Author Topic: Walking jackets... Bewildered!!  (Read 5133 times)

Rob Goes Walking

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Re: Walking jackets... Bewildered!!
« Reply #15 on: 19:17:16, 04/04/19 »
I've got two Mountain Equipment jackets made from Drilite which is cheaper than their Goretex jackets - so far so good.
Dave

According to here Drilite has a hydrostatic head of 20k and 20k breathability. Should be a good fabric as usual with high performance fabrics no large sizes though.

Bigfoot_Mike

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Re: Walking jackets... Bewildered!!
« Reply #16 on: 19:43:15, 04/04/19 »

I've just got A Helly Hansen Loke Jacket for £100 in 4XL which I'd say is more like a 3XL. It has pit zips and 10k hydrostatic head and 10k g/m²/24hr breathability. I've only worn it around town so far in a shower so can't recommend it yet but some makes (like Helly Hansen) do bigger sizes. You could try getting a bigger size?
That’s worth knowing Rob. It could be said that my frame is slightly larger than average, but that would be understating it. The current trend for alpine fit makes it difficult to find something suitable.

kinkyboots

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Re: Walking jackets... Bewildered!!
« Reply #17 on: 19:46:24, 04/04/19 »
Marmot may be worth checking out as I know some of their jackets are made in what they term a "relaxed fit" and are also available in large sizes.

I have a Marmot PreCip which I managed to buy brand new for under £25 from Amazon. It spends most of the time in the pack but I find it suitable for warm wet days in spring, summer and autumn. I know a number of other members on the forum also have the Marmot PreCip and reviews have generally been good. It's probably not as breathable as some but for less than £25 I can't complain.  ;)
 
SportPursuit currently have some of the Marmot range on offer (NB you will need to register for access to the site and prices) https://www.sportpursuit.com/sales/marmot-aw18


Rob Goes Walking

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Re: Walking jackets... Bewildered!!
« Reply #18 on: 20:37:20, 04/04/19 »
That’s worth knowing Rob. It could be said that my frame is slightly larger than average, but that would be understating it. The current trend for alpine fit makes it difficult to find something suitable.


I can only give my experience on jackets for 4 brands (clothes are looser than jackets at 4XL). A Karrimor 4XL is a nice loose fit, A Tog24 4XL does up but leaves no room, Regatta 4XL is the same as TOG24, Helly Hansen 4XL is OK but I could only get 2 layers on underneath it. Should have sent it back for a 5XL really but I figured 2 layers is enough.


I'm a 58 inch waist which means I have to aim for clothes designed for a 58 inch chest. Don't know why they do the letter system which isn't consistent across brands, they should just put what chest chest size range it's supposed to fit but that would work too well...

Rob Goes Walking

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Re: Walking jackets... Bewildered!!
« Reply #19 on: 20:51:56, 04/04/19 »
Marmot may be worth checking out as I know some of their jackets are made in what they term a "relaxed fit" and are also available in large sizes.


Couldn't find Marmot jackets bigger than 3XL (which was in America but should be big enough for the original poster). Someone listed a Gore Tex (!) Marmot 4XL Parka on the American eBay but it's long since sold and I can't find it anywhere else so they may have listed the wrong size; the only Gore Tex 4XL I've ever seen is a very expensive high viz workwear jacket.
« Last Edit: 20:55:01, 04/04/19 by Rob Goes Walking »

NeilC

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Re: Walking jackets... Bewildered!!
« Reply #20 on: 08:59:17, 05/04/19 »
Thanks for your reply. As much as I'd like a Goretex Pro, out of my price range I'm afraid. I'm looking at £150 max.


I have a Helly Hansen Odin Traverse which was under £150 new. Mine has been in prolonged bad conditions and is fully waterproof. Has pit zips. Pockets are badly placed for backpacking but a perfectly good and tough jacket.


I have some Paramo stuff too but if you're worried about people's reviews saying the Montane isnt waterproof then Paramo ones are gonna scare you. I find it can be too warm on warmer spring and autumn days when hillwalking.


Im not totally convinced by Paramo. Seems to be even more of a compromise than Goretex and more suited to day walking than backpacking.
« Last Edit: 11:51:50, 05/04/19 by NeilC »

Litehiker

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Re: Walking jackets... Bewildered!!
« Reply #21 on: 19:27:13, 05/04/19 »
"To vent or not to vent, that is the question."
Personally I prefer pit zips on my WPB rain parkas.

It seems that if a WPB laminate breathes well it does not have enough hydrostatic head to keep out a driving rain. 

OTOH, if it has a high enough hydrostatic head it will not breathe well enough.


Thus the need for pit zips and other venting options. No pit zips on yer rain gear?
 Buy some waterproof zippers and have a tailor shop sew them in. I recommend you unstitch the area yourself or at least mark it so the zipper ends up in the correct location with the pull in the correct orientation. If you pin the zipper in place you may even get a beak in the labor cost. Pins must be at right angles to the zipper for the sewing machine needle to pass over them.


