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My brilliant Berghaus Light Trek has decided to start delaminating after 4 years of use at work and pleasure.
I'm looking for:
- slightly longer length.
- handwarmer pockets that you can use with a hipbelt on
- handwarmer pockets not on side seam
- pit zips
- none/one other pocket
- zip with storm flap
- non-helmet hood
- a brighter colour, not black or grey
- under 400g or so
- under £150
The Alpkit Fortitude comes close, no pitzips.
Montane - all too short.
Berghaus - seem to discontinue/ out of stock anything that was ok.
Rab - all seem to be short and helmet compatible hoods.
Mountain Equipment - all helmet compatible hoods or short.
Suggestions?
I have a couple of Mountain Equipment Gore-Tex pro jackets and the hood cinches down pretty well around my head using the elastic sewn in. Both wouldn't meet your budget but one is over 4years now and still going strong whilst being used daily for dog walking.
Will follow this thread as if you find something I want to know!
+1 for the ME jackets, I have a Rupal which doesn't meet your criteria but the helmet compatible hood isn't too cavernous when adjusted for my noggin.
That's interesting - the one thing my old ME jacket didn't get right was a huge flappy hood with oddball peak - you had to pull it in tightly compared to my now Berghaus and old Montane.
This any good? Not quite all the boxes ticked
https://www.norrona.com/en-GB/o/svalbard-lightweight-jacket-men/?color=7718
https://www.outdoorgb.com/c/rain/?q=&p=1&pp=20&ob=0&pmin=42&pmax=283&a=&b=1494&bc=
Something from Sprayway?
No pit zips, big hood, dull colour but.............
£28 for three layer Goretex...
Other jackets from the same site may suit Sir.
@matt_outandabout - have a look at ME Zeno jackets. It's DriLite but they're still very good
keela munro , thank me later
keela munro , thank me later
Only about 3x the weight he specified!
What wrong with helmet compatible hoods?
The good ones work very well with or without a helmet. ME hoods are fantastic
ME hoods are fantastic
I am not so sure.
My Berghaus, cheapy riding Sherpa and Montane all have non-helmet compatible hoods - and on a wet or windy day are soooo much better than my old ME jacket hood. They are closer fit, so don't need as much tension on the elastics to stay in place, turn with head better and don't flap crazily in the wind.
I am not sure I am going to get everything - but there are a couple of suggestions in here that are pretty good. I am off to spend some spondooolies.
(On an aside, it is amazing how many jackets/outdoor gear is sold on 'ideal for alpine climbing', not you want 5 hours on a Munro in freezing rain...or maybe I am becoming an old fart...)
I'm not a fan of helmet compatible hoods, just a load of extra fabric to flap about in the wind even if cinched down.
it is amazing how many jackets/outdoor gear is sold on ‘ideal for alpine climbing’
Esp as when climbing in the Alps, you generally avoid wet days / storms and just wait till it's sunny...
ME does two hoods - the standard one, as on the Lhotse etc - which is, I think, the Mountain HC hood, but in fact is a decent compromise that works pretty well with or without a helmet and the Super Alpine HC - the mad, high volume one - which is on stuff like the Tupilak which is huge and not great on a lidless noggin. The former is a pretty good hood tbf.
On pit-zips, most hill/mountain walking jackets with the longer cut don't have them, they tend to get specced on shorter-cut technical climbing shells because that's what they were originally intended for. Catch 22. The reborn Sprayway TL Torridon has them and sort of meets your spec on an old-fashion, bombproof tank kind of way. Too expensive though? And a big, bulky unit.
Oh, I'd maybe look at the Patagonia Torrent Shell 3L - the new, 3-layer version - it may be a little shorter than you want, but I think it's actually slightly longer than it looks in the images on the Patagucci website. Good price, solid build, has pit-zips.
it is amazing how many jackets/outdoor gear is sold on ‘ideal for alpine climbing’
Some of it's about marketing. Everyone knows that most ME jackets are bought by hill and mountain walkers who maybe do a little low to middle grade winter climbing, but talk to the guys at ME and they're emphatic that they're an alpine brand aimed at technical climbers. They sell as an aspirational thing - I may be teetering along Crib Goch on dreich winter day, but in my head I'm a sleek alpinist picking my way along the Mittelegi Ridge. A lot of UK outdoor folk would actually be very happy wearing Paramo, but ... image 😉
A lot of UK outdoor folk would actually be very happy wearing Paramo, but … image
I'd say it's got more to do with the fact that it doesn't work.
@Spin - don't start that old argument again. I've never got wet in mine and I've been out in horrific weather in it.
He's a very naughty boy
Pretty sure
BWGBWD started it….
Yeah, sorry about that. It does work for a lot of people. I find it hard to get worked up about it either way, so it didn't really occur to me that it might be remotely controversial. I like it, but only in proper sub-zero conditions. Above that, I tend to get too warm.
I’ve never got wet in mine and I’ve been out in horrific weather in it.
I've been soaked to the skin in moderate rain in Paramo salopettes. If it works for you great but it certainly doesn't work for everyone.
I’ve been soaked to the skin in moderate rain in Paramo salopettes. If it works for you great but it certainly doesn’t work for everyone.
Schoolboy error, you should have wore a jacket too. 😉
(On an aside, it is amazing how many jackets/outdoor gear is sold on ‘ideal for alpine climbing’, not you want 5 hours on a Munro in freezing rain…or maybe I am becoming an old fart…)
If that's more of a priority then discount your desired weight and have a look at a Keela Munro Jacket. It's decently tough and waterproof and for a me makes a good dog walking jacket. The only thing I'd say against it, other than being heavy, is it's warm.
