Forum menu
Rab Downpour is now 6 months old.
And has started leaking like a sieve across the shoulders....
I have been on only a few days walking with rucksack on over the jacket - and yet the leak is clearly the line of rucksack straps.
Warranty time...
That's really bad after such light use
And that was perhaps 15 mins of rain. I assumed DWR gone and wetting - but no, my jumper below had matching wet on both shoulders.
Wow! That’s really bad, it’s also seeping through along the curved seam where I assume the hood is attached, above the hanger loop.
I’d be a bit disappointed if a £20 Peter Storm from Millets started to leak like that after six months, but a Rab, I’d be bloody fuming!
While I don’t wear a rucksack at work, so avoiding pressure points under straps, I’m walking around for nine hours a day, in sometimes dreadful weather, and my regular combination of a Buffalo Special 6 with a £20 Peter Storm over the top to act as a barrier has proved remarkably effective right through the winter, with just surface wetting of the Buffalo, or dampening in fact. What I really need are over-trousers that are actually waterproof. The ones I bought from B&Q are pretty useless, once they get wet, and I have to sit down for a minute or two, I can feel the water seeping through, which is unpleasant, with only another six or seven hours to look forward to.
Hopefully, if the new wet weather hi-viz jacket I’ve just been issued meets expectations, and there are over-trousers to match, I might be able to leave my Buffalo at home, and stay dry all day.
I live in hope.
So I'm back on this.
I'll ignore the argument with the shop over actually warrantying it.
I'm back looking for sub-£200 hillwalking jacket (so not a helmet hood), with longer length, pitzips and decent (likely Gore) fabric....
Suggestions?
Best I have had are northface and berghaus. I have a north face jacket with pit zips and good hood. But it came with a zip in fleece and cost £240 ish
I really think you are after unicorn on a stick with added rainbows
Mountaineering Scotland 15% takes it down to 230?
Instead of fretting about the hood tho how about using one of these hats? Its fab. Much nicer than wearing a hood and works really well until it gets really windy.
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/waterproof-trekking-hat-mt900/_/R-p-302968?mc=8526272
Eh, naw.
Mate - they work so much better than hoods. Ok you still need a hood if its a blowing a gale but the hat gives more protection and you can turn your head without getting a faceful of hood. I was sceptical but would not go back to a hood now ( obviously I have one but its a foldaway one and I haven't needed it since buying the hat.)
A good hood stays where it is when you turn your head, your fold away one isn't obviously up to much, as I'd expect tbh.
A good hood, cinched down to fit properly, with a good peak is better than any hat. In driving rain/sleet/snow/hail conditions I'll have goggles on anyway, so will have to turn head a bit further.
Wish I'd taken goggles this morning, was a shit load more driving sleet than I expected!.
No beer - don't knock it until you try it.
If it works for you, stick with it mate!.
20 yrs ago these were fantastic in bad conditions and were fleece lined for added warmth. They seem to be available again after disappearing for years
Recently bought a Montane Alpine Spirit, quite pleased with it. Good fit for me, very solid build. I know, not the hood you are after but I found it cinched down quite nicely.
However the DWR coating is utterly useless, used for about 4 hours in admittedly torrential rain and it is almost completely gone. It kept me completely dry from rain but it is dissapointing spending that much on a high end gore-tex only for the face fabric to wet out so early from new. I know DWR has changed recently but I wasn't prepared for how much.
Waterproof zips don't last well. Why oh why don't they use them with storm flaps. Then you would have a jacket that might ot leak at that point.
Silly me, you wouldn't buy another if your jacket never leaked would you?
Just get a ME Lhotse. Virtually perfect other than body could be a couple of inches longer. That is the modern style though unfortunately.
@ElShalimo - I have (and still use) one of those hats. Yes, it's 20 years old...
My Lowe Alpine mountain hat has done 20 years of keeping my head warm and dry now, too. Worth buying if they are as good now.
I just ordered one of those Lowe Alpine hats
Just get a ME Lhotse. Virtually perfect other than body could be a couple of inches longer. That is the modern style though unfortunately.
For the last 4 years I've had the 'perfect' jacket.
Staff uniform Berghaus Trek Lite.
Sadly not made anymore, and all of them seemed to get to 4 years and fabric started delamination.
Well cut, long length, nice hood, pit zips, two higher chest pockets.
https://outdoorsmagic.com/article/berghaus-light-trek-hydroshell-jacket/
And for 4 years before that I had Mountain Equipment ProShell of almost identical design, a rare jacket made for outdoor instructors. Again, long, good hood, pit zips, gore ProShell...
Have you checked out the Berghaus outlet / Sport Pursuit? They had Gore-Tex jackets at half price recently when I looked for a friend. Do you absolutely need pit-zips? Most non-climbing jackets don't have them, so it's a bit of a limiter. Personally I'd avoid lighter weight jackets if you hammer kit and maybe look at own-brand, 3-layer fabrics from the likes of ME and Berghaus. The garment designs are pretty much the same as their Gore-Tex kit, but a lot cheaper because Gore-Tex fabrics are expensive.
