At a personal level, I've bought two synthetic jackets from Alpkit, both less than £50, one was dreadful because the inner lining material just seemed to hold onto my perspiration and I always felt damp after exertion. The other jacket is great, the inner liner does not do this but neither is or was particularly warm especially when the weather was windy. Easy to solve though, I just wear my windproof jacket over the top. This winter I've got away with, one base layer, one shirt, one Alpkit synthetic jacket, and one windproof jacket and have never been cold.