Walking Forum
Main Boards => Gear => Topic started by: AFANASIEW on 11:45:48, 24/01/19
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Advice please... What's the lightest summer breathable waterproof that will withstand 6 hours of rain? I have a Mountain Equipment Lhotse, but that weighs in at 530g and I'd prefer something lighter for LEJOG later this year.
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If you are doing the LEJOG then I would have thought that having a bombproof jacket that will not let you down is more important than shaving a few ounces off your load - the Lhotse fits the bill perfectly.
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If you are doing the LEJOG then I would have thought that having a bombproof jacket that will not let you down is more important than shaving a few ounces off your load - the Lhotse fits the bill perfectly.
I bought it with that in mind, so it's the default option. But you never know...
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My Marmot Precip has been in some horrendous rain and remained waterproof. Do need to slow down a bit though as it's not as breathable as more expensive jackets
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My Marmot Precip has been in some horrendous rain and remained waterproof. Do need to slow down a bit though as it's not as breathable as more expensive jackets
Breathbaility's key - I sweat buckets, I mean, 'run hot'. :buck2:
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Summer breathable? I'd consider an umbrella, my friend who did a LEJOG this year used one for the majority of the journey and just had an lightweight waterproof along with him (probably a precip actually). At the end of the day if you're in torrential rain and high winds, you're going to get wet eventually - you need to move faster to keep warm but you also sweat when you move faster. The best response to this is wicking base layers and mid layers, and (imo) to use hydrophillics like Paramo which don't rely on a temperature differential (most Goretex is tested at 32C and rated for that). Hydrophillics are just simply better for the UK climate, but unfortunately heavier.
If you're dead-set on a fancy breathable waterproof jacket look into the Goretex Shakedry stuff, which is their tech on the market designed for the premium running market. It's good stuff, but very much doubt it'll last very long under rucksack straps.
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I sometimes take an umbrella, it can be a good decision when it rains and there's no wind, I even use it when its hot and sunny, great for my bald patch. Sometimes when its really hot I just don't want to wear my hat!
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For very lightweight travel, and decent waterproofness, Montanes Freeflow Velo H2O jacket.
Its a basic Pertex jacket, but for the price of around £60, its excellent, and weighs very little, and packs away into a stuff sack that's the size of an Apple.
Its hood is the best ive ever used, fully adjustable, and gives superb protection.
For those warmer summer months, its worth a look.
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I sometimes take an umbrella, it can be a good decision when it rains and there's no wind, I even use it when its hot and sunny, great for my bald patch. Sometimes when its really hot I just don't want to wear my hat!
Are you Map Man in disguise?? I've lost the habit of using umbrellas here on the south coast, because it's rarely not windy when it rains. My charter hat has ventilation, so it's ok in warm weather.
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For very lightweight travel, and decent waterproofness, Montanes Freeflow Velo H2O jacket.
I still have a similar showerproof Montane windjacket that I took on the Pennine Way in 2015. That, too, stuffs down into a ball and I still use it on day hikes, but it wouldn't do for a day's walking in the rain, I'm afraid.
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Hydrophillics are just simply better for the UK climate, but unfortunately heavier.
If you're dead-set on a fancy breathable waterproof jacket look into the Goretex Shakedry stuff, which is their tech on the market designed for the premium running market. It's good stuff, but very much doubt it'll last very long under rucksack straps.
The Shakedry stuff looks very interesting - thanks for bringing it to my attention. My concerns woud be a) how would the material fare under a rucksack harness and b) how careful would you have to be near gorse and brambles?I've discounted Paramo because of the weight factor.
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Nowadays I use a £14.99 wind jacket from Decathlon, its great over the top of my baselayer and jacket, if it rains I just slip on my Marmot Precip, or my poncho. I have a Paramo Alta 2 and last used it November 2018 up Great Gable, the first time for months! The zip has now broken so until I decide what to do it will just hang in my camping 'wardrobe'.
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If you're dead-set on a fancy breathable waterproof jacket look into the Goretex Shakedry stuff, which is their tech on the market designed for the premium running market. It's good stuff, but very much doubt it'll last very long under rucksack straps.
