Keela Talus women’s down jacket review: a hardworking jacket for challenging weather

First impressions

The Keela Talus is an absolute workhorse of a women’s insulated jacket. Stuffed full of synthetic 60gsm Primaloft Gold fill, its Cordura ripstop outer material is far more resistant to tears and scratches than most down jackets (which can often rip at the slightest brush with a thorn) and you can tell this jacket was designed in Scotland, where four seasons in a day are more than likely.

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Flexible, fleece-lined panels run all the way up the inside of the arms and offer great freedom of movement – coupled with a lighter dose of synthetic insulation, these make the Keela Talus ideal for outdoor sports. The hood and sleeves have adjustable cuff tabs with elastication to keep warmth in. Other features include three outer pockets (two body pockets and another on the chest), plus an inside chest pocket.

In the field

We found the Keela Talus to be water-resistant enough to put up with sudden rain showers, and although it’s not the toastiest puffer jacket we have tested, its synthetic insulation still offers warmth when damp, and then dries quickly. It is also windproof enough to cut chill, making it a great standalone jacket on warmer days. The two zipped and fleece-lined ‘handwarmer’ pockets are a comforting extra touch. A reinforced peaked hood keeps water and sun out of your eyes, and it is also compatible with a helmet.

The Talus’s fit runs small, and we’d advise going up a size if you want to wear anything more than a base layer underneath, although the great stretchy side panels will keep you snug even as you pop layers on and off beneath them. Overall, we were very impressed with the value for money offered by the Talus, which is as versatile and warm as competitors available for double the price.