Recommendatios for Waterproof Jackets?

Broadback said:

Any recommendations for the above, as the monsoon season seems to be
upon us. :-) We went walking yesterday, neither my wife's nor my jacket
stood up to the test. Lightweight preferably, the Gortex that I have
(was actually bought in my boating days)is rather heavy and bulky. A
source would also be good. Cheers

Where will you be going, and what doing? At the top end you can
pay for lots of features of no use to casual walkers, or lower down
you can get something which is waterproof but not much fun in a
real blizzard.
To what extent is light a priority? You can get /very/ light
jackets now, but they're cut shorter and offer less protection and
will wear out quicker.

And do you want a jacket you can live in all day, or do you want
something that will only go on when it rains and live in the
rucksack otherwise?

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Peter Clinch said:

Broadback said:

Any recommendations for the above, as the monsoon season seems to be
upon us. :-) We went walking yesterday, neither my wife's nor my
jacket stood up to the test. Lightweight preferably, the Gortex that I
have (was actually bought in my boating days)is rather heavy and
bulky. A source would also be good. Cheers

Where will you be going, and what doing? At the top end you can pay for
lots of features of no use to casual walkers, or lower down you can get
something which is waterproof but not much fun in a real blizzard.
To what extent is light a priority? You can get /very/ light jackets
now, but they're cut shorter and offer less protection and will wear out
quicker.

And do you want a jacket you can live in all day, or do you want
something that will only go on when it rains and live in the rucksack
otherwise?

Pete.

First I think one that we can put on and take off according the weather.
Light come second to one that will give good protection. Blizzards and
me are anathema, we only go walking when the weather is temperate,
Though we do enjoy walking in the snow (what IS that?) once it has
fallen. Wimps or what? As you can surmise I do not live in Scotland, or
even the North of England! ;-)

Broadback said:

First I think one that we can put on and take off according the weather.
Light come second to one that will give good protection. Blizzards and
me are anathema, we only go walking when the weather is temperate,
Though we do enjoy walking in the snow (what IS that?) once it has
fallen. Wimps or what? As you can surmise I do not live in Scotland, or
even the North of England! ;-)

Okay, with that in mind the next questions are where do you want to
end up on the breathability/cost line. The most breathable
lightweight fabrics are eVent and Goretex Paclite, but not entirely
coincidentally they aren't the cheapest :-(

Most of the Big Names have their own brand waterproof/breathable
fabrics which /are/ fully waterproof, but don't breathe as well so
they'll get clammier quicker if you're buttoned down for incoming fire.

For protection, best thing to do is try some on and see where they
come on your bodies. If yuou're using them with overtrousers short
is fine, if you hate OTs then longer is better, if you sometimes
use OTs and sometimes not you can choose your level of compromise.
Longer means more protection but heavier, though a light fabric
can keep a longer coat reasonably light.

If you're not in blizzards and spindrift you can do without a fully
wire stiffened hood, but some form of peak with stiffening is
useful in wind driven rain. Hoods that roll into collars need
checking to make sure they will really protect you when deployed,
not all can be trusted for that, so unroll them in the shop and
cinch them down fully to see much they can be prevented from just
blowing down and also giving some protection to your face.

Trying them on also assures you the arms are an appropriate length
and the pockets where you want them. How many pockets? What do
you always want to hand? As long as you have enough for that,
that's all you need and more are more cost and more weight and less
breathability. If you carry a map in a pocket make sure it's big
enough to take your map and any case you usually use.

A general point is try and avoid anything with unnecessary seams as
far as you can: semas add weight, cost and bulk, limit
breathability and are where jackets start leaking, so the fewer the
better. If you're carrying rucksacks seams on shoulders are best
avoided.

No specific recommendations, I'm afraid, but hopefully a few
pointers for you to mull while looking around the local outdoor
emporium.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Peter Clinch said:

Broadback said:

First I think one that we can put on and take off according the
weather. Light come second to one that will give good protection.
Blizzards and me are anathema, we only go walking when the weather is
temperate, Though we do enjoy walking in the snow (what IS that?) once
it has fallen. Wimps or what? As you can surmise I do not live in
Scotland, or even the North of England! ;-)

Okay, with that in mind the next questions are where do you want to end
up on the breathability/cost line. The most breathable lightweight
fabrics are eVent and Goretex Paclite, but not entirely coincidentally
they aren't the cheapest :-(

Most of the Big Names have their own brand waterproof/breathable fabrics
which /are/ fully waterproof, but don't breathe as well so they'll get
clammier quicker if you're buttoned down for incoming fire.

