Hi there

Right, I DID think I wanted the Elixir jacket from Craghoppers, nice eVent fabric etc. But have been looking through a few sites and now have a different shortlist.

Criteria:
MUST be black. No dayglo colours!
Should be short-ish and neat fitting. I hate the longer jacket styles
Should be able to cope with the worst, wettest, vilest weather.
Should be up to walking, scrambling and generally ferreting around in the undergrowth.

Candidates:
1. Elixir (Craghoppers). Cheapest cost £150
Pros: eVent fabric (which I like). Cost
Cons: may be a bit long? Not sure about durability even though they claim it's 4 season. Only 2 layer eVent - presumably this will make a difference

2. Manaslu (Mountain Equipment - female version of the Makalu). Cost £160
Pros - reliable brand name, lots of pockets
Cons - not sure if the hood is roll-away (anyone know?). Fabric is 2 layer goretex, again, not sure this is "sturdy" enough.

3. Corrie or Latok (Rab). Cost £160
Pros - lurvely style, wired hood, lightweight, 3 layer eVent fabric, reliable brand
Cons - would lightweight make it a bit flimsy? Latok has cordura as well which would help I suppose. Lack of pockets - how annoying would I find that? Hood won't fold down, I don't think. Not too sure of difference between these 2 jackets anyway!

4. Siula (Berghaus). Cost £200
Pros - goretex XCR cordura fabric, therefore pretty much bombproof, I'd imagine. Hood folds down
Cons - cost. Looks a bit naff.

If anyone has any opinions on these, please let me know. I need advice and lots of it!
Thanks for all opinions :)

PS - in section 3, I meant the Rab Corrie or the Rab Latok Alpine. The Latok Jacket is over my budget. Cheers!

I was looking at the Latok and agree it's too expensive - bought the Marmot Rim jacket from Blacks in Birmingham - fantastic coat. Read my review in the gear section. £120 - sounds like just what you are after.

Hi Rod, I've had a look at that on the Marmot site. I don't like the idea of reflective trim though! Not at all! Although a black marker pen may solve that!
I may pop into Blacks tomorrow to have a look though.

Oh, and you said in your review that it was really only a 3 season jacket. I'll be using this for winter stuff, snowholing etc as well. Do you reckon the Marmot would stand up to 4 season use?

Hi,

I'd suggest a Keela Munro Jacket - I've had all sorts and this one beats them all for me, and it's available in black.

All the best,

Colin

forgot the link:

http://www.summits.co.uk/acatalog/Winterweight.html

The Makalu hood is rollaway. I haven't had mine long enough to be able to comment on its overall sturdiness, but it's favourable impressions so far. Very light, very wind and rain-resistant, sensible pockets. But when the sun does come out, that black can warm up a bit.

Cara, what you need is a nice orange and yellow dayglo design.

with blue spots.

and some of those trainers that flash,

Aye aye, julies been at the hash pasties again

LA Gear?

Julie, you are hereby banished to your purpledom (or is it JJ who is a purple addict?)

Anyway, I need CONSTRUCTIVE advice - otherwise I will be forced to start a new thread :P

Dayglo indeed.

Mutter
mutter
mutter

We are both purple addicts so :-P to you too.

Are you comming to the brecon beacons?

> Cara, what you need is a nice orange and yellow dayglo design.

Well, if that were okay, then the TK Maxx special Patagonia Stretch Element would fit the bill. And only £99. And probably even less when they realize that they can't shift them even after 8 weeks...

Okay, it's not black. I know. It's bright orange...

Hmm well I don't know. I'd like to, but AFAIK it's gonna be a climbing oriented weekend isn't it, and although I'd love to learn, I have no experience or kit, adn no money to buy it with (kit that is, not experience). Hence probably not.

And definitely not unless I can get a new fkn jacket!

Cara, some are going to walk. The experience you dont need, its all indoors although on real rock, kit a harness and rock shoes and you can rent them there.It will be very multi ability that weekend, its all top rope so you dont have to follow the lead.

well if any other climbing virgins are going, I may well go. Would still need babysitting though since haven't climbed before (well, not since I was about 12 in the guides!)

Just turn up woman!

Sure people will be able to belay / encourage / dodge you (if you were to slip off that is).

As for the jacket - try as many on as you can, see if they fit you well and go from there.

Personal pref would be the ME as their hoods are ace and I've got a couple of ME jackets and getr on well with them.

HTH

Si