Henri lloyd Wave
Jacket £169 Salopettes £125
Henri Lloyd have produced a simple but solid set of oilskins that don’t have extraneous features but will keep the worst of the weather out. Using a heavier fabric than some of the others but with only two external handwarmer pockets, it’s great if you want to be waterproof without the fuss of a big jacket.
Jacket
A conservatively styled jacket, the Wave includes a photoluminescent reflective chest patch, lifejacket loops either side of the zip and a hi-vis hood. The hood has a stiffened peak but is sadly only adjustable at the sides. The collar was one of the highest on test with lovely thick fleece that kept the cool spring breeze at bay. The zip is covered with a decent storm flap and the hem has an adjustable draw cord. The cuffs sealed well with an internal rubberised cuff and an adjustable outer cuff. The handwarmer pockets are closed with waterproof zips but do not have drainage. Inside, there is a single chest pocket with Velcro closure, so we felt it was lacking in the number of pockets. It has a nylon taffeta lining and allows a good range of movement.
Salopettes
The Wave Hi Fit salopettes were heavier and felt tougher than other salopettes on test, but were some of the most basic in terms of features. The zip doesn’t have a storm flap but has a good gusset inside. They are well reinforced on the knees, seat and around ankles; the latter have good wide Velcro closure. The waist is elasticated but not adjustable. These were the only trousers to have elastic shoulder straps with the old-fashioned sliding buckles, which now seem rather fiddly to adjust. There’s no cargo pocket on the leg. If you’re not fussed about the details, these trousers have very little to go wrong and will probably last very well.
test verdict
A good balance of a wellfitting suit that still has enough space to move and add layers underneath. It would have been nice to see a few more pockets. In the water test, there was minimal ingress at the neck and no leaks at the wrist. This set was comparable to the Musto suit for features but tailored to a higher level of protection with heavier construction.