We recently had the pleasure to test the latest Salomon footwear – see our reviews of the brand new Salomon Thundercross and DRX Bliss here – and now that autumn is here we can put the Salomon Sense Flow Jacket through its paces in the appropriate weather conditions.

Sue James, the wife of runABC reporter Alan Newman and a Tonbridge AC member was the lucky recipient of the Sense Flow Jacket in a colour scheme described as Carbon/Carbon – that carbon gets everywhere these days! This proved to be a dark charcoal tone paired with a warm, welcoming lining in bright orange. There's an alternative for dark evenings in bold White/Peach Amber hues and all Sense Flow jackets feature reflective details. To see the Sense Flow Jacket in action watch this video...

Our test period included 10 days in Italy at the European Masters Athletics Championships, where the weather switched from intense heat to cool, wet and windy spells. This was followed by British cross country events with typically unpredictable conditions, best described as changeable. In both settings, the Sense Flow Jacket proved to be invaluable.

The Salomon Sense Flow Jacket is not 100% waterproof and doesn't claim to be anything more than water-repellant, with a PFC-free coating that keeps light showers at bay and water droplets running off smoothly, just like the wearer! One of our tester's pet hates is a noisy jacket that crackles and rustles. This lightweight winter warmer is perfectly engineered to be almost silent in operation.

It is as a packable wind-stopper that the Sense Flow really excels. The first time you pick it up you are struck by the extraordinarily light weight of this cleverly designed garment. The pocket is handily placed at the rear, with a two-sided zip so the jacket can be folded into a tiny  6"x4"x1" pack that can be unzipped and deployed in just a few seconds.

The fit is slightly on the smaller side, so take a size up if you are layering. However, the shape is perfect for no-flap runs in windy conditions. The sleeves are generously long and well-contoured, with a thumb loop to prevent any riding up.

Thoughtful touches that Sue loved included the chest height popper that allows the jacket to be partly or fully unzipped in use, without slipping off the shoulders. The tiny, laser-cut vent holes in the back also scored highly, but the real winning feature was the comfy 'Octa Loft' insulation panels strategically placed to keep upper arms, chest, neck and shoulders toasty.

Sue's verdict: "A great addition to any runner's wardrobe. Incredibly light, warm, comfy and quiet. You hardly notice when you are wearing it, which is how a good running jacket should feel. Best of all it's absolutely tiny when packed so adds nothing to your kit bag or cabin bag, yet is an essential item."

For more details on the Salomon Sense Flow Jacket click here.

Photo of Sue by Alan Newman; Sample jacket courtesy Spike Communications/Salomon