Waterproof, breathable walking coat

[BrumJim]

I have had to accept that my walking jacket is no longer water-proof, and therefore is only good for the bin. And needs replacing. Unless someone has a hint for getting ex-waterproof coats waterproof again.

My last jacket was a Lowe Alpine Triple Point Ceramic. I have one walking weekend a year, and so if it is hammering down with rain, and blowing a howling gale on top of the Lakeland fells, I will still be getting out there in my waterproof jacket, trousers, gaiters, etc, and since I am walking up the fell, breathable is essential. So I am looking for Gore-tex or equivalent. It doesn't need to be lined, as I will be wearing it in Summer and Winter, and I can layer-up to keep warm. My budget is reasonable, as I am looking for something that works and lasts. £50 on a jacket that won't handle the weather is £50 wasted.

So, any guidance? Anything changed over the last 20 years that I need to be aware of? Anyone know of any good sales for a discounted one?

Advice from serious walkers sought, as this won't be a fashion item.

 

[hoopdriver]

It is far easier to find a satisfactory wet weather walking jacket than a cycling one as you will never generate the same amount of heat and sweat walking as you do riding a bicycle, even going up fells - at least I don't. But then that is the trouble with recommending waterproof/breathable jackets. We are all different.

I often use a heavy gauge Barbour Northumberland coat while walking in the mountains with a pack full of camera gear with no problems. I've also got a later generation Gore-Tex with pit zips etc that works wonderfully on the bike and on foot

Most of the latest generation Gore-Tex jackets should work for you. Colours and styling are matters of personal preference.

 

[accountantpete]

I use a Dare 2B Isotex ski jacket.

Lightweight, breathable and waterproof.

The zip is a bit tricky so I don't expect it to last more than a couple of years but I got mine on sale for £12 so it didn't break the bank.

 

[Fab Foodie]

I use one of these now and find it better in every respect than my previous Sprayway Gore-tex:

http://www.mudandroutes.com/archives/1205

I mostly use it on the bike where it's fabulous, properly wicking and very adjustable/adaptable to different conditions. I find I ride all day in mine whilst others are constantly removing and donning layers. It's overkill in the summer apart from some bad weather night riding. It doesn't feel like a waterproof either and it gets worn to the shops, pub, walking the dog and hiking the hills.

@User uses the similar Quito jacket that's probably even more flexible. Both of us are smugly warm and dry after torrential FNRttC ....

http://www.mudandroutes.com/archives/26120

Sadly they're not cheap, but as you say, when you need a jacket to rely on, I think it's money well spent.

 

[phil_hg_uk]

I just bought a new jacket for walking.

I looked around all the usual shops in town i.e. Blacks, Mountain Warehouse etc then I went to a small shop what sells outdoors and walking stuff that I had bought my walking boots from 10 years ago ( I still use them ) and tried on loads of jackets and bought the one I liked the best which is a Sprayway jacket, it is a nice quality jacket and even feels much better quality than some of the stuff I tired on on the larger shops. It was about £100 and I also went back and got the matching trousers a few days later, there were more expensive nicer ones but this was a price I was happy with. I have worn it in the rain and it was fine, but I find the claims of "breathable" when it comes to clothing you exercise in to be nonsense because I always sweat no matter what I am wearing when i comes to walking fast or cycling so I always get wet on the inside anyway if I am pushing it a bit.

 

[Levo-Lon]

I have a Jack Wolfeskin which has the fleece inside which I wear a lot,as a 2 piece its super warm and dry .
It was a £200 set that I got via rutland outdoors sale for £90 for wales weekends..love it.

 

[Doseone]

I was in the same boat as you last year - I had an old Lowe Alpine Triple Point Ceramic that had given me best part of twenty years service but was no longer up to the job of the wind driven rain we get here. I did plenty of research and as with many things there is no one answer and there are as many opinions and options on what is the best waterproof as there on what is the best bike.

I settled for an Omm Cypher Jacket and it works for what I need it for. It has kept me dry in the worst weather the Welsh Mountains can throw at me and I am really happy with it.

 

[Globalti]

Just re-proof your old jacket with Thompson's Water Seal. It makes it a bit stiff at first but the water really beads up and runs off nicely. My Sprayway Goretex jacket has seen me through around 18 years of cycling and walking, it's got patches on it from falls and it's still too good to retire.

 

[pawl]

I have had to accept that my walking jacket is no longer water-proof, and therefore is only good for the bin. And needs replacing. Unless someone has a hint for getting ex-waterproof coats waterproof again.

My last jacket was a Lowe Alpine Triple Point Ceramic. I have one walking weekend a year, and so if it is hammering down with rain, and blowing a howling gale on top of the Lakeland fells, I will still be getting out there in my waterproof jacket, trousers, gaiters, etc, and since I am walking up the fell, breathable is essential. So I am looking for Gore-tex or equivalent. It doesn't need to be lined, as I will be wearing it in Summer and Winter, and I can layer-up to keep warm. My budget is reasonable, as I am looking for something that works and lasts. £50 on a jacket that won't handle the weather is £50 wasted.

