Having packed just about everything that promised to stave off hypothermia, I wasted no time in stuffing the item into a side pocket of my rucksack. A short while ago, prior to the advent of water repellent clothing technologies, I would have left this behind. There’s no point in lumping extra weight about after all – and with the likelihood of getting caught in a Scottish downpour, who needs soggy feathers?

However, this is 2015 and new improved down jackets are all the rage, said to keep water (or at least a ‘light shower’ in the case of Hi Gear’s gilet), off the proverbial duck’s back, while offering all the snuggly benefits you might expect. What’s more, this new breed of jacket folds away into little more than a fist, a must for any backpacker.

An added bonus of Hi Gear’s gilet is that its left-hand pocket thoughtfully doubles as an integrated stuff sack, complete with hanging loop. It’s the little things that matter.

The sun shone throughout my trip but in overnight temperatures of -3 degrees on the Cairngorms’ exposed northern corries, I was certainly glad I’d packed this gilet. Down products are synonymous with some feather loss but none appeared at all during or since the trip – and just as well. The draw cord at the waist and high collars ensured the elements stayed well out and I was able to return home direct rather than via intensive care.