The outdoor equipment segment is dominated by a few select names. Sure, these industry big-hitters draw the attention of a lot of enthusiasts, but in recent years more approachable high-street brands have started tapping into this illustrious market. One of the latest is H&M.

Underneath its wider Move equipment sub-brand, H&M has started crafting a collection of outdoor clothing that undercuts many other brands on price but still aims to deliver a high level of technical expertise with plenty of those must-have features included. At the heart of the latest clothing line-up sits this – the StormMove jacket.

It’s a lightweight, three-layer shell jacket which has been designed to bring excellent waterproof properties at a very reasonable price. Plus, it’s got a greener focus than you might think, with 99 per cent recycled polyamide being used in its construction.

While a lot of high-street brands aren’t often associated with making clothing that is built to last, H&M’s Move collection – on the face, at least – appears to distance itself from this, particularly in the case of the StormMove which feels as though it has been created to be relied upon whenever the wet weather rolls around. H&M will recycle it – along with other clothes – if it does run to the end of its life, however. 

Speed round-up

The StormMove jacket is designed for wet and windy conditions with a lightweight construction that makes it effortlessly packable yet resistant to bad weather. While H&M may not be the usual go-to for outdoor enthusiasts, the StormMove has been equipped with plenty of features that should help tempt them into its stores. Highlights such as an anti-chafe chin guard, under-arm zips and an comfortable elasticated hems all show that the StormMove has been designed to get on with the job. At £139.99, it’s also very hard to beat price-wise considering the number of technical aspects it has to offer. 

For

• Ultra lightweight
• Waterproof finish works well
• Lots of adjustability thanks to elasticated sections
• Well-sized hood

Against

• Zip pulls don’t feel that high-quality 
• Only two colourways to choose from in women’s sizing

Tech specs 

Everything you need to know about the H&M StormMove

• £139.99
• Three-layer shell jacket 
• Elasticated hood
• Anti-chafe chin guard
• Elasticated pockets 
• Under-arm zips for added ventilation

Understated out of the box

The H&M StormMove doesn’t jump out of the box with a range of zany colours. Instead, it’s a far more understated affair with just two colourways to choose from. We’re looking at the women’s jacket here, by the way, and while the two shades that are available in are both pleasant in appearance, it might be nice to have a few extra to choose from. That said, don’t go thinking that it’s imprinted with H&M’s bright-red logo as instead, you’ll find a range of subtle StormMove motifs which look classy and pleasantly under the radar. 

There is a good range of sizes to choose from, mind you, with everything from XS right the way through to 4XL ensuring that there should be something for most people. The fit is relatively cropped, so you may want to go up a size compared to usual in order to have a slightly oversized look and to prevent the jacket from riding up while you’re on the move. It’s designed to be slightly longer at the back, but we found that a larger size was the best bet for coverage. 

That said, with adjustable elastic strings on the back of the hood and elasticated cuffs, it’s not hard to get comfy once you’ve got the right size. 

Features

While the StormMove may not play on big-name material creators in its construction, there’s still plenty to talk about tech-wise. It’s a largely polyester-made affair, though H&M says that the jacket’s materials come from a mixture of virgin and recycled substances. It also says that the ‘functional fabric’ used in the jacket is both waterproof and breathable.

At the front, you’ll find two zipped pockets which are ideal for keeping your smartphone and keys away from the bad weather. The hood also feels an adjustable drawstring at the back to help give a nicely secure fit and while the capacity of the hood itself might not be large enough for a helmet, it’s got more than enough room for usual wearers. 

Wearing

While H&M may not have employed a ‘big-name’ material company such as Gore-Tex, we found that the brand’s claims about waterproofing and breathability stack up with the StormMove stack up. During a particularly heavy downpour, it did a great job of keeping us dry with the water beading impressively across the jacket. Once stopped, a quick shake was all that was needed to help get the outer area of the jacket back to dry – this is a fine downpour jacket, that’s for sure. 

Its lightweight nature means that the StormMove is great for packing away into a rucksack or duffel if there’s wet weather on the cards, too. The underarm vents are a neat touch – and one which you wouldn’t entirely expect to find at this price point – and they’re a good way of releasing some moisture which may have built up inside the coat. The zips themselves don’t feel all that robust and while the underarm vents have a semi-laminated finish to them, this hasn’t been done for the main front pockets which is a shame. That said, there are decent enough storm flaps overlapping those primary pockets to stop wind and rain from driving through. It might’ve been nice to see a mesh background for the underarm vents included too – as they are, they port directly into the inside of the jacket. 

However, all the primary attributes that you’d want from a dependable, lightweight jacket are spot-on. It’s easy to bundle up, fends off big rainstorms when they arrive and looks classy in a very non-mainstream way. You also have to zoom out at points and remember that this is a jacket which delivers all of this for a fraction of what the big-name outdoor brands will ask for a three-layer jacket. 

To recap

The StormMove is a very commendable effort from H&M. It ticks the boxes when it comes to waterproofing and versatility, while it’s good to see a wide range of sizes available. At a penny under £140, it’s not bad value. Is it too much for an H&M product, rather than one from a more traditional outdoor brand? We don’t think so. Given its range of features, lightweight nature and understated design, it’s certainly a jacket which brings some friendly competition to the usual suspects.