Swedish brand Tenson call this their most affordable ski jacket - and given that it still costs £200, that says a lot about the ski jacket market.
Tenson are re-emerging onto the UK ski market after a few years absence, and the 'affordable' Yanis could go a long way towards helping them re-establish a foothold, as you get quite a lot of jacket for your money. Tenson's satisfyingly soft new stretchy MPC Extreme fabric ensures the jacket stays with you - there's no awkward readjustment needed after rapid movements - making it hugely comfortable to wear. Its light padding is warm while hem and cuff adjusters and the built-in half-gloves cut out wind-chills. The removable snow skirt and hood add to its versatility - and the hood can be tweaked to provide a snug fit over helmets.
The Yanis has a respectable 10k/10k waterproof/breathability rating, keeping you dry from the inside and the out, putting it at the top end of the mid-range performers. Plus it's PFC-free which is a welcome tick in the eco-box. It also has built-in RECCO reflector technology, which might come in handy if caught in an avalanche.
You want pockets? You got seven of them - two zipped outer chest ones - perfect for piste maps or phone - two indoor chest (one zipped, one Velcro), which are neatly positioned on the jacket front edge, so there's no delving into the depths to find what's stored there, two deep zippered hand-warming pockets and the all-important one sleeve pocket (left arm) for ski passes. There are also two pit zips for under arm ventilation.
Only real downside - the styling is very plain. No reflective strips or two-tone panels to break up the dominant monotone look. Our test jacket's sage-green colour looked a little, well, military, but other available colours do include a much cheerier orange.
One other thing, we caught ours on a thorny branch just in passing and it snagged the material. Wouldn't want to make a habit of that.
Finally, you could just about stuff it into a backpack - if the backpack was empty. But frankly, why would you. Just wear it.
