Keela Dunlin Women’s Hoody review: lightweight run fleece that’s “brilliant at the colder end of the spectrum”

Keela is an outdoors brand born and bred in Scotland some 37 years ago. Alongside production of mountain gear, their heritage includes kitting out Emergency Services and producing over 750,000 PPE gowns during the pandemic. 

Keela are transparent in their measures to repair, repurpose, and reuse surplus and reduce waste. It’s refreshing to find a sportswear brand that practices what they preach when it comes to sustainable practices and community. Why is this important when testing running jackets? British runners and triathletes often train in less than ideal conditions – like it or not, extremely cold, windy, or stormy weather is part of the make-up of the UK. We need gear we can rely on. 

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Design and features

This sports hoody from Keela was a wildcard in our spring run jackets testing and I came away pleasantly surprised. The Dunlin jacket is not a run-specific layer, but rather a lightweight fleece designed for “mountain performance.” The Dunlin Hoody weighs in at 383g (13.5oz for UK10) and doesn’t pack down small. This sets it apart from a typical waterproof running shell – it’s five times heavier than the Inov8 also tested, but its remit isn’t the same. 

The Dunlin is designed to be worn after a running top and before a shell as a mid-layer. Its athletic fit sits close to the body without being skin tight. Unlike many formless crisp-bag jackets I’ve tested over the years, the Dunlin provides a comfortable woman-specific fit (men’s version also available) with a scoop back and slight flare at the hips. Three zip pockets sit flush to the body and are an excellent size. My only nig…