The Sprayway Scorpion men's jacket

Outdoors brand Sprayway has introduced two new jackets aimed at the top-end hillwalker.

The men’s Scorpion and the women’s Calyx are both made from Gore-Tex Performance Shell and are, according to the Hyde-based company, designed to cope with the very worst weather.

The jackets, introduced for the 2011-12 winter season, are aimed at keeping the wearer warm and comfortable during high levels of exertion in extreme conditions.

The Scorpion and Calyx are described as mountaineering and walking jackets and feature venting options including pit-zips, part-mesh lined pockets and unelasticated cuffs that allow sleeves to be pushed up.

Both jackets have fixed, two-way adjustable wire peaked hoods that can be worn over a helmet.

A spokesperson for Sprayway said: “The garment’s features are also compatible with using a pack with a waistbelt and have a very sizable map pocket under the storm guard as well as four other very useful external pockets.

“The Scorpion for men and the Calyx for women are very well thought-out and highly innovative winter mountaineering and walking jackets, designed for the adverse and extremely changeable Great British winter.”

Both come in three different colour options.

The Scorpion, which retails at £200, weighs in at 941g and has drawcord adjustments of waist and hem, as does the £180 Calyx, which weighs 689g.

The women's Calyx jacket

The Scorpion has four external pockets and one internal one, all of which are zipped; the Calyx features two zipped mesh venting and map pockets, and an extra map pocket under a storm guard, along with an internal stash pocket. It also has reflective trim.

Each has been cut for male and female shapes.

More details are on the Sprayway website.