If you don't mind something that's slightly heavy, the Sprayway Torridon reboot is a longer-cut jacket, with pit-zips, pockets, a mahoosive, very effective hood with a peak based on concert hall entrance canopies. They can be had for just over £200 online and are three-layer Gore-Tex. The pocket arrangement is a bit faffy with double-ended zip-entry, but nothing terrible, everything else just kind of works and the whole jacket feels reassuringly solid and protective in a tank-like way. I guess the retro styling's not to everyone's taste, but I think it looks kind of cool and it's not a walking jacket compromised by pretending to be a climbing jacket. I think I mentioned it on this thread months ago, but my long covid fogged brain can't be 100% sure 🙂 Not GTX Pro, but the fabric's quieter and arguably nicer in day-to-day use as a result. Drapes better too.
https://www.sprayway.com/collections/mens-clothing/products/torridon-mens-jacket
Someone mentioned the ME Zeno earlier in the thread and that might be a good shout. I use one as a lighter weight waterproof to chuck in my pack during summer and it's held up to everything that has been thrown at it. Most of the time it's been worn with at least an overnight pack and it still works/looks as it did when new. I've not measured it, but it seems to fit a bit longer than the Lhotse/Tupilak jackets i wear in winter.
I really think you are after unicorn on a stick with added rainbows
MrsToast to the forum, paging MrsToast to the forum!
As far as hoods go, I've never really found any that were comfortable to wear or didn't get blown off your head by the wind.
However, I bought one of these last year and found it works really well, either for cycling or walking.
Keeps your head warm and dry and doesn't get in the way. You kind of forget you're wearing it?
https://www.sealskinz.com/products/waterproof-all-weather-head-gaitor
That looks good, but would be improved if it had a peak.
As far as hoods go, I’ve never really found any that were comfortable to wear or didn’t get blown off your head by the wind.
Older Montane, Berghaus, ME and Patagonia were/are superb. But the fashion is for every jacket to be helmet compatible - and that just creates a load of flappy fabric IME.
20 yrs ago these were fantastic in bad conditions and were fleece lined for added warmth. They seem to be available again after disappearing for years
Yep I had one in the 90s!
I now have a Rab thing which looks pretty much the same..
@ElShalimo – I have (and still use) one of those hats. Yes, it’s 20 years old…
@scotroutes you're not wrong either of you. I have a 15 year old one. Best hat ever.
MrsToast to the forum, paging MrsToast to the forum!
Was it she who created a magical world that delivered on about 20 conflicting commissions in one fell swoop?
Be aware that ME do either the Mountain Fit hood or the Alpine fit hood which differs as an option depending on the specific model - with the Alpine being the helmet compatible one, Mountain HC being nice and close fitting. I have a recent ME Janak (now discontinued) it has the Mountain HC hood combined with an Alpine fit body, its like a Lhotse but has the tougher 80D face fabric all over- but is actually lighter as it has less pockets. Win. Win. It is the most faultlessly perfect jacket I have yet to own, feels bombproof, perfect cut, great hood, pit zips that have never been used...and not too costly at what were run-out sale prices. Pro is bit crinkly but if the cut fits you perfectly its not that noticeable, and it is noticeably more breathable then previous gore versions.
Also would highly recommend the Rab Ladakh for a classic Uk hillwalkery cut rather than full on alpine, with the softer less crinkle cut C-nit fabric with tougher Pro reinforcements on wear areas. Normally a bit more spendy but an underrated model so might come into sales in next few weeks.
I have the ME Shivling jacket with the HC hood. As you say, it's a good fit sans helmet. I paid £240 and I think it can still be found for that.
Aye, same hood cut as my ME Rupal, works great.
I’ve resolved a lot of hood issues by wearing a cap under the hood.
Update: Cotswold/Rab warrantied it, gave me a nice voucher to spend.
Obvs. therefore I am typing this indoors wearing a shiny ME Zeno, hood up of course.
Rab Downpour is now 6 months old.
And has started leaking like a sieve across the shoulders…
That was my experience with the one Rab waterproof I had except it was less than 6 months.
Now then, who suggested the ME Zeno many months ago......
😜
If it's not really good I'll be very surprised. ME might not be sexy and trendy but they just don't make bad kit - their sleeping bags and waterproofs have been fab as long as I remember.
I still have some 20+yr old DriLite gaiters
*nods deferentially*
Shoulda gone with that originally...
(Edit: still needs another 3-5cm in length, we all like more length...)
I've just hit buy on one too. In classic STW style I don't REALLY need it.
I’m struggling to find pros and cons to regular goretex vs pac lite plus goretex. I’m interested in waterproofness, breathability and durability. I understand pro and active but not these two? I’m considering a montane pac plus xt or Ajax as I’m a bit of a montane fan boy, thanks
regular goretex
Is not really a thing....
From: https://www.facewest.co.uk/Gore-Tex-Fabrics-Explained.html
(And out of date as it doesn't list PacPlus)
There are 3 Gore Tex waterproof membranes. Gore-Tex, Gore-Tex Pro & Gore-Tex Active. There is also Gore Infinium, which is windproof, but not waterproof. This article will explain the different constructions and uses of each of the membranes.
- Gore-Tex - Great breathability which is tough, light and durable.
- Gore-Tex Pro - Built for maximum durability and protection.
- Gore-Tex Active - Breathability and weight optimised at the expense of durability.
- Gore-Tex PacLite - Low bulk and small pack size optimised over durability.
- Gore Infinium - Completely windproof and weather resistant softshell membrane.
Thanks, I also found that but as you said; no reference to paclite plus and not enough detail on the differences. I need numbers!
And Shake dry, to further confuse!
I need numbers!
The numbers are less important than things like cut, venting and face fabric.
All gore waterproof membranes are over 20k, most 28k waterproofing, minimum breathability is 15k iirc, most 20k.
DWR, face fabric and how the user treats it all way more important once it's been worn and stuffed in a bag more that a couple of times.
That said, I won't take a waterproofing below 15k these days, as a sign of good quality.