For protection, best thing to do is try some on and see where they come
on your bodies. If yuou're using them with overtrousers short is fine,
if you hate OTs then longer is better, if you sometimes use OTs and
sometimes not you can choose your level of compromise. Longer means
more protection but heavier, though a light fabric can keep a longer
coat reasonably light.

If you're not in blizzards and spindrift you can do without a fully wire
stiffened hood, but some form of peak with stiffening is useful in wind
driven rain. Hoods that roll into collars need checking to make sure
they will really protect you when deployed, not all can be trusted for
that, so unroll them in the shop and cinch them down fully to see much
they can be prevented from just blowing down and also giving some
protection to your face.

Trying them on also assures you the arms are an appropriate length and
the pockets where you want them. How many pockets? What do you always
want to hand? As long as you have enough for that, that's all you need
and more are more cost and more weight and less breathability. If you
carry a map in a pocket make sure it's big enough to take your map and
any case you usually use.

A general point is try and avoid anything with unnecessary seams as far
as you can: semas add weight, cost and bulk, limit breathability and are
where jackets start leaking, so the fewer the better. If you're
carrying rucksacks seams on shoulders are best avoided.

No specific recommendations, I'm afraid, but hopefully a few pointers
for you to mull while looking around the local outdoor emporium.

Pete.

that is very useful Peter, many thanks

"Broadback" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Any recommendations for the above, as the monsoon season seems to be upon
us. :-) We went walking yesterday, neither my wife's nor my jacket stood
up to the test. Lightweight preferably, the Gortex that I have (was
actually bought in my boating days)is rather heavy and bulky. A source
would also be good. Cheers

Useful jacket at good price:

http://www.mandmdirect.com/ProductDetail.asp?ProductCatalogue=BE251&QSI=027cee40-6191-495d-9883-a3488460a5dd

Jon

Broadback said:

Any recommendations for the above, as the monsoon season seems to be
upon us. :-) We went walking yesterday, neither my wife's nor my jacket
stood up to the test. Lightweight preferably, the Gortex that I have
(was actually bought in my boating days)is rather heavy and bulky. A
source would also be good. Cheers

http://www.outdooraction.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_MOUNTAIN_EQUIPMENT_WOMENS_DRILITE_PLUS_JACKET.html

My wife has one of these and is very happy with it. Much lighter and
quieter than my heavy Goretex XCR one and not noticably less
weatherproof.
We paid a lot more than this for hers but she's got the nice red
one ;-) that's not in the sale.
BTW we have used outdoor action several times - they're OK.

Quoted message said:

http://www.outdooraction.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_MOUNTAIN_EQUIPMENT_WOMENS_DRILITE_PLUS_JACKET.html

My wife has one of these and is very happy with it. Much lighter and
quieter than my heavy Goretex XCR one and not noticably less
weatherproof.
We paid a lot more than this for hers but she's got the nice red
one ;-) that's not in the sale.
BTW we have used outdoor action several times - they're OK.

I have been using one of these for around 3 years and its been great.
completely waterproof and packs up nice and small.

Jon

Rod said:

http://www.outdooraction.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_MOUNTAIN_EQUIPMENT_WOMENS_DRILITE_PLUS_JACKET.html

My wife has one of these and is very happy with it. Much lighter and
quieter than my heavy Goretex XCR one and not noticably less
weatherproof.

I have, and like, Drilite Plus overtrousers... well, when I say "like" I
mean "I like them as far as I like any overtrousers, which isn't hugely".

They're waterproof and breatahble and very light and low bulk in the
pack. However, durable is not going to be their middle name: a pal with
a pair who uses them more than me has got them fairly leaky in rather
less time than I think it would take to mangle a pair of Goretex of
eVent ones.

But if the main career will be sitting in the bottom of a sack (as it is
with my O-Ts) then the weight and bulk and (relatively) low cost make it
a good option. Paclite will be in a similar ballpark viz weight and
bulk, but cost quite a bit more (and again there will be a durability
price compared to, say, XCR).

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Peter Clinch said:

Okay, with that in mind the next questions are where do you want to end
up on the breathability/cost line. The most breathable lightweight
fabrics are eVent and Goretex Paclite, but not entirely coincidentally
they aren't the cheapest :-(

I have an Event Rab Latok Alpine which I rate very highly. I know that
after recommending this one a while go someone on the ng complained
about getting wet inside one, but I've had absolutely no problems. The
hood is probably the best I've ever had. I wanted something a bit more
rugged than all out lightweight but my missus has a Patagonia Paclite
jacket which she seems to rate quite highly.

Quoted message said:

For protection, best thing to do is try some on and see where they come
on your bodies. If yuou're using them with overtrousers short is fine,
if you hate OTs then longer is better,

Agree with Peter that if you go for short one, OTs are a must (even if
you are wearing shorts and don't mind wet legs you WILL get a wet crotch
- yeuk). I was out last Sunday and thought "let's see how good these
Scholler trousers are in a shower". Answer, not good enough but by then,
too late.

