If Little Red Riding Hood were wandering through rainy forests today I reckon she’d wear Finisterre’s beautifully made Litus jacket, £150.
Product description: “The Litus waterproof is a highly technical piece cunningly disguised as a casual jacket. Lightweight and breathable with fully taped seams, the Pertex Shield Eco fabric is part recycled nylon and has a smooth matt finish, with a lightweight coating inside which protects the membrane and feels light and dry next to the skin. The contemporary wearable style means you’ll want to wear it everywhere, rain or shine.”
Rain or shine: The Litus is a straight-up gorgeous jacket, full of beautifully designed detail. The hood fits perfectly, with a wired brim to keep rain well away from your face. Pockets are thoughtfully cut, poppers seal cuffs and storm flaps protect zips from the elements. The apple-red shell is made from 51% recycled material and has a beautiful matte finish which still delivers total water protection – the jacket is so waterproof that rain bobbles pleasingly on its surface, even in heavy showers. I wore my Litus on my bike in torrential rain and had a perfect line on my legs where my jacket ended and my soaked jeans began.
The cut of the Litus leans more towards city lifestyle than rugged outdoors, and the jacket feels loose and boxy, with plenty of room for jumpers underneath and a longer cut than a more technical bit of kit aimed at mountain walkers. It’s best for spring and autumn – wear with a down jacket underneath on winter rambles to keep cosy.
Verdict: Beautiful quality and detailing and fully, reliably waterproof – the Litus ticks all the boxes if you’re after an outdoors-ready jacket you’ll be proud to wear anywhere. And if you aren’t into riding-hood red there’s a berry blue shade, too.
