Finding the perfect (walking) jacket

It’s time to get a new walking jacket, but the online stores don’t seem to offer the filters which allow me to find what I would like to see. The features I would like include:

• Waterproof
• Mid thigh length
• Adjustable hood
• Storm flaps on the main zip  and preferably on pockets
• Rucksack compatible.
• Ideally regular pockets, but certainly not a jacket with ONLY Napoleon pockets
• Twin layer – I am thinking mesh lining on the inside

Nice to have:

• Underarm ventilation zips
• 2 way chest zip
• Map compatible pocket
• Maybe front hip pockets (below the waist belt of a rucksak) as well as chest pockets?

Some years ago I had a Sprayway jacket that met the above criteria, in fact I still have it in the garage for gardening duties, but it’s no longer waterproof enough to be used when out walking for instance. Their “new” Torridon jacket seems to meet some of my desired, but I have yet to see any pictures of the inside – all the shots I’ve see suggest it might not have an internal lining. It’s also on the expensive side. If that’s what a good jacket will cost, then fair enough I will pay it –  but if I can get what I would like for less money, so much the better

Keela Munro seems like it might fit the bill? Maybe the Sprayway Reaction Long? Any other suggestions? There are LOADS of other manufacturers, but any links to specific offfer would be appreciated, cheers!

I don’t have a specific recommendation but I always start with a similar or slightly shorter wish list than yours and then it typically gets trumped by fit once I’ve tried some on.

The only thing I really want is proper pockets, ones you can get hands in, not daft Napoleon jobs.

Hoods in recent years have all been good.

Tbh I can’t recall seeing mesh liners in recent times but I guess they are about.

Currently my fave is a rab charge, they seem to have ace hoods and fit (slim), long body. Excellent pockets. Madame has a haglof lim, latest design with twin pockets. Very happy with it although appreciate it’s in the lightweight category so perhaps too esoteric

have you looked at the Paramo Cascada ?

fill your boots.   i have had one for 20 plus year. just perfect.

https://www.cioch-direct.co.uk/waterproofs/nikwax.html

have you looked at the Paramo Cascada ?

I had not but I will have acloser look – seems pretty good thanks

You need at least 3 surely?

You need at least 3 surely?

I have 2 down jackets and a lightweight single skin waterproof already, of course

I bought a Berghaus Cornice many years ago, still have it somewhere as I lost weight and so it’s too big for me

Anyhoo, check them out, they’re still made and meet a lot of your requirements

@nbt – a lightly used older jacket in excellent condition could be the answer. Until recently they were all made with forever chemicals and if looked after they will still be pretty good after a re-proofing.

Also, Paramo have an eBay shop where they sell seconds and used coats that have been traded in then washed and re-proofed. You have to patient to get what you want but good stuff does pop up on there.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/paramoseconds?_trksid=p4429486.m3561.l170197

Difficult to imagine one jacket filling every requirement in a country like ours, when Crowded House wrote a song that describes it perfectly! I gave up on Goretex-type jackets years ago, because no matter how carefully I looked after them they seemed to start leaking, or else they couldn’t vent properly and I was just a boil-in-the-bag human quietly basting in my own condensation!
I’ve got several ultralight down jackets that I wear if it’s cold but dry, a Buffalo Special 6 if it’s cold and damp, misty weather, and I carry a £20 Peter Storm jacket to put over the top if it gets wetter, plus a couple of military issue ‘Buffalo’, jackets with lighter fleece linings, which have proved perfect just recently; their only downside is they’re smock-type, which makes them a bit of a faff to take off in a pub.
If we do get a properly chilly spell this winter, I’ve got a couple of proper down jackets which don’t get much of an outing these days, one a top of the range Jöttnar jacket that was in their sale and too good a price to turn down, in case I go on an Arctic Circle trip one day!

You need at least 3 surely?

and the rest, must have at least a dozen….

Their “new” Torridon jacket seems to meet some of my desired, but I have yet to see any pictures of the inside – all the shots I’ve see suggest it might not have an internal lining.