Quoted message said:

Trying them on also assures you the arms are an appropriate length and
the pockets where you want them. How many pockets?

I've never been one for oodles of pockets but I do like to be able to
fit a map and compass in the jacket. With some of the real light weights
the pockets are too small. The Latok only just manages. If it wasn't for
that there are other jackets I tried on which seem pretty decent too -
Haglofs, Millet, Berghaus - even Arcteryx if your mortgage is paid off.

I have an old Sprayway Goretex which I wear for work and which weighs a
ton. Today I tried to roll it up to put in my day sack and struggled.
Jackets have definitely come on.

Roy.

Roy said:

Agree with Peter that if you go for short one, OTs are a must (even if
you are wearing shorts and don't mind wet legs you WILL get a wet crotch
- yeuk). I was out last Sunday and thought "let's see how good these
Scholler trousers are in a shower". Answer, not good enough but by then,
too late.

My usual rain jacket is short and though I usually pack OTs it has
to be pretty damn disgusting before I'll subject myself to them
(it's the rustling with every step I really dislike, and I tend to
put off using them until there just isn't any point any more...
daft, but true). I typically wear tracksters, running shorts or
fleece tights that tend to dry as fast as they get wet in a light
shower, and combined with wicking underpants that's usually good
enough IME, though the wicking undies rather than M&S finest cotton
is a *major* factor.

I take it your Schoeller trousers don't have the Nanosphere surface
treatment? If not, you can make them considerably better against
passing showers by using a wash-in proofer like TX-10 and not
washing them in detergent (what I've done with mt old Rohan stretch
salopettes for years, and more recently my MEC Powershield ones).
I've just got a pair of Schoeeler trousers after spending yonks
trying to find a pair short enough for my ickle legs (ME Liskamms).
Only tested the Nanosphere treatment in "lab conditions" thus
far, but I was amazed at how water just slid off. You have to
really work it in to get any sort of penetration of the fabric.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Peter Clinch said:

My usual rain jacket is short and though I usually pack OTs it has to be
pretty damn disgusting before I'll subject myself to them (it's the
rustling with every step I really dislike, and I tend to put off using
them until there just isn't any point any more... daft, but true). I
typically wear tracksters, running shorts or fleece tights that tend to
dry as fast as they get wet in a light shower, and combined with wicking
underpants that's usually good enough IME, though the wicking undies
rather than M&S finest cotton is a *major* factor.

Ah well, if truth be told, I did forget to change my undies before going
out which definitely didn't help.

Quoted message said:

I've just got a pair of Schoeeler trousers after spending yonks trying
to find a pair short enough for my ickle legs (ME Liskamms).

Same problem here, I managed to get some short Mammut Base Jump. Which
reminds of your comment elsewhere about tall Dutch girls. I used to work
at Shell which had quite a big Dutch contingent. It was a bit like being
in "Land of the Giants". The blokes were even taller.

Only

Quoted message said:

tested the Nanosphere treatment in "lab conditions" thus far, but I was
amazed at how water just slid off. You have to really work it in to get
any sort of penetration of the fabric.

I thought these nanospheres were in ladies make up. I'll give it a go.

Roy.

Roy said:

Only

Quoted message said:

tested the Nanosphere treatment in "lab conditions" thus far, but I
was amazed at how water just slid off. You have to really work it in
to get any sort of penetration of the fabric.

I thought these nanospheres were in ladies make up. I'll give it a go.

In this case it's a proprietary treatment that Schoeller optionally add
to their fabrics at manufacture. As far as I know you can't add it to
an existing garment that didn't have it to start with, and looking
around the web it seems that Base Jumps are 3XDry, without the
Nanosphere coating.
But they should take TX-10 or similar okay, and a soap (rather than
detergent) wash should limit a tendency to soak up rain

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Peter Clinch said:

Roy said:

Only

Quoted message said:

tested the Nanosphere treatment in "lab conditions" thus far, but I
was amazed at how water just slid off. You have to really work it in
to get any sort of penetration of the fabric.

I thought these nanospheres were in ladies make up. I'll give it a go.

In this case it's a proprietary treatment that Schoeller optionally add
to their fabrics at manufacture. As far as I know you can't add it to
an existing garment that didn't have it to start with, and looking
around the web it seems that Base Jumps are 3XDry, without the
Nanosphere coating.
But they should take TX-10 or similar okay, and a soap (rather than
detergent) wash should limit a tendency to soak up rain

Thanks Pete, I'll give it a go.

Roy.