Berghaus Mera Peak

New for autumn/winter 2010 is a brand new incarnation of the classic and somewhat notorious Berghaus Mera Peak waterproof shell jacket and we have one here for test.

We say 'notorious' because the original Mera Peak became sought-after street wear in some circles, but despite that, it was always a capable and durable all-round classic waterproof shell jacket for British hills.

The new version has been dragged into modern times with a thorough re-styling job and some neat new features and as part of the Berghaus 'Mountain' range, it's intended for all-round hill and mountain use rather than high street wear.

Fabric is two-ply Gore-Tex Performance Shell meaning it feels slightly weighty compared to top-end three-ply jackets - on the scales, our medium was 730 grammes on the button thanks to the mesh drop-liner needed to protect the Gore-Tex membrane.

The specification is impressive in a traditional mountain jacket style, so you get four main pockets and an internal mesh pocket, pit-zips with flaps and water-resistant zips and a full hood with laminated peak. One touch that won't please everyone is that while the internal pocket will take an OS map, you have to undo the water-resistant main zip to get to it.

The other main talking point is the hood. Having reinvented the helmet hood with their Raptor design, Berghaus has taken a look at roll-away hoods and had a crack at producing one that actually stows away neatly and comfortably.

It's all done with press studs and while it's a little fiddly - you have to fold the stiffened peak back on itself and roll before fastening two sets of poppers - the end result is a comfortable collar thanks to the micro-suede lining.

No-one's pretending that the Mera Peak is a cutting-edge technical jacket, it's more of a long-cut, all-round hill and mountain-walking waterproof but with more contemporary styling, so you could wear it to the shops or out on the town on a wet evening without looking like a refugee from a Chris Bonington siege-style Everest expedition.

Price is £240. Full review to follow.

Also available...

If you want a jacket with the Mera Peak's hood system, four pockets, longer cut and pit-zips but in lighter, three-ply Pro Shell, then the Berghaus Yala Peak is a very similar jacket, but in Pro Shell. Claimed weight is around 200 grammes less than the two-ply version and price £20 more at £260.