What waterproofs for hillwalking?

[alfa pint]

Put this in the Health Matters bit, but there's not much business there although some of the suggestions are useful (TVM)

My waterproofs that I use for hillwalking are kaput. In about an hour's rain, they're pretty saturated. The jacket is 8 years old (tried to re-proof it without success) Lowe Alpine thing, trousers are old (2004) goretex things that have been well used over the years.

I've got a budget of about £500 for the lot. I see a lot of other climbers using Rab kit, so I'm interested in that, but is goretex still the best thing out there? Berghaus stuff?

[Taita]

My Dad recently dropped £300 on some st hot waterproof trousers. I laughed down the phone, but then they are actually full of some really good features. However, they are pretty high end - aimed at crampon users / mountaineering etc. Things like double layer ankles, big seat so you can sit down without riding up, easy to get on and off for taking a dump, braces etc.

Drop down a few down the range on offer and you can have something similar.

I will ask him some details.

[ewenm]

Goretex still leads the market IMO. Haglof, Rab, Mountain Equipment, Arcteryx all make decent kit, North Face kit is ok too and a bit cheaper.

There's a Mountain Rescue team member on here (Rhinochopig IIRC?) who can probably give the best advice.

[Taita]

Have checked with my Dad, his are Mountain Equipment and were £160 from Ellis Brigham.

I am slightly envious of them!

[alfa pint]

Cheers for that Taita - some of the Mountain Equipment reviews are really good. I've got a mountain equipment softee thermal jacket which I used in a Norway winter, so I like their stuff.

[timlongs]

I'm a Mountain Equipment fan so I would recommend that.

Rab use eVent fabric which is more breathable than gore-tex. Mountain Hardware have recently made their own fabric which is apparently even more breathable without losing waterproofness called Dry Q.

I really rate gore-tex, or even better gore-tex pro. As you make something more waterproof you lose breathability, and as you make it more breathable you lose waterproofness. Something to consider.

Remember to look after whatever you buy and wash it with the proper products so that it does not lose its waterproof ability.

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/mountain-equipment-cha... - is without a doubt the holy grail!


http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/mountain-equipment-mor... - are nice

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/rab-latok-alpine-mens-... - and there is a rab eVent jacket...

[Matt..]

I went through this last year and have ended up with Montane eVent stuff. Really good quality.

In reality a lot of it (especially with jackets), comes down to fit. Rab jackets are made for small wide people, Montane for tall/skinny people (for example)! Along with fit, it comes down to material, which in this price range is Goretex or eVent. Then packability/weight.

Edited by Matt.. on Tuesday 21st June 17:20