it ranges from tree planting, to mountain path maintenance, patrols, and ecological surveys. I also volunteer as a photographer for Scottish Mountain Rescue where I wear it while accompanying mountain rescue teams on training exercises.
It's especially useful because I tend to be standing still for longer periods in rain, sleet and wind so having proper insulation is key. It wouldn't be very ideal to get hypothermia and turn the training exercise into a live rescue! I own the orange variant of the jacket so the high vis has also been really valuable for my time out in the hills.
How cold does it usually get? What are the conditions? What do you wear it over?
I have mostly worn it while carrying out work in Cairngorms National Park, where in the autumn and winter the conditions can be especially austere and change dramatically throughout the day. The coldest temperature I have endured while wearing it has been around -10 degrees celsius with winds around 20mph, so it felt a bit colder with the wind chill.
I usually wear it over a polartec micro fleece pullover or a merino wool sweater, and depending on the temperature I can add on a thermal base layer if it is exceptionally cold. I can easily throw a rain layer over it, whether it is a waxed canvas jacket or a waterproof rain jacket. The Cairngorm Plateau is known for some of the most intense winds and weather shifts in Scotland and the Cuillin hasn't let me down yet.
Can you tell us more about your favorite technical features of the jacket?
The technical feature that stands out the most is the 600 fill-power rating for the down material. This down fill rating allows the jacket to navigate the balance of being lightweight and packable while also keeping you warm.
An issue I have run into with previous down jackets as insulating layers is that they're too bulky to fit under a rain layer or pack down to a nice size for storage in a rucksack. The Cuillin compresses nicely under layers and also isn't too bulky when storing in my pack. It has fit into packs as small as 20L for shorter excursions and 50L for longer treks. With how volatile the weather in Scotland can be, having a layer that can easily be taken on and off while carrying out work such as path maintenance is key in order to stay on top of your body temperature and perspiration.
“All-round winner in looks, price and performance.”
Winner - Best Puffer Jacket Category
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“All-round winner in looks, price and performance.”
Winner - Best Puffer Jacket Category