Outdoor Waterproof Jacket needed with Hood for daily use all winter

[Zak33]

Lo people

For years I've purchased top brand outdoor jackets from outlet villages such as Bicester Village, for daily use, off the peg according to luck and what fits. But frankly the bargains are all gone.. the outlet villages are more like full retail and damned expensive.

So, what I'm after is a solution to my jacket requirements:

Last coats I've had have been Helly Hansen, TOG24 and Nautica, all were sub £50 and all lasted over a year of heavy, daily use, too and from work, holidays, travel etc.

Assuming (wrongly perhaps) that I can't find a £50 jacket, with a hood, waterproof and well pocketed, from a well known brand... which names should I be looking for? Amazon and others are full but I need advice from people who's used and had them.

Stuff like colour I'm open too.. having had a grey/green, a bright red and a cream/white.

This aint a fashion requirement, it's a hard wearing, warm, wind and waterproof jacket, with good pockets, to live my life in.

Any suggestions and links pls?

[g8ina]

sub 50 ?? No, not really

My Lowe Alpine was £174 but in the Field and Trek closing down sale came down to about 75.

Also if you want fully breathable that always bumps the cost up.

In the past (when I was hiking) I've had TOG24, HH, North Face and Peter Storm, but the LA is my favourite so far, lightweight but very snug !

The only one Ive never had (due to cost) is Berghaus, but they are well considered to be one of, if not *the* best.

[csgohan4]

Timberland still have sale items, you could also try the Ashford Designer Outlet Link here in Kent, quite reasonably priced.

[Zak33]

thanks to you both.. the Timberland stuff is still top dollar though and the Outlets are really not astounding value!

I'm getting closer with this one
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Helly-Hansen...d_sim_sbs_ap_3

at £75 ... but don't want to miss a bargain if one of you have found one

[Zak33]

and proving I'm not a style junky...

(god only knows why they chose this brand name)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kangaroo-Poo..._sim_sbs_ap_26

[kalniel]

Charity shop mate.

Otherwise Craghoppers is around the budget you're looking for:

http://www.trekwear.co.uk/s/craghopp...5/Product.aspx

[Flibb]

The jackets you have been buying are probably the fashion end of things, hence not lasting that long.

Good brands to look for (probably over budget) are Paramo, Rab, Keela, North Face (can also be trendy), there are also plenty of others out there. Just bear in mind that all waterproofs need some TLC, and should last more than a year. Some can be easily revitalised with a standard wash, others need a wash and reproof. Might be wiser to spend £100 and get something that lasts.

[Zak33]

The jackets you have been buying are probably the fashion end of things, hence not lasting that long.

no, I worded that wrong, they've all been top quality hard wearing .. the ToG24 is on it's 3rd year and just been re waterproofed..... but for many years, when I saw them cheap... I used to buy one per year ... and kept them until the next one wore out! Each one has lasted well over 2 years. The wear and tear on a coat for a full year is not too bad but after 2 years, it's getting worn out. They get sat on in fields, worn in the car every day for 6 months of the year, which wears out the backs quite a lot actually, and chucked about.

the thing is though, they start to LOOK worn and that's not good even if they're still ok.

then I ebay them!

[Zak33]

Otherwise Craghoppers is around the budget you're looking for:

http://www.trekwear.co.uk/s/craghopp...5/Product.aspx

THAT could be the daddy my fine fellow.

[Smudger]

Cotswold Outdoor have a sale on waterproofs: http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/index...up/622/level/2

They've got a few shops as well, if you want to try on...

[dave87]

Dad's literally just solved the same question - he went for a Regatta item that has a 3 year guarantee, and was about £45 ish? Think he got it from Freeport (similar idea to Bicester I think).

Worth a look

[g8ina]

One point I would re-emphasise if you are planning to wear it that much, is to try and get a proper breathable "Goretex" or similar lined jobbie.

I have something like Goretex in just about every coat I've owned over the last 20 years. Even my boots are lined similarly.

Makes quite a difference, esp if you a sweaty type like me

[jonesg02]

THAT could be the daddy my fine fellow.

I've just got me one of these! Its good quality for the price - although I've not been out in the rain with it yet - I got it after all that rain a couple of weeks ago

[Million]

I worked in outdoor sports for a year, and got a Mountain Hardware outshell at the time that has lasted me 5 years of fairly intensive use. Just retired it and replaced it with the Berghaus RG1, which is £60-70 on Amazon, so far I rate it highly. Goretex is lovely, but you really do pay a premium for it. The North Face 'Venture' on the Cotswold Outdoors site linked to is good value for a good reliable outdoors brand. It's their own proprietary breathable waterproof fabric but it seems good

[Zak33]

I've just got me one of these! Its good quality for the price - although I've not been out in the rain with it yet - I got it after all that rain a couple of weeks ago

can you go stand in the garden pls and get someone to hose you down... ten reply as to it's waterproofy-ness

ta

[peterb]

can you go stand in the garden pls and get someone to hose you down... ten reply as to it's waterproofy-ness

ta

Personally speaking, I think you would be better off with swimming shorts for that sort of activity!



/ fetches (rain) coat