So, any guidance? Anything changed over the last 20 years that I need to be aware of? Anyone know of any good sales for a discounted one?

Advice from serious walkers sought, as this won't be a fashion item.

I find that wether walking or cycling I get wet from perspiration . My walking jacket cost around £ 150 so wasn't exactly cheap.I don't worry to much about this as long as I stay warm as a consequence I will not pay some of the the mega bucks prices advertised.
My cycling jacket that I bought from the shop that shall not be named but begins with an H cost about £40 and is not to boil in the bag.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

I have had to accept that my walking jacket is no longer water-proof, and therefore is only good for the bin. And needs replacing. Unless someone has a hint for getting ex-waterproof coats waterproof again.

My last jacket was a Lowe Alpine Triple Point Ceramic. I have one walking weekend a year, and so if it is hammering down with rain, and blowing a howling gale on top of the Lakeland fells, I will still be getting out there in my waterproof jacket, trousers, gaiters, etc, and since I am walking up the fell, breathable is essential. So I am looking for Gore-tex or equivalent. It doesn't need to be lined, as I will be wearing it in Summer and Winter, and I can layer-up to keep warm. My budget is reasonable, as I am looking for something that works and lasts. £50 on a jacket that won't handle the weather is £50 wasted.

So, any guidance? Anything changed over the last 20 years that I need to be aware of? Anyone know of any good sales for a discounted one?

Advice from serious walkers sought, as this won't be a fashion item.

Ah yes - good old Triple Point Ceramic. I have a Lowe Alpine Flash that's vintage mid-90's that is in the boot of the car now for emergencies. It was a very good jacket and survived Scottish, Welsh and Lakeland jaunts as well as trips to the Alps. A tough thing it was - sadly in old age a lot of the white inner has delaminated.

These days I use one of three jackets:

General walking - good tough jacket. I use it for scrambling as well so prefer the slightly shorter cut. Medium weight - feels robust as well as actually being robust. Decent price too. Will last decades. Probably the jacket I would advise for most mountain walkers.....

http://www.thenorthface.co.uk/tnf-uk-en/men-all-terrain-ii-jacket/p104695.html

This, when we go a bit more hardcore (not that I do much winter climbing these days). Nice and light. Very tough. Waterproof zips are great. Pricey but fantastic jacket. Probably overkill for you but if you prefer a tough climbing style jacket and are happy with the cost then it is fabulous :...

http://www.snowandrock.com/pws/Uniq...gclid=CMjItoOy-MICFcPJtAodiC4ABA&gclsrc=aw.ds

But my real favourite is this. Packs down to nothing. Very light. Incredibly tough despite being so thin. This is quite short which suits me fine but is not everyone's cup of tea. I got it for £70 in a sale - so stupid cheap. If I could choose one of the three it would be this one. I have used this in very foul conditions and it is spot on. My climbing/hiking buddy hates it though. He can't stand the flimsy feel (he has a similar jacket to the first one I have shown but it is by Berghaus)...

http://www.patagonia.com/eu/enGB/product/mens-torrentshell-waterproof-rain-jacket?p=83801-0

As to what's changed in 2 decades:

Fabrics are more breathable - although this in itself makes bugger all difference when you are either moving apace or it is raining (or both). You still get soggy although pit zips opened wide work pretty well. My wife has a couple of new high performance Gore-tex jackets and she can't tell the difference in breathability between these and her old Vango high altitude jacket from way back.

Lighter - I don't know many people who use three layer now. Most are two layer re-inforced. Some jackets like my Torrentshell are amazingly light and you can go lighter still.

Pit zips have filtered down the price scale - good!

Hoods seem to be much better designed and swivel properly when cinched down.

No more eye wrecking flappy cords.

Waterproof zips are fantastic (still pricey though).

In real terms I think prices have fallen. My Alpine Flash was about £200 twenty years back. i can get a better jacket for less than that these days.

Gaynors in Ambleside always have a big range and generally know there stuff. You won't usually get much of a discount from them though.

 

[stephec]

Ah yes - good old Triple Point Ceramic. I have a Lowe Alpine Flash that's vintage mid-90's that is in the boot of the car now for emergencies. It was a very good jacket and survived Scottish, Welsh and Lakeland jaunts as well as trips to the Alps. A tough thing it was - sadly in old age a lot of the white inner has delaminated.

That's what happened to mine as well.

I emailed Lowe Alpine twice to see if anything could be done about it, but never got a reply.

 

[BigAl68]

Reproof it with nixwax. Works great on my cycling and walking jackets

 

[stephec]

Reproof it with nixwax. Works great on my cycling and walking jackets

Cheers Al, I might give that a go.

 

[BigAl68]

Cheaper than a new jacket.