Lightweight Waterproofs

Fit What are you using it for? A short jacket's good for biking, but not so hot for walking in the rain, a long jacket might restrict you when biking or running. Bear in mind that different brands fit different shapes and find one that suits your body shape. Try before you buy.

Hood Look for decent protection and easy adjustment. If you're buying mainly for summer use, you probably don't need a heavy duty wired behemoth, but if biking, you may want a detachable or foldaway hood or none at all. Will it fit over a helmet? Does it need to. Finally, watch out for unsecured cords which will lash your face painfully in wind.

Fabric PacLite is very good, but very expensive and in any case, any serious exertion will still have you overheating. If you're running or biking, consider a more breathable but water-resistant fabric instead. Watch out for fabric linings which reach down the arms and wick water up inside the sleeve. None of the fabrics used in lightweight kit will be as tough and durable as more heavy materials. Bear this in mind.

Venting At least as important as fabric choice, a well-vented jacket will make a big difference to your comfort. Even loosening cuffs and undoing the main zip will help a little, but body or armpit vents are even more effective. Think about air flow and letting the air in and out. Finally, make sure vents which are normally fastened by Velcro can be secured open, or they will tend to close up in use. Some top of the range jackets now use water-resistant or water-proof zips.

Zips To save weight, many lightweight jackets have a single flap over the main zip. This is adequate, but in really severe rainfall, it's a weak point, though not the end of the world. It's nice to have a 'beard guard' at the top end of the zip to protect delicate chin skin.

Packing Some jackets come with mesh bags and some fold into their own pockets which is neat, but not essential. If space is important, stow it down before buying. A good un'll fit into a pint pot, just.

Hems Hems and, on longer jackets, waist lines, should feature an adjustable drawcord with the cords either concealed so they don't flap about or at the sides. Anything flapping loose in the centre of the jacket is potentially dangerous if used with an abseil or belay device. The best jackets channel the cords in a seperate channel to avoid wear on the material of the jacket itself.

Cuffs Should be adjustable for tightness and preferably be wide enough for ventilation up the sleeve. If you habitually roll sleeves up, make sure there's enough volume to allow that. Watch out for linings or scrim which may wick water up the sleeve in wet conditions. I prefer Velcro for ease of adjustment - press studs can be fiddle and even freeze up.