Salomon has been a titan of the trail running world for many years and on test here is the brand’s Bonatti Waterproof.
Like the brand’s trail running shoes, a lot of tech has gone into the construction of this jacket, but does it live up to its billing?
Weight and pack size
The Bonatti Waterproof comes in with a relatively light weight of 176g (UK medium) and it packs down into its own zip pocket on the chest.
That’s handy, as quite a few waterproof running jackets don’t have that provision, and the pack size is reasonable, too, as it squeezes down to the size of a tall tumbler glass.
How does it fit?
The issue is, in chasing a lighter weight, Salomon seems to have done away with some key features. For a start, there are no toggles on the hem for adjustment, so there’s no way to pull the jacket in tightly at the waist.
Partial elastication helps counter this but, while the hem sits close to the body, it’s not impervious to a bit of airflow.
Personally, I wasn’t a huge fan of the fit, as it’s on the boxy side and does catch the wind a little.
What other features does the Salomon Bonatti Waterproof have?
There’s a hood, but it doesn’t feature any adjustment points. While this helps save weight, I did find the resulting fit isn’t as secure as I’d like.
This means it flaps around a little in strong winds and the hood doesn’t move with you when you turn to look to the side, thus impeding your vision.
One area the jacket doesn’t let you down is with pockets, with a chest pocket and two zip pockets further down allowing for storage of essential items such as energy gels or a key.
However, the two latter pockets only have a very small zip pull, so they can be fiddly to access, particularly with cold hands.
Meanwhile, the cuffs are also partially elasticated, though didn’t sit completely flush to my wrists, so they don’t prove to be entirely weather-tight.
One feature I was glad to see included, though, is the press stud behind the main zip at chest height, which allows you to unzip partially and ventilate without giving up on weather protection completely.
In the same vein, there are also some vents on the back of the jacket to help with ventilation, which is handy if you run hot.
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Does it keep the weather out?
Speaking of which, the fabric proved waterproof in testing, even at the front zip, but as I’ve already mentioned, a boxy fit means the fabric catches the wind, which can be a pain.
This also means you may find some rain sneaking in around the edges.
Finally, there are multiple colours available, including bright ones, which is good for visibility.
Verdict: Lacks some key features and a boxy fit, but some decent weather protection.
Score: 70%
