If your parents never let you leave the house without your luminous yellow cagoule, you may need to work through some negative memories before you can appreciate the new Nanopel jacket from Peak Performance. Yes, it folds away into its own pocket and is as light as a feather, but that's where the similarities end. This jacket's protective membrane repels water as effortlessly as the proverbial duck's back, while feeling cotton-soft on your skin. It's breathable enough for exercise, stylish enough for work and it comes in a range of non-fluorescent colours, including this season's essential - white. Bring on the April showers! Peak Performance Nanopel jacket, £60 (available in both men's and women's styles). Call 0800 3898655 for stockists.
Way to go
If, like me, you have wasted precious hours of your life driving your running routes to see how far they are, you'll be delighted by Nike Routefinder. It's a new free online route-mapping service that currently serves only London. Using Google mapping, Routefinder allows you to retrace your steps in the virtual world to find out how many miles you've covered. Once registered, you can also plan, save and print routes, or try other people's favourites. Search the database of mapped routes by typing in your postcode and clicking on the red flags that appear on the map. Search by distance or terrain, or even by how well-lit a route is. Visit runlondon.com/routefinder.
Wash and go
The new Ice Guard deodorant range has all sorts of plus points, such as being completely natural, colourless, hypoallergenic and oil-free. But for someone who is always running 10 minutes late in life, the biggest advantage is that you can apply it straight from the shower to wet skin, without leaving chalky marks all over your clothing or reducing its effectiveness. Being a deodorant, as opposed to an antiperspirant, Ice Guard won't prevent sweating, but the mineral salts in it stop perspiration becoming malodorous. So both you and your deodorant will be fragrance-free; £4.49 for a stick, roll-on or spray, from Holland & Barrett and healthfood stores, or call 01274 360000 for stockists.
Northern exposure
The Vitality Show (think the Ideal Home exhibition with yoga mats instead of fitted kitchens) is in its seventh year and is at London Olympia this weekend. But Vitality Scotland is something new. For the first time, the show is travelling north of the border, specifically to the world's heart attack capital, Glasgow. Speakers include Pete Cohen, Patrick Holford, Jan de Vries and Georgia Foster, and there'll be opportunities to try out the latest fitness gear and trends, alongside sampling healthy food and spa treatments from Stobo Castle and Mar Hall. Vitality Scotland takes place from April 7-9 at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, 0870 220 3939 for tickets (vitalityshowscotland.co.uk). The London event finishes tomorrow at 6pm.
