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Every so often a product arrives at the Ultralight office that we all get excited about. That was definitely the case with the  Enlightened Equipment Torrid Apex jacket. When our first Torrid Apex jacket arrived, we took one look and immediately knew that this jacket was something a bit special.

Using a ridiculously light 7D fabric this jacket weighs about the same as an apple!! The fabric is so thin that it has that translucent look and high sheen that only a super technical ultralight fabric has. Despite the crazy light weight, the Torrid Apex is seriously warm. Pull it on and you can feel the warmth that it is trapping immediately. We cannot think of a jacket within 100g that can match it’s warmth. Additionally, most jackets around this weight don’t have a hood.

In order to keep the weight down the jacket is pretty simple with only features that are absolutely needed. The cuffs and hem are elasticated, with adjustment at the hem and work fine. There are 2 outer hand pockets, great for warming up your hands or stashing a few items when in town.

The fit is definitely generous to allow it to fit over the top of other layers. I’m a medium in most things (a large in Montane) and found the medium to be very roomy on me, I could probably have got away with a small but it does allow more layering. It could be described as boxy and not an athletic style fit.

As you might expect it packs up incredibly small, similar size to a comparable down jacket but with all the benefits of a synthetic jacket. Keeping you warm even when damp, ideal for long multi-day trips in frequently wet locations. Usually true of the UK and especially the Scottish Highlands.

The fabric never seems to feel clammy so must breathe pretty well. It also offers decent wind protection and the DWR will resist a shower or drizzle. I was initially nervous about damaging the 7D fabric but can say that during extensive use it has held up fine. You wouldn’t want to drag yourself through brambles in it or wear it whilst climbing on jagged rocks but for typical backpacking and camp use it has not been a problem in my experience. I do tend to be light on my kit and treat it with care.

I took a Torrid Apex jacket on the TGO Challenge and during a couple of sub-zero high-level camps it kept me feeling toasty whilst sitting around. It’s a supremely comfortable jacket to wear, it’s so light and the fabric so soft that you simply don’t notice that you are wearing it. It has something of a cult following. Several people recognised that I was wearing a Torrid jacket during my crossing of Scotland. I saw a couple of other people wearing them too which is amazing for a jacket from a niche US brand.

The EE  Torrid Apex jacket has the best warmth to weight ratio of any synthetic jacket that we have seen. It has become one of our Top Picks because frankly it is so unbelievably good.

Danny Pearson
Dan is a keen distance walker who loves to geek over the latest gear. In the last few years, Dan has completed a couple of TGO Challenge crossings of Scotland (with another planned for 2024), GR221 in Mallorca, Dales High Route and Hadrian’s Wall plus countless other self-planned routes. A keen mountain biker but finds he doesn’t bounce so well these days when the inevitable happens. Read more from Danny Pearson