A good insulated jacket is designed to bring one thing over everything else – warmth. However, they’re often accompanied by some downsides; they can be a little bulky and prevent freedom of movement while a lot of them lack the outright features that you’d get in a typical outer jacket. ThruDark, however, has come up with what it believes to be a true ‘all-rounder of an insulated jacket’ in the snappily-named Ithax. 

Available in both hooded, conventional – or ‘funnel’, according to ThruDark – and gilet guises, the Ithax has been kitted out with some of the latest keep-warm technology out there, all wrapped up in this brand’s typically military-inspired aesthetic.

We’ve already been impressed by ThruDark’s Breach jacket but, whereas that heavy-duty down jacket is designed to keep particularly sub-zero temperatures at bay with a slight trade-off against versatility, the Ithax is all about ease of movement and packability – this is a jacket that can be stowed away in a rucksack and then relied upon as and when you need it. 

It’s available in a trio of subdued shades – we’d quite like to see a brighter hue as an option –  the Ithax is filled with 100 per cent recycled Primaloft synthetic insulation for tip-top warmth, while a PFC-free water-repellent finish is there to help deflect casual showers but, as with pretty much all insulated jackets, proper downpours won’t see the Ithax keeping you dry.

Sphere Score

For

• Super lightweight
• Hood has good coverage 
• Nice deep pockets
• Understated design 

Against

• Colours are quite subdued 
• Pockets aren’t lined
• Relatively expensive 

Tech specs

• £295
• Ripstop exterior
• 100% recycled Primaloft insulation 
• PFC free water repellent finish 
• Hood and waist drawstrings 

What is the ThruDark Ithax like to wear?

The ThruDark Ithax is almost absurdly lightweight. It comes with its own bag – akin to a stuff sack for a sleeping bag – but you can actually get it smaller than that. Fitting the Ithax into a backpack is a no-brainer and it can be rolled up into a comically small area. 

But that lightweight nature, thankfully, doesn’t come at the expense of warmth. Once on, it does a great job of keeping your heat centred around your core, while the adjustable hood can be brought into play to stop warmth from escaping out of the top of your head. The waist drawstrings mean you can cinch the Ithax in a touch, too, though we found that straight out of the box – or bag, in this case – there wasn’t much need to adjust the fit. 

It’s got a less brand-heavy approach than we’ve found on other ThruDark products, with just a compact logo on the back and another on the arm, which is great for wearers who want to make a more undercover approach. The Primaloft insulation is nicely divided between the separate panels of the jacket, but it’s this ribbed design which helps with one of the Ithax’s most positive traits – manoeuvrability.

The jacket’s regular fit means that you’ve got a little extra freedom to move around, while the two hand pockets on the front of the jacket are well placed – though it would be nice if they were lined with a soft material such as fleece for a more premium feel. You’ve also got an inside pocket which is handy for loose or valuable items, such as your phone or house keys.  

The water-repellent finish to the jacket definitely helps when there’s a shower with rain easily beading off both the main area of the coat and the hood, as you’d expect it to. The ripstop material used for the exterior of the jacket gives it a nicely robust feel, too, and while it doesn’t have the ultra hard-wearing Cordura panels that you’ll find on the Breach, it still gives the impression of a jacket that’ll still be able to deal with some rough and tumble. 

A more steady shower will see the water start to seep in but, thankfully, it’s an easy jacket to dry out and a short hang on a rack or chair will see it back to fighting fit in no time. Thanks to its lightweight nature, the Ithax could also be seen as an option for either under or over existing layers – it’s a great way to introduce some warmth without adding too much weight. 

The elasticated cuffs on the Ithax do a good job of stopping the wind from whistling through and, as we’ve found on other ThruDark jackets, the high neckline is another comfort-boosting touch. The zips themselves have a nice robust feel to them with pleasant branded toggles, though we might be tempted to swap these out for rubberised versions to make them a little easier to grab. It’s a minor niggle, however. 

So should you buy it?

The Ithax comes in at £295, making it quite the investment. It puts it slightly above rival offerings from the likes of Patagonia and North Face in terms of price, but hardly out of the ballpark range. Is it worth the price, then?

We’d have to say so. It’s the versatility of the Ithax which makes it stand out in our eyes. The fact that it can be easily packed away is a real plus point, particularly if you’re after a jacket that can make a big impact in terms of warmth and comfort but can easily be stowed away if the weather eventually turns too balmy. 

As we’ve mentioned, we would quite like a few brighter colours to choose from, but then that wouldn’t play into ThruDark’s subdued and undercover approach to design. The fact that the firm’s badges are a little more toned-down on the Ithax is, in our view, a positive too as it’s quite nice to have a jacket which doesn’t shout too much about who made it – that makes it cool. 

It’s a versatile jacket which can be worn either over or underneath other layers. In fact, when teamed with a fully waterproof outer, the Ithax makes for a very sturdy addition to any setup, be that for a more in-depth hike or even a wander with the dog.