The best... waterproof jackets

THE RIGHT JACKET IS YOUR FORTRESS AGAINST THE WEATHER!

Design

The jacket should be designed to work while wearing gloves and a rucksack. Ideally you should be able to pull the cuffs down over the gloves to stop water getting in when walking. But when scrambling, it’s best if you can fit gloves over the cuffs. Take your gloves into the shop to make sure you can operate all the drawcords, zips, press studs, stormflaps and pockets with them on.

Sizing

Some jackets come in men’s or women’s specific fits, while others can be unisex. All should have a ‘cut’ to suit your body shape and activity. If you want a jacket for more active endeavours, ensure there’s coverage over a full range of movement. Also ensure the jacket can accommodate any layers of insulation you may envisage.

Sleeves

Sleeves should be long enough to cover your whole arm, even when extended. Articulations around the shoulder or elbow are beneficial for more energetic activities such as climbing or scrambling. Cuffs should fit snugly around the wrists.

Pockets

Pocket placement and size can affect a jacket’s versatility. Walking jacket pockets should be able to accommodate a map and compass, and they should be accessible while you are wearing a rucksack. Mesh-lined pockets improve jacket breathability but can increase rain seepage. Interior pockets are useful for storing wateror heat-sensitive objects, such as phones, that aren’t required all the time.

Zips

All zips leak. Water-resistant zips leak significantly less. Double stormflaps keep water out, but make the zip harder to operate. Single stormflaps trade water retention for improved useability.

Hood

The hood should move with your head and not restrict vision. This can be helped by features such as drawcords which can hold it around your head/ face, but make sure they do not rub. Rollaway or even removable hoods are a good idea for energetic activities such as climbing or fastpacking. Peaks may be stiffened with wire to improve rigidity.

Drawcords

Drawcords improve the fit of a hood, increasing head manouverability, visibility, and the all-round water resistance of the jacket. Ensure they can be neatly tucked away to prevent rubbing or snagging on anything – or whipping you in the chops!

Fabrics & coatings

Waterproof jackets are usually made from a 3- or 2-layer fabric. The usual balancing act is between breathability and waterproofing; the more breathable a fabric is, typically the less water-resistant, and vice versa. Extra features can be added such as a stretch property, outer fabrics of varying denier, or a loose mesh or material lining. Recent fabric arrivals are Gore-Tex 2.0, C-Knit and Pro Shell, and Polartec NeoShell, alongside established marques such as eVent, Pertex and standard Gore-Tex. Loose material and mesh linings make a jacket softer and comfier but they snag easily. Jackets usually feature a DWR (durable water repellency) that repels water, causing it to ‘bead’ and roll off the fabric’s surface. The Montane jacket shown here features new Gore-Tex Active with a 30-denier outer on the main body, plus Gore-Tex C-Knit, while 40-denier nylon ripstop reinforcements over harder-wearing areas help ensure high breathability.

Ventilation

Depending on the activity, jackets can come with a myriad of ventilation options such as front or side zips to control thermal regulation.