Sadly, you're right. GoreTex specifically say it doesn't work with rucksacks.
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Don't see many umbrellas up here in Orkney! :)
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The Berghaus Hyper 100 is extremely light and breathable. Probably the best of its type.
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The Berghaus Hyper 100 is extremely light and breathable. Probably the best of its type.
Very interesting - but I can find very few customer reviews. This one is a bit worrying -
"It could be good jacket, however the zipper leaks because it is not waterproof."
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Don't see many umbrellas up here in Orkney! :)
Don't they end up in Bergen?
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Don't they end up in Bergen?
;D something like that!
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https://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/images/products/thumbnails/1528281998-05727000.jpg
I can recommend this jacket.
Outdoor Research Foray, from Ultralight Outdoor Gear, on offer at the moment.
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I sometimes take an umbrella, it can be a good decision when it rains and there's no wind, I even use it when its hot and sunny, great for my bald patch. Sometimes when its really hot I just don't want to wear my hat!
Nicolas Crane always walked with an Umbrella..loved his Walks around Britain.https://yesterday.uktv.co.uk/coast/article/nicolas-crane-interview/
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Very interesting - but I can find very few customer reviews. This one is a bit worrying -
"It could be good jacket, however the zipper leaks because it is not waterproof."
Yeah I saw that too. But then there are a number of reviews from gear sites that say they used it in heavy weather and found it completely waterproof and outstandingly breathable. You'd have thought that if the zip leaked, they'd have mentioned it. Or maybe not given the poor quality of so many review sites?
Looking at the design it seems to have a non-waterproof zip with a flap behind it, like Paramo do it. Maybe if you're walking into horizontal storm-force rain it eventually seeps in. But then is it really designed for serious conditions, or rather as a summer or just-in-case waterproof.
If it wasn't so damned expensive I'd like one to keep in my pack.
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I certainly wouldn’t use an umbrella in the weather we have had today. I would probably have ended up in Norway. I don’t think umbrellas are much use in Scotland.
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A poncho?
Light and open wide at the bottom so breathes well.
Lightweight, 6 hours of heavy rain proof, tough(for rucksack straps) and highly breathable? These things simply don't come together
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I have a mountain equipment impellor which is seriously light with a slight stretch made of gore tex active. Very minimalist and cut slim and short. Pretty sure it won't be hard wearing but perfect for what I want. Spends most of its life in my sack, lightweight, breathable and can do double duty as a windproof.
Just be aware of whatever you buy. The impellor has no hood, wrist or waist adjustment just stretch and only has a tiny chest pocket.
Don't scramble, climb or use it in winter! I use mine with a rucksack but minimal use.
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You could have a look at one of the lighter weight ME jackets. I have an Odyssey made from Drilite fabric.Dave
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Thanks for all the advice. The Berghaus Hyper 100 certainly looks interesting for the weight saving aspect, but I'm also looking at the REI Drypoint GTX (http://besthikeguide.com/gear/rei-co-op-drypoint-gtx-review/), which I'd have to get shipped from the US. At just over 10oz it's heavier, but better for pockets and more likely to last 2½ months of LEJOG.
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I'm in the market for a single skin waterproof jacket but only because, at the moment I can't find an alternative idea. I've looked at the Berghaus Hyper 100 but would not be prepared to pay that sort of money, especially when I know I could buy myself another Marmot Precip for way less than £100. When compared against each other, what has the Breghaus got thats worth a £150 more???
I personally have lost faith in the idea of buying another full layered waterproof, mine is a Paramo Alta 2, for me too heavy, too bulky and often in the summer months it just makes me too hot and sticky. Its OK in the winter but thats all.
Obviously I want to be dry, so I now use either my Vaude Poncho or Marmot Precip or just take both with me. From experience I know that nothing is perfect, the inside of my poncho for example can become wet on the inside with moisture if I have to exert myself (i.e. going uphill) when its raining at the same time.