I eschew "wind shirts" and when necessary use my eVent parka for that purpose.  

 
In brushy terrain that is hard on fabric I use my less expensive GTX Paclite parka. So far so good but its breathability is well below eVent.  

 
Eric B.  

 
« Last Edit: 19:31:04, 05/04/19 by Litehiker »

kinkyboots

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Re: Walking jackets... Bewildered!!
« Reply #22 on: 08:43:52, 06/04/19 »
This may be worth a read for some ideas and to narrow down your choice. https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/topics/clothing-mens/best-rain-jacket

NB A couple of their recommendations may not be available in the UK.

Jim Parkin

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Re: Walking jackets... Bewildered!!
« Reply #23 on: 20:46:25, 07/04/19 »

Yes, I agree, think large majority of Paramo users would agree regular washing/ reproofing needed.


In years when I used same Paramo jacket on practically every walk I did (going out a couple of times a week) I washed jacket 2 or three times a year and reproofed annually.


In same period Paramo trousers needed washing and reproofing considerably more often...probably because they tend to get clogged up with dirt far more than jacket in normal walking..so need frequent washing to clear “pores” to restore breath-ability.
Yup. 

The last heavy snow this winter, I decided to take as a holiday* and walk the long way to Kinder Scout (about 90mins in shortest route in good conditions).  I wore my 1992 Paramo Cascadia (?) trousers that have been frequently washed and reproofed, and used heavily over that time.  I still wear them if it's going to be wet all day, or a high chance of that, but otherwise, the cut and pockets mean I don't.  They still work better than most other options I've tried

I do wear my Velez smock (only 2005 vintage) more often - I regard it as a softshell that is pretty warm and happens to be effectively** waterproof.  Although it has reasonable venting options, I still don't wear it in summer as it tends to be too warm. 



*good call, a colleague who lives three quarters of a mile away toook 4-hours to get to work

**water does sometimes get in the side zips, but very little, and it does get "pumped" out so actually isn't a problem after a couple of minutes.  I'd rather be dry and comfortable everywhere with a little short-term proper wetness on one side than damp all over. 

bipolarbob

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Re: Walking jackets... Bewildered!!
« Reply #24 on: 10:29:38, 11/04/19 »
ive got a paramo alta 3. good coat..expensive and not entirely waterproof (although i do admit it needs reproofing), and its bloody warm.  its like a sleeping blanket inside it.  Amazing coat.


I also picked up a Montane Alpine gore tex pro for £150 off Sport Pursuit.com.


 I find them to have loads of bargains on there if you are prepared to search and then wait for the product to arrive (they are like a holding company, i think. Have a read on their website what they actually are), and once the product is sent out the communication is brilliant from them about when it is arriving.
They are constantly having sales on there from BIG companies and little ones (do you're research on them), hence my Montane alpine for £150.

I got the missus a Arc'teryx beta ar...cost me a fortune but sooooo worth it.  Its the dogs whatsits of coats...amazing, a little snug though but an amazing coat.

You also have to note that all 'waterproof' coats are not actually 'waterproof' its just a selling thing.  They can be waterproof to a certain point then then after that they let in water..i think my alpine is 10000 Nhm (or something like that) with means how much water it can take on it before it fails...the more the Nhm the better the coat (but more expensive).  But be careful when coats say waterproof..more often they are for like 5 mins then fail.  The 'pro' bit in gore tex is actually the fact that its hard wearing, not to do with the waterproof part.  Thats to do with the darner...or how many yarns per whatever...the more darner the highter the Nhm the more waterproof, the more expensive.

id trawl round the internet if i was you..have a look on Sport Pursuit.com where you'll find something in you're price range that is gore tex pro and actually waterproof.

but be warned gote tex pro doesn't let heat out easily. so youll prob overheat in it...where as the paramo will...ish!!

have fun and i hope the above helps...although im no expert and most of it could be wrong!!

richardh1905

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Re: Walking jackets... Bewildered!!
« Reply #25 on: 11:42:50, 11/04/19 »
but be warned gote tex pro doesn't let heat out easily. so youll prob overheat in it...where as the paramo will...ish!!



With all respect you are wrong there Bob, the Gore Tex Pro jacket that I have is pretty thin and has plenty of ventilation where it counts (pit zips), and even sweaty me does not overheat in it - I even run in it!
WildAboutWalking - Join me on my walks through the wilder parts of Britain

bipolarbob

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Re: Walking jackets... Bewildered!!
« Reply #26 on: 12:14:55, 11/04/19 »

With all respect you are wrong there Bob, the Gore Tex Pro jacket that I have is pretty thin and has plenty of ventilation where it counts (pit zips), and even sweaty me does not overheat in it - I even run in it!


true..forgot about them!!! ive only worn mine once since i got it..im usually in my paramo!!




 

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