Lightweight waterproof jacket

Hi all,

I've just returned a Berghaus Bowscale jacket to Go Outdoors because I didn't like the styling very much. I now have a North Face Circadian Pac-lite from Blacks (£135), and have discovered Cotswold Outdoors have the same jacket at £85. Can anyone recommend a good lightweight waterproof jacket for around the £150 mark? Or should I just suck it up and keep the NF? This is purely a jacket for summer use, as I already own a Paramo Alta II for the cooler weather.

P.S. If there are any bargains to be had I'd like to know.

Thanks

I've been really impressed with the Rab Demand I picked up earlier in the year, it's my first eVent garment so wasn't sure what to expect.

It's performed brilliantly so far, it laughed at heavy rain/snow/sleet on a coast to coast walk across Scotland in May. Packs down well and comes in at 283g for a large.

It's a pull-on smock type rather than a jacket so not everyones cup of tea

Deespite what people say about the Montane Minimus's (pertex shield) durability mine has performed briliantly whitlst backpacking in the alps and wales this year. I just got a Rab Demand that Ill be using crossing the lake district next week.   Both are brillianly light and close fitting.

The latest Trail Mag has a group test on lightweight waterproofs {sub 400g Mens Large}. It gives best in test to the Montane Air Jacket (RRP £250) and best value for Money to the Karrimor X Lite Helium (RRP £120, but for sale in Field and Trek/Sports Direct for £60).

The Montane Air Jacket is made of a lightweight Event fabric rather than Paclite and in terms of performance their is no comparison.  I suppose the nearest comparison, at least in terms of fabric and performance would be the Rab Demand Pull on mentioned in some previous posts.

Hi all,

I've just located a Montane Atomic Stretch jacket at £90. I'm a 40/42 chest and 34" waist so it looks like the large is for me. Any thoughts on the jacket? It looks like a slightly heavier, more durable version of the minimus jacket with hand warmer pockets which I like, as I'm not a runner, but a fast walker. Don't know much about Pertex shield, although I own a Rab Vapour rise pull on which is also made of this.

Cheers

The VR Pull on is a totally different fabric to Pertex shield. Just the same company doing the face fabric.

The atomic stretch won't be as breathable as the minimus but a tougher outer fabric. I've done fine with something using that version of shield's treatment, not sure if everyone would.

Trail have an issue with lightweight waterproofs, because 400g really isn't much of a restriction

Another vote for the Rab Demand pull-on (if you like pull-ons). Otherwise SportPursuit (http://www.sportpursuit.com/sales; link not working) have some Berghaus Velums (GoreTex Active shell) on offer for another 15 hours or so at £114 (£105 for smock version) which i would say is pretty good. Also some Mount Asgard ProShell smocks for £138, which i think are pretty lightweight. As with SportPursuit, estimated delivery is end of August if you can wait that long...

Rab demand fine other than the holes the hood pullys go through let in water all down my chest the first time i wore it.
My Haglofs Lim Ultimate has gore tape over the very same holes so it is an oversight on Rabs part imo...

I'm returning the North Face Circadian Paclite this am and having a think about getting a Montane Minimus jacket. Thanks for all the suggestions. As I'm not a regular backpacker or a runner I suppose I don't need the jacket to be 'ultra-light', just packable and above all waterproof.

Thanks again

After much deliberation I settled for a Karrimor Alpiniste Event jacket at £80. I couldn't really afford anything much more expensive and I only wanted a packable, light-ish jacket to pop in my rucksack. I already have an Alta II jacket for cooler weather. 

Thanks for all your help