I've often thought of the limitations of the poncho concept, why for example do I really need a big space at the back to cover my rucksack when my ordinary waterproof rucksack cover works well anyway? Why are poncho's made to throwover? I saw one in St Jean Pied du Port, France last year which unbuttoned down the front, seemed a very sensible design to me. Maybe what I really need is just a long waterproof, lightweight mac (like in western films) which buttons or unzips down the front, without the rucksack 'pouch' at the back. Does such a product even exist?
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This could be what you are looking for???https://www.amazon.co.uk/Altus-Light-Poncho-X-Large-2X-Large/dp/B00UTV2XJG/ref=cts_sp_1_vtp (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Altus-Light-Poncho-X-Large-2X-Large/dp/B00UTV2XJG/ref=cts_sp_1_vtp)
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Could be? My last sentence was incorrect, too simplistic.
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I used a poncho when doing the Pennine Way in 2015. It was inadequate for a foul day over Ickornshaw Moor, when everything got wet except the contents of my rucksack, and you wouldn't want to wear one for clambering, e.g. up the side of Cauldron Snout in the rain. Need something more effective and more adaptable.
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The Berghaus Hyper 100 is extremely light and breathable. Probably the best of its type.
Thanks Neil, I followed your advice. Tested it in the rain for just half an hour yesterday - perfectly dry underneath and not in the least clammy. Most grateful for the suggestion.
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I'm now thinking about rain in a completely different way than I have done in the past. For me now, rain is a 'stand alone' problem, little or nothing to do with other weathers. I have concluded by my experience with Poncho and rain skirts, that it is possible to buy effectively and cheap, to solve the rain problem, without having to spend big money!
I can now buy any clothing that I may want and like, without even having to consider whether its waterproof or not. Its too late in the day for me though, I have already spent out on an expensive waterproof jacket so I hope that my experience, especially if you are planning to buy new gear thinking as they say, outside of the box, can save you a packet!. If you have the money and want to spend big that's fine, but I know that there is an alternative way of looking at the matter.
I have now bought a £15 long waterproof Champion single skin coat with a hood. The hood is really clever, I can secure it in three different ways depending on how bad the downpour is. I tried it out in real rain yesterday, it was bucketing down and very windy as well, the coat worked just as I wanted it to. Underneath my waterproof, I just wore my shirt and warm jacket and that was it.
To work properly (that is to be dry and to stay dry) I have to use my gaiters, which I would use when wet anyway. The principle is like the tiles on a roof, rain on the coat, drips onto the gaiters and then onto the floor.
My cheap coat is not perfect, unfortunately in my case the hem should be about 2" longer to ensure that even in wind the hem does not rise up above the tops of my gaiters. I can fix that, a friend can sew on a extended hem for me, or I can weight the hem, or both. I'll be ready with it by the April meet.
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Thanks Neil, I followed your advice. Tested it in the rain for just half an hour yesterday - perfectly dry underneath and not in the least clammy. Most grateful for the suggestion.
I'll be interested to hear how you get on with the hyper 100 on your walk to John o groats
Suffered some torrential wind driven rain in Lochgoilhead last Tuesday, my Lhotse took it all in its stride, as did my berghaus deluge trousers. Even managed a 4 mile run in the Lhotse!
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I'll be interested to hear how you get on with the hyper 100 on your walk to John o groats
Suffered some torrential wind driven rain in Lochgoilhead last Tuesday, my Lhotse took it all in its stride, as did my berghaus deluge trousers. Even managed a 4 mile run in the Lhotse!
I'll be doing a blog and, all being well, an e-book.
I'll see the family every 3 weeks or so, making swap outs possible so, if the Hyper 100 fails, I could switch to the Llotse. At a point where the leg muscles have strengthened to happily take the extra 1lb weight, hopefully.
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Have a look at stuff by OMM or Inov8 if you really want to shave weight. Thing is, most assume you are going to be running and thus have a strong heat gradient to push water. I have an inov8 one that is about 100g - it's fine when I'm running, but I wouldn't want to walk all day in the rain with it.