Hiking Types - talk to me about waterproofs
- Thread starter killer b
- Start date
chilango
Hypothetical Wanker
What's your budget?
chilango
Hypothetical Wanker
Two basic principles.
Addressing that effectively depends on how sweaty you're likely to get.
I don't wear my waterproof unless I absolutely have to. So have a very light, very packable thing that breathes very well. But if I started wearing it all day with a rucksack on it'd be knackered within the year.
- Needs to stop water getting in and making you wet.
- Needs to let sweat out so that doesn't get you wet either.
Addressing that effectively depends on how sweaty you're likely to get.
I don't wear my waterproof unless I absolutely have to. So have a very light, very packable thing that breathes very well. But if I started wearing it all day with a rucksack on it'd be knackered within the year.
I've got a pair of Paramo waterproof trousers not light weight but waterproof and rugged, cost about £80 I think.Jackets range from about £10 to £500, I've got a Haglofs technical jacket cost about £280 but is ten years old and only now are the triple taped seams coming away (easy enough to redo).
I'm not going to be doing anything too heavy tbh. I live just south of the lakes, the mrs lives just north of the peaks, so we do a bit of light walking already. I got a bit miserable after not taking suitable precautions on our new years day walk and ended up wet through, so I was thinking I should get something to sort that out.
I'm flexible (ish) re budget.
I'm flexible (ish) re budget.
this sounds like the thing I need. What do you have?
chilango
Hypothetical Wanker
Go to Ambleside or Keswick and try a bunch on (Alpkit, The Climbers Shop, The Epicentre, Gaynors and Cunninghams in Ambleside / Needle Sports, Cotswold, George Fisher in Keswick).
Fit is important and varies a lot between brands.
Don't just look at Gore-tex, but also eVent and Pertex Shield+ (iirc) are just as good (arguably better) waterproof membranes. Rab, Montane, Mountain Equipment, Mountain Hardwear, Mammut, Marmot, Patagonia, Haglofs, Arcteryx are just some of the main reliable brands. Alpkit are worth a look too. NorthFace and Berghaus can be good, or terrible. Be careful.
Then there's Paramo. Not my thing, but others swear by it.
Shopping around should net you something very good for £100-150. No need to pay more unless you want something very specific/technical.
There's also occasional sub-£100 jackets that are worth considering.
*saunters off to window shop for killer b*
Fit is important and varies a lot between brands.
Don't just look at Gore-tex, but also eVent and Pertex Shield+ (iirc) are just as good (arguably better) waterproof membranes. Rab, Montane, Mountain Equipment, Mountain Hardwear, Mammut, Marmot, Patagonia, Haglofs, Arcteryx are just some of the main reliable brands. Alpkit are worth a look too. NorthFace and Berghaus can be good, or terrible. Be careful.
Then there's Paramo. Not my thing, but others swear by it.
Shopping around should net you something very good for £100-150. No need to pay more unless you want something very specific/technical.
There's also occasional sub-£100 jackets that are worth considering.
*saunters off to window shop for killer b*
chilango
Hypothetical Wanker
An orange one of these
Charge Jacket | Rab® UK
I paid £120. In Ambleside.
It is vulnerable to abrasion though. My rucksacks have special material on the straps to prevent this, but many don't, and there were a lot of complaints about these jackets getting damaged when they came out.
I love mine. It is super comfy and not at all hot and sweaty.
I wouldn't want to wear it all day, or in during heavy, cold winter rain though.
I also have a Haglofs jacket which is heavier. Own brand membrane rather gore-tex or anything. Its very good. Too big for now though, so kept for Winter use over over layers.
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Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
oh i'd love to go to ambleside or keswick
chilango
Hypothetical Wanker
oh i'd love to go to ambleside or keswick
Me too.
Not due up again till May or June
Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
quite happy to start walking nowMe too.
Not due up again till May or June
Threshers_Flail
Well-Known Member
Yeah I might not be as into hiking as others but I always buy the Decathlon own brand Quechua, might be an idea if you don't fancy splashing out.
Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
i got a jack pyke hunter's jacket which has done me nicely for ages
it's got a poacher's pocket at the back
it's got a poacher's pocket at the back
UnderOpenSky
baseline neural therapy
Have a look on Sports Pursuit. I've just got a Berghaus Gore Tex Pro shell jacket for £150. Retail was supposed to be £400.
