What to look for in a good waterproof jacket

deadlybuzzman

I started to go down a bit of a rabbit hole of terminology and ratings when looking for a new waterproof jacket in terms of both waterproof ratings and breathability and I'd love to hear other people's experiences.
I got a new jacket lately online and although it's very waterproof the breathability is poor.
I'm looking for a jacket that
1. I can be out for a couple of hours in rain anything up to and including a yellow rain warning

2. Is reasonably thin so I can use it all year arou and I can add or take away under layers as needed

I'd also be on a bit of a budget so I'd rather not have to pay a few hundred if that's possible

hmmm

What sort of activities are you using it for? Hiking, watching the kids play football, work? Are you working hard while it is on?
When you say the breathability is poor, what's happening? Is it wetting from outside or inside?

In general, the more layers you have the more flexibility, so you're doing the right thing there by keeping it light.

afatbollix

Any jacket with Gore-tex.


Anything else wont be worth it.

deadlybuzzman

hmmm wrote: »

What sort of activities are you using it for? Hiking, watching the kids play football, work? Are you working hard while it is on?
When you say the breathability is poor, what's happening? Is it wetting from outside or inside?

In general, the more layers you have the more flexibility, so you're doing the right thing there by keeping it light.

I'll be generally out doing long hikes or doing big walks with the dog.
Last time I was out on a properly wet day, my hoodie was wet but it was wet only around the armpits, inside of the elbows etc.
Yes I'd like something that I can use while camping in the summer or fire on a few hoodies and fleeces and go up knocknarea in December

Have a look through the Clearance section here

Anything that says 'OutDry'

There's no such thing as a waterproof, breathable jacket. It's a myth. Water-resistant, breathable maybe.

Tried a few different waterproof 'technologies' and happy with this. That said, I'd have a different (weight) one for Winter and Summer.

hmmm

From experience I've found that if you want a jacket which will last hours in the Irish rain when hiking, and is breathable, you're talking a stiff and heavy jacket which costs big bucks. And these jackets are too heavy for Summer use I find. Pit-zips are handy in heavier jackets to release air.

What I've found myself increasingly doing is packing two lighter rain jackets on bad days, and swapping them over if one wets out. I'm not crossing South Georgia, I don't need bomb-proof gear. Most of the time I'll just carry a single lighter jacket unless persistent rain is forecast.

Gore-anything is good because you know what you are getting. Most of the specialist hiking brands will have good gear and often use their own technology (e.g. Pertex), but the more you pay usually the better the quality. Good brands would include companies like Montane, Rab, Berghaus, Salomon, Mammut. There are a couple of websites where you can find discounted hiking gear from good companies. I personally prefer to buy good gear when it is on sale, rather than cheap gear at any price

freak scence

parmo are excellent but cost a few quid , doesn't use gortex which basically makes you sweat and then get wet anyway