It’s three-layer Gore-Tex – ie a single thickness material which consists of a membrane sandwiched between an inner and outer liner and face fabric. I own one if you want to have a look. I quite like it, but they’ve gone a bit mental on the pockets – fussy – and it’s not light or cheap.

What you’re describing is known as ‘two-layer’ because it’s an outer face fabric bonded to a membrane or coating on the inside, the mesh or fabric ‘drop liner’ is there to protect the membrane from abrasion etc. There’s also 2.5-layer stuff, which is like two-layer, but with a print on the inside of the membrane to add protection.

Anyway, three-layer stuff is generally more durable and is what most of the ‘premium brands’ focus on. You’ll also find it hard to buy a longer-cut jacket, certainly as long as mid-thigh. Sprayway’s a good call for that sort of stuff, ditto Craghoppers, maybe Rohan. Do a search for two-layer, waterproof parka and see what comes up.

Scandi brands like that stuff too, eg: but not cheap.
https://www.haglofs.com/en/men/tops-men/tops-jackets-men/tops-jackets-waterproof-jackets-raincoats-men/mono-proof-parka-men-6075302C5

I bet Sport Pursuit has some stuff too. They do Lundhags atm for example.

There you go, two layer Berghaus Gore-Tex, longer cut for £120. Wade through the jackets on there and there’s probably other stuff too:

https://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/product/view/id/3089042

One make that might offer something that’s suitable is Ridgeline. They’re a Aotearoa/New Zealand company, and whenever I watch Countryfile there’s nearly always a farming person on there wearing a Ridgeline jacket, often their long smock jackets.
This one might be closer to what you’re looking for…

Torrent III Jacket | Olive

Or this one, which is what most of the people have been wearing on telly…

Evolution Smock | Heather Brown

I have a Berghaus Mera Peak that has been great for the 8 years I have had it. More lower-buttock than mid-thigh length though.

2 chect pockets

2 hip pockets

1 internal pocket

Mesh lined

Storm flaps

Pit zips

Adjustable, roll-away hood

They stopped making it a few years ago but have recently reintroduced it in a slightly different style.

I ended up buying (well, ordering, it’s not even been posted yet I don’t think as I only ordered on Friday night) a Paramo Halkon jacket which retails at £400. Thanks to @ElShalimo I bought it from their eBay site and paid far less – it was on offer at £260 because

These Halcon Traveller jackets have been used as loan stock by a field tester or on a photo shoot. There may be some signs of use, however they are in good condition. They have been professionally cleaned and reproofed.

No brainer, especially when you add on a further 20% off with the code FIRSTLOOK20 (still valid till 19th Nov), so I only paid £208. I then got a bit eager and also bought a lighter weight Halcon Traveller too – the current model retails at £180, the spelling difference (Halcon vs Halkon) tells me that the version I ordered is the original model with poppers on button closures not velcro. That’s the only difference as far as I’m able to see by reading reviews online so paying £44 (down from £55 after the offer) means I got a bit of a bargain.

So, cheers all.  Job done – for now.

Walk into your nearest RAB stockist, try on all their waterproof range and buy the one that best fits your requirements, it won’t be cheap though. Or if you’re on a budget, just go to Decathlon. Or on sports pursuit and order all the ones that catch your eye and return the ones you don’t like.

Jackets arrived this morning. Fantastic. The name patch on the expensive jacket shows signs of being washed, but othewise seems perfect. The light weight jacket is brand new old stock.

Found a couple of minor points on the expensive Halcon jacket – the end of the drawcord for the waist is not sewn into the lining, it’s just flapping loose. Not what you’d expect on a jacket of this obvious quality, but not a deal breaker, I can just tie a knot in it to stop it being pulled through the thingummajigs (can’t recall the name, but the little springy things that hold the cord). The hem drawcord is missing entirely – the sleeve is there, as are the thingummies, but not cord. Can’t see that I’d ever use it, can;t recall ever using one before.

Neither of these things are critical and I said so in the message I sent to them – I’ve no intention of sending the jacket back, just wanted to mention things  that had not been mentioned in the listing.

Reply arrived within an hour – will send out  replacement cords, a voucher for 10% off a future purchase and refund 10% off my purchase.

We’re now looking at new jackets for Mrs NBT.