In reply to George_Surf:
> What's the sizing like? tight, technical or fairly loose? Im normally a medium,
I'm normally S, and the M I tried on fit okay over a base layer and fleece. In other words, pretty close-fitting for a down jacket. So, if you want it for an overlayer, certainly go one size up.
But, as I said earlier, if the ones I looked at were the same as being discussed here (and, judging by the brand and price, I'm pretty sure they are), I think they're far too thin to be a decent winter overlayer; much more an 'active warmth' layer, as there's not much down or loft to them. Think 'Down Sweater', only colder.
If you want a bit more warmth, and a hood that will take a helmet, really do go and look at the Peter Storm down gilet for £20; it has a decent loft and isn't overstuffed. Not a full-on, sitting-on-a-winter-belay-for-hours sort of warmth, but pretty useful. Granted, it's got no arms...
And no, I don't have any connection with Blacks/Millets; I'm just an inveterate bargain hunter trying to do some proxy bargain-hunting... I know 'Peter Storm' is hardly a "real man's mountaineering brand", but every now and then they produce something half decent, even if they don't know why; why would their normal customers want a helmet-compatible hood, when it means it's not so great without a hood (and no adjustment)...? Not that Karrimor is a "real man's mountaineering brand" any more; mostly cheap, badge-engineered tat, apart from the stuff coming out of Japan.