Schoolboy error, you should have wore a jacket too
Classic Paramo evangelist response, I must've been using it wrong. 😉
have a look at a Keela Munro Jacket
Sorry, I've enough friends who have had these and just don't rate them so well.
Patagonia Torrentshell was mentioned earlier which seems to fit the bill. It's long enough in body and arms for me at 6'2" and has kept all the water out so far.
@Spin - I'm certainly not an evangelist. I use mine in the colder months but for the rest of the year it's just too much, so I now use a ME Quarrel GoreTex jacket. I have never used Paramo waterproof trousers though
Interestingly in the last 30 years I've gone from being a fan of GoreTex in the late 80s/early 90s (purple Sprayway) to despising it. I've had coats from many brands using may different membranes but now come full circle and use Paramo in winter and GoreTex in the summer. For me they just work. My friends used to laugh at my steadfast refusal to buy anything that wasn't GoreTex and some of them have used Paramo for 20yrs. Boy did I laugh at them (a lot) but when they started doing more fitted coats I got an Alta III and have been very happy with it for 5 years now.
I've been through a lot of coats in those years. Tenson MPC, Marmot Precip, Patagonia 2.5layer H2NO, LoweAlpine TriplePoint Ceramic, eVent, Gore PacLite, Haglofs Proof, some other Haglofs thing, some Berghaus thing. All used for walking, scrambling, climbing, via ferrata and riding the bike. They all have different levels of waterproofness and breathability on the hill, some good, some terrible.
I’m not a fan of helmet compatible hoods, just a load of extra fabric to flap about in the wind even if cinched down.
Flapping from the top of your head to your toes huh? 🤣
In true form recommend what you have.
I have an older version of this jacket, Mountaineering Waterproof Jacket - Alpinism Ultra-Light Blue.
My daughter has the slightly cheaper one, both are excellent.
Only criticism is the breathability of my one!
I don't find the helmet sized hood an issue when it's cinched down.
Right, I've won a Cotswold voucher, so I'm buying from there.
Does anyone own a Rab Downpour? I own no Rab kit so what's the sizing like?
It seems to be all the same other than:
Downpour = velcro storm flaps over normal zips
Downpour plus = waterproof zips
Downpour Eco = newer fabric and velcro storm flaps.
I've been using Marmot Spires for work for the last few years, and reckon they tick most of your boxes...
Got a few colours on Sportpursuit at the mo
https://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/product/view/id/1896371
I've used the current Rab Ladakh which nominally has a 'regular' cut, same as the Downpour. The Ladakh's a generous sort of medium, fits over bulky midlayers fine, has a waistcord to cinch in the midriff. Not as fitted as the slimmer ME cut. Rab stuff tends to be long in the sleeve too.
I don't know how the Downpour compares fit wise, it's lighter so it may be sleeker, but generally Rab sizes pretty much as you'd expect ime, not super fitted, not huge, though the Ladakh is pretty roomy.
I’ve been using Marmot Spires for work for the last few years, and reckon they tick most of your boxes…
The missus bought a Spire on eBay a few weeks ago. Nice jacket, but cut quite short.
Something from Sprayway?
A while ago someone recommended Sprayway and I thought since <insert name of female mountaineer I've forgotten> I hadn't heard of it. Checked out the website and it seems they make a jacket with bit longer length, ie. suitable for UK and not Chamonix. Worth a look.
(Better than my Paramo jacket that has never been waterproof 🙂 )
<insert name of female mountaineer I’ve forgotten>
Alison Hargreaves. And you may be thinking of the retro-style Torridon jacket. It's a tad over budget though at £300 RRP.
https://www.sprayway.com/collections/mens-clothing/products/torridon-mens-jacket
I’ve been using Marmot Spires for work for the last few years, and reckon they tick most of your boxes…
The missus bought a Spire on eBay a few weeks ago. Nice jacket, but cut quite short.
I am not sure a short, near kilo jacket with a snow skirt and helmet compatible hood meets my longer, lighter and non-helmet hood specification...
Alison Hargreaves. And you may be thinking of the retro-style Torridon jacket. It’s a tad over budget though at £300 RRP.
Yes, that's her 🙂 Ouch - a bit speedy !
Ah...sorry - just seen your reply - so probably too late.
I must admit I didn't see the 400g requirement. Tbf, if you zip the skirt out it's 600g rather than a kilo :/ , if I'm not working a climbing day the hood cinches up brilliantly round a beanie, cap, or nowt, with little flap, and it is longer than any Montane jacket I've had (always have issues with them riding out of a harness hipbelt, the Marmot I don't).
Just trying to give a tiny review based on what I've found based on experience - you can take it in the helpful manner it's intended, ignore it, or be mildly snippy, totally up to you!
All good.
I bought a Rab Downpour Eco from Cotswold after winning a voucher from them anyway.
So far so good, it's just a touch shorter than I wanted...
@matt_outandabout How are you finding the Rab after a few months of ownership? Looking at one for my daughter.
It is OK - does the job, but definitely is not as well cut as my old Berghaus or ME jeackets that precede it.
Pro: Light, v. breathable, so far waterproof, hood works.
Cons: Pockets seem to just collect all the water, quite square cut.
Perfect, thanks. Sounds reasonable for the price.
Hood on my ME Rupal doesn't flap about at all, brilliant jacket. It's genuinely the first waterproof jacket I've ever had that is breathable.