Hey I'm looking for a new waterproof jacket. Basically I've got a budget of £200, although I *might* be able to stretch that a little if need be. Its got to be very tough, I'm a geology student so long hours in the field in potentially horrendous conditions and very rough use. I need something with a few good sized pockets (One at least large enough for an A5 sized notebook) and a wired visor on the hood would be preferable, my current jacket dosen't have one and I have considered wearing swimming goggles in heavy rain before. I have a habit of shoving my waterproofs in my bag to carry them when not needed so something that packs down pretty small would be useful. I'm a fairly small guy so nothing built with 6'6" rugby players in mind
Any suggestions?
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| Edited: 17/10/11 23:13 |
Think you have a contradiction in terms - I was going to suggest Paramo then you say you want something small (and I guess lightweight)...but very rough use and lightweight dont really go together terribly well. I know this may seem a bit of an odd question - but what do the staff on your course use?
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Seems like a fairly reasonable question, they've spent a lot of time outside and know what to aim for. Rab seems to have the lecturers vote, but they seem to be a little on the pricey side and as I'm in no rush to get it I'm just looking for as many ideas as possible.
Lightweight would be nice, but endurance is more important.
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Rab Pile Pertex by any chance? I'm thinking Out a lot Long periods of inactivity or low activity (as you poke about looking at rocks etc) wet cold high abrasion Pile/pertex - not waterproof as such but tough as old boots, Paramo - very very water resistant and tough as old boots. If going for the P/P look at the Snugpack P/P shirt - IMHO as good as the Montane and last time I looked somewhat cheaper
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what sort of temperatures? is it all UK based?
pile/pertex or paramo springs to mind but it needs to be fairly cold for that
alternatively, you could layer up accordingly and go for something like goretex proshell or 3 layer event.
the latter options give you the chance to adjust your temperature accordingly and will have pretty small pack sizes
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 With regards to heavy rain blasting in your eyes, I now always carry a ME Pro Shell cap with me. I wear spectacles and in heavy rain can't see where I'm going without the extra protection. I think I paid twenty quid for mine, but a quick trawl on the interweb doesn't show anywhere selling them for much less than twenty-five quid at the moment.
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I'll be using it year round in varying temperatures so layering is definitely a better option. Having a zip-out lining wouldn't be a particularly bad thing, but its hardly a make-or-break feature. The cap seems like a pretty good idea, but I spend a good deal of time with my helmate on so wearing lots of things on my head can get uncomfortable, plus the whole student therefore will not spend money thing.
And as well as spending ages sitting looking at rocks I'm pretty likely to use it climbing, so it can't be too hot.
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 If you're willing to hunt the sales, you may well get a nice goretex proshell jacket... seems like most of them would fit your criteria. Rab and Montane do some hardwearing eVent stuff, but I've never seen the fabric in person so I can't speak for its robustness. Don't know about other brands, but I've done well with Rohan in the past. Their own brand fabrics seem quite capable, and they're not too unreasonably priced (especially in the sales, again!) but I don't know if they do any climbing friendly tops (free arm movement, helmet compatible hood). Zip out linings are pointless. I've tried em once, and they offer nothing that a decent layering system doesn't provide.
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Update: I've been sniffing around for a jacket for the last 6 weeks and I've found quite a few that look interesting. However I've found one problem, everything is sized at least 4" to large in the chest (I'm a 33" chest. Yes I'm THAT skinny) the sole exception I've found so far in Mammut's Gipfelgrat jacket, which costs around £400. It also has pit-zips, which I don't need as I don't sweat that much and I'm a little worried they'll compromise the waterproofness of the jacket. Anyone got much experience with them? Or any other suggestions?
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 I think this ticks most of your boxes other than price Berghaus Mera Peak or this would be better at keeping out the elements The large volume-adjustable hood has a wired peak and velcro face closure, and can be rolled away into the collar when not needed. The full-length two-way zip is interactive and can be zipped to a compatible fleece to make a 3-in-1 jacket for winter walking. Bergahus Torrey Peak jacket
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| Edited: 04/12/11 07:28 |
 33" chest really is tiny  Makes me wonder if its worth trying womens cut jackets actually. But if you're up in that sort of price bracket and struggling for fit then well worth considering cutsom fitted clothing. For pure shell jackets the option is really PHD's Alpamayo's. Seems appropriately tough fabric etc. If you wanted more pockets think they'd add them. There is an extra cost to custom fits, although it depends quite what they need to do cf changes. Not crazy though - iirc +10% or so wouldn't be a surprise. Their website has a form to fill in for a quote for custom fitted stuff.
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I hadn't heard of custom fitted outdoors stuff. Thats definitely worth looking into, thanks.
And I have tried a few womens jackets, but they've either been very fitted to a female body shape, or tight across the shoulders and often in unfortunate colours.
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I picked up a Montane Super Fly XT for £140a few weeks ago, so well within your budget. 4 pockets that all can hold an OS map, side vents, wired peak hood and certainly weather resistant in the horizontal hail storm I was out in earlier today. It's event, so is pretty good breathability wise and is pretty light and certainly packs down fairly small. I got it on offer from Field & Trek, might be worth a look.
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Looks like a really nice jacket gazza, but looking at their size chart I think it'll be way too big for me, as will both the berghaus jackets. Neither of them are available in xsmall 
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I'm about 6ft and a 42" chest, so sizing wasn't so much of a problem for me. Good luck in finding smaller sizes; at the risk of sounding rude, do any manufacturers do decent gear in kids sizes that might fit?
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Haven't seen much decent gear in kids sizes, but I haven't been looking that hard at it. Kids sizes tend to stop at 11, apparently manufactures don't believe in teenagers. I'll give it a look though, might find something
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 Where are you studying ? Have you thought of going to the manufacturers outlet shops where they have them. I am sure Paramo is Wadhurst, Rab, Derbyshire, and Montane near Newcastle. But I am sure the good folk on the site can tell you where they are. Never know you might strike luck and get a real bargain as the smaller sizes are usually the last ones to go.
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Is it possible to get something decent for LESS than £200???
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I'm in Liverpool. Mountain Equipment are fairly close, but all their stuff is too big for me, already tried them, smallest size is at least 5" too big around the chest.
And with regards to getting something for less than £200, its taken me much longer to find something than I was expecting and is nearly xmas, so fuck the budget. Anything that actually fits would be nice.
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Depends how you define decent Some of the Event shells are basic ~200 (less for some of RABs more stripped down ones) and so can often be less in sales. Ditto for own brand 3 layer fabrics. Thats disregarding sales of course. And 2.5 layer jackets nearly always less of course, often quite a bit. Slightly different but still fair enough. And yes very much harder once you're an extreme case cf fit.
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| Edited: 07/12/11 22:17 |