You can't try them on admittedly but the savings are good. Another place that can be good is Go Outdoors. If you can find it cheaper online, they price match and knock 10% off.
You can't try them on admittedly but the savings are good. Another place that can be good is Go Outdoors. If you can find it cheaper online, they price match and knock 10% off.
neonwilderness
What would Badgers do?
This is good advice.
Most of my stuff is Montane, but I live near their factory shop which is good for a bargain. I think they occasionally do clearance sales at their showroom in Staveley too, so that’d be worth a look.
neonwilderness
What would Badgers do?
The factory shop is in Ashington which is where most of the bargains are. If you’re on Facebook have a look at the Montane outlet store page and keep an eye out for stuff at Stavely
chilango
Hypothetical Wanker
All the new lightweight ones (decent ones anyway) need washing regularly.” To unblock the “pores” of the membrane (the Goretex bit)
But not in detergent (that strips the DWR -the surface but that makes the water @bead@) off).
In Nikwax techwash or similar (after running the machine a couple of times empty to get rid of residue detergent ideally).
Then you can wash in a new DWR coating again using a nikwax or similar if needed.
Always works for me.
chilango
Hypothetical Wanker
beesonthewhatnow
going deaf for a living
kebabking
Not a Girly Swot, but I like them....
despite being a gear fiend, can i put a word in for a Barbour?
like chilango i'd absolutely suggest spending the day wandering around keswick or ambleside just trying stuff on, nowhere else comes close for the variety of stuff available or the quality of the advice you'll get in the shops. and, you know, its a dirty weekend in the Lakes, which is always a bonus...
the higher-end Decathlon stuff is also very good - i think its Simond, which is a very old, very well regarded French mountaineering equipment company. the good thing about them is that you're probably saving between 30% and 50% on what you'd pay for a very similar jacket from Berghaus, Montane, Rab etc.. however their sizing is shit, everything comes up incredibly small, and their trousers are not cut for anyone under about 19'10'' or who has gentleman parts.
personally i'm a Paramo fan, it doesn't work for everyone, but it works for me.
like chilango i'd absolutely suggest spending the day wandering around keswick or ambleside just trying stuff on, nowhere else comes close for the variety of stuff available or the quality of the advice you'll get in the shops. and, you know, its a dirty weekend in the Lakes, which is always a bonus...
the higher-end Decathlon stuff is also very good - i think its Simond, which is a very old, very well regarded French mountaineering equipment company. the good thing about them is that you're probably saving between 30% and 50% on what you'd pay for a very similar jacket from Berghaus, Montane, Rab etc.. however their sizing is shit, everything comes up incredibly small, and their trousers are not cut for anyone under about 19'10'' or who has gentleman parts.
personally i'm a Paramo fan, it doesn't work for everyone, but it works for me.
Bahnhof Strasse
Met up with Hannah Courtoy a week next Tuesday
i got a jack pyke hunter's jacket which has done me nicely for ages
it's got a poacher's pocket at the back
I have a Aigle hunter's jacket with a poacher's pocket at the back. It has shotgun cartridge holders in the front pocket. Handy when you're on a bank job.
chilango
Hypothetical Wanker
The higher end Decathlon stuff is good, but savvy shopping for hefty discounts* will net you better “brand” stuff at the same price IME.
The cheaper Decathlon stuff is worth what you pay. For better or worse depending on usage.
I get 15% off as standard and for big ticket clothing items would never buy anything without at least 30% off. Usually 50%.
Alpkits waterproofs have good reviews if you want a low(er) rrp through brand avoidance and you can try em on in Ambleside.
The cheaper Decathlon stuff is worth what you pay. For better or worse depending on usage.
I get 15% off as standard and for big ticket clothing items would never buy anything without at least 30% off. Usually 50%.
Alpkits waterproofs have good reviews if you want a low(er) rrp through brand avoidance and you can try em on in Ambleside.
UnderOpenSky
baseline neural therapy
I do wonder if Simond has gone to the way of Karrimore. I don't think it's bad kit, but the stuff I've had isn't as good as the top end stuff. Obviously that's fine if it's got a nice discount on it.
