Ronhill Hyperchill Jacket Review

The Ronhill Hyperchill Jacket has been designed for those days when it’s a bit too cold for just a base layer. So, you need a little bit more warmth and weather protection. This is a tricky layer to get right for running as the moment you start to run you start to generate heat. The Hyperchill Jacket has been designed to be versatile enough to be used in 10 degrees but, still offer enough warmth when the temperature dips below freezing.

To do this the Hyperchill Jacket is constructed of a few different materials. The arms, side panels and centre of the back uses a 100% recycled material called Prism (this is royal blue in the pictures). The Prism fabric has a honey comb pattern to trap the air and insulate the body. The Prism fabric also only transports moisture one way. So, it pulls the moisture away from the body so it can evaporate and not get trapped in the material and cool you down.

The front of the jacket, upper and lower back uses Octa fabric (this is yellow in the pictures). This is a fabric made of hollow fibres. It is very light and very effective at allowing moisture to transfer away from the body. The gaps between the fibres also traps air to increase the insulation the jacket supplies. The Octa fabric is covered with Tornado fabric (cobolt in the pictures) which keeps the wind out and offers some water resistance.

I tend to get warm easily and sweat quite a lot. So, my usual running attire would be a baselayer with a gillet over the top to stop the wind. I have a padded gillet for colder days. The drawback with this outfit is that it doesn’t feel that snug when you first venture out into the elements. It’s fine once you have started to develop a bit of heat. This knowledge tends to encourage me to run a bit quicker at the start of my easy runs on colder days. So, I was very keen to use the Hyperchill Jacket to see it is really was breathable enough to be used in milder days or longer runs. Although the Hyperchill Jacket has only just been launched onto the market I was able to get a sample of the Jacket in December 2020 so I have been running in the Hyperchill jacket for nearly a year in a large variety of conditions.

Firstly I would say that it feels lighter than it looks. You don’t feel like you have put on your winter coat more like a lightweight jumper. However, it does have a snug feel. So, on a cold day you feel like you are dressed for the elements. The fit is snug over a baselayer which improves both the wicking and the insulation. The sleeves are long enough to pull over your hands without stretching the sleeve and the end of the sleeve folds over to make a mitten. There is also thumb loops if you don’t require a mitten.

On really cold days the Hyperchill does the job. It keeps you warm, wicks the sweat away and even when you have been out for a few hours you don’t feel that the jacket is getting saturated with sweat or that the heat is staying in the jacket so you are getting warmer and warmer. It breaths well. So, you don’t feel the need to take the jacket off. The only snag is that the lack of windproof material on the sleeves means that on really windy days your arms can get chilly. Unfortunately you can’t have everything as if the sleeves where covered in a windproof material then the jacket wouldn’t breath as well and would only be useful on cold days.

On milder days I have never felt that I was cooking in the jacket. So, I am happy to just grab the jacket and head out the door. This is important for me as I haven’t a lot of time to get my run in. I tend to run mainly first thing in the morning so I leave everything out and then I can roll out of bed and out the door. Back in time for breakfast. So, there isn’t time to assess the weather and select the right kit. I just need a versatile enough bit of kit that it can function in a range of temperatures. Recently it has been very mild in the morning. So, I have been using a short sleeved baselayer under the Hyperchill jacket and shorts. If I get out and it’s a bit chillier than expected then I have the mitten/cuffs to pull over my hands. If it turns out to be milder I can unzip the jacket and use the venting tab. This is a press stud on an inch long piece of material. It allows you to fully unzip the jacket yet secure it at the chest so that it doesn’t come off your shoulders as you run a long. The Hyperchill jacket is also light enough that you could tie it around your waist and run unhindered. If the weather got a lot warmer while you where out or you were doing some hill reps or intervals where you where generating a lot of heat. So, you didn’t need the jacket on.

A lot of midlayers and jackets lack pockets. So, it’s nice that the Hyperchill has two zip pockets. These are big enough for your hat and gloves, dog lead etc.

Although the Hyperchill jacket isn’t waterproof. It doesn’t soak up water readily so unless it was raining heavily it wouldn’t get saturated. I have run in drizzle and light showers without feeling that I needed a jacket with anymore protection.

In summary I have used this jacket a lot more than I thought I would. I was sceptical that it would be a useful bit of kit for such a range of temperatures.

Charlie @ Northern Runner Newcastle

Other Considerations

OMM Supersonic Smock: This is a lightweight smock (so it goes over your head like a jumper rather than being full zip). The lining is primaloft woven onto a mesh. It is very light and soft. The Supersonic smock offers a similar snug feel although it feels much lighter. As the zip isn’t full length you can’t fully vent the jacket. It is lighter than the Hyperchill Jacket and ties round the waist easily and is barely noticeable. There is a tube style hand warmer pocket at the front with a small zip pocket inside it. The smock folds into the zip pocket and there is a bungie to tie it round your waist. https://www.northernrunner.com/search/supersonic-smock

La Sportiva Zeal: This is a windproof and water-resistant jacket with a light primaloft section over the front. The hood and high neck create a really snug feel. Breathability is good. Two zip pockets. Great as part of a layering system.
https://www.northernrunner.com/clothing-c143/running-jackets-c290/zeal-mens-windproof-insulated-running-jacket-atlantic-night-blue-p6947