Really waterproof jacket

[c18rch]

All,

I am looking for a really waterproof hard shell jacket.

For years now I have used the Harkila gore tex shell jacket. Can't remember what the first one was called, but it lasted 10 years, and never leaked eventually the zip gave out and because it was a storm zip couldn't be repaired. I still use it as a light weight shooting mat. Still doesn't leak.

The next one was the couger. That one is nowhere near as good quality as the first despite being more expensive. It has lasted 5 years, but the membrane has come away from the material and it has started to leak.

I'm reluctant to buy another Harkila, because now the modern equivalent is pushing £500, and if the quality has fallen again, I am not interested.

Since that one started leaking, I have trained a deerhunter track rain jacket (recommended by a friend), leaked the first time out in the rain.

I have looked at the seelands, but they just look like they'll leak. The underarm vents aren't storm zips, just normal fabric.

Swedteam, looks good, but I've heard mixed reports.

My question is, can anyone recommend a lightweight shell jacket that is really waterproof?

Cheers,

Rich

 

[nun_hunter]

I've had a Rivers West smock for about 7 years. It's sold as a waterproof fleece so it's basically a waterproof membrane that is covered in thin fleece on both sides. It has just started to leak a little bit on the tops of the shoulders. It's not a warm jacket but if you're exercising you'll sweat buckets but up until recently it has been 100% waterproof even in prolonged downpours. It cost me about £130 so imagine it'll be a bit more now but has done very well for the price over 7 years.

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

I wear my Ridgeline if its really hosing it down
move slowly
its so waterproof strenous physical activity will produce rain on the inside!

 

[benjrush]

I recently got a swedteam ultralight anorak and used it on peg in torrential rain all day and stayed completely dry. I have yet to see whether it stands up to the test of time but I am very impressed so far.

 

[nun_hunter]

Just to add for the Rivers West it has stood up to crawling prone through brambles and walking through gorse and brambles etc and no leaks elsewhere

 

[Uncle Buck]

I've had a Rivers West smock for about 7 years. It's sold as a waterproof fleece so it's basically a waterproof membrane that is covered in thin fleece on both sides. It has just started to leak a little bit on the tops of the shoulders. It's not a warm jacket but if you're exercising you'll sweat buckets but up until recently it has been 100% waterproof even in prolonged downpours. It cost me about £130 so imagine it'll be a bit more now but has done very well for the price over 7 years.

Rivers West Hill Pro (pretty warm) had it for around 3 yrs great piece of kit.I especially like the underarm zip vents

Rgds Billy

 

[deerstalker.308]

All,

I am looking for a really waterproof hard shell jacket.

For years now I have used the Harkila gore tex shell jacket. Can't remember what the first one was called, but it lasted 10 years, and never leaked eventually the zip gave out and because it was a storm zip couldn't be repaired. I still use it as a light weight shooting mat. Still doesn't leak.

The next one was the couger. That one is nowhere near as good quality as the first despite being more expensive. It has lasted 5 years, but the membrane has come away from the material and it has started to leak.

I'm reluctant to buy another Harkila, because now the modern equivalent is pushing £500, and if the quality has fallen again, I am not interested.

Since that one started leaking, I have trained a deerhunter track rain jacket (recommended by a friend), leaked the first time out in the rain.

I have looked at the seelands, but they just look like they'll leak. The underarm vents aren't storm zips, just normal fabric.

Swedteam, looks good, but I've heard mixed reports.

My question is, can anyone recommend a lightweight shell jacket that is really waterproof?

Cheers,

Rich

Dry and breathable, Swazi Tahr. Not cheap but you wont cook in it, and water does not get through.......

 

[Uncle Norm]

Have a look at the Shooterking Greenland jacket. £189 posted from mmbeatle, one of our SD trade members. PM Mark (mmbeatle) and he will give you an honest appraisal of this jacket from all those sold. I have had the trousers for several weeks and worn them a lot. They are very well made, warm and waterproof. Ranger 22 on here put me on to them. I wont buy Harkila now owing to declining quality and rocketing prices.

 

[nun_hunter]

My brother is living in NZ at the mo, maybe he'll feel generous and get me one for my birthday in January!

 

[243varmint]

Swazi all day long.

 

[James0586]

I too will vouch for ridgeline but as previously said if your on the hill or dragging out it’s a nightmare with sweat

 

[J111]

I wear an army surplus goretex when it's really ****ing it down. £35 I think it cost.
Wear a smarter looking musto the rest of the time.

 

[oowee]

The Seeland leak. Shooter king is excellent. Only issue for me is the cuffs can wick water if they are not battened down.

 

[Greenmist]

Paramo, lightweight, very good when you're active. I tend to treat mine once a year with TX10 and I've yet to get wet in it. I understand a lot of mountain rescue teams use them as well

 

[Willie]

Swazi Wapiti or Harkila Hunter Pro X. Both expensive but will keep you dry and warm.

 

[Glendine]

Swazi all day long.

That's a Surprise !

 

[andychas]

All,

My question is, can anyone recommend a lightweight shell jacket that is really waterproof?

Cheers,

Rich

I was after the same thing (a shell jacket versus a smock or full lined coat) and found it a couple of years ago in the Austrian Army Mountain Goretex jacket,

Ive used Arcteryx for work (very good they are too if you've won the lottery) and honestly these are just as effective as a totally waterproof layer. The downside with the recommendation is finding one in the first place, and finding one in nearly new condition, upside is the cost - I paid £50 for mine three years ago and its still going strong.

 

[User00033]

The waterproof outer layer in any decent clothing system should not be a big expense or a big deal.

What a lot of blokes want to do is combine their outer main jacket with their waterproof jacket. If you are hunting on foot, and mobile 75% of the time, this is a mistake. You will be too hot and restricted. What you need is quality base and mid layers, a good hardwearing but quite thin and flexible outer layer, and a thin waterproof that you can wear over the top of everything when it rains. I hunt in low temperatures (2-8°C) in this system all day and don’t feel the cold, even on the bike.

The absolute best solution to proper wet weather is a twin layer Goretex or Sympatex jacket, bar none. It breathes, it is genuinely waterproof, it is lightweight and it is easily packable. Goretex also deals to wind chill very effectively. As part of a sensible layering system, it is by far the most effective. And they are sensibly priced. So the suggestions made above about milsurp jackets are spot on. We have several - British MPT, German flecktarn and Austrian olive drab - all bought unissued, as new. They dry very fast indeed. In our kit, they are worth their weight in gold these jackets.

OK I know milsurp isn’t for everyone, if it doesn’t fit your image conscious self then all good. But the amount of times I’ve watched blokes with fancy expensive jackets sweat their bollox off, and end up struggling to carry their jackets when it stops raining, convinced me years ago that if I can’t roll it up and carry it in my 10L day pack, its the wrong jacket. I’ll happily head out into proper rain to get to where I want to be when the rain stops, wearing these jackets. I trust them, because they work.

We also have the new Ridgeline Quietex Pro jackets for the boys, these work well. Whilst the fabric is quieter, I still think they are sweatier than Goretex.

The point at which this approach will fail to deal with conditions is when temperatures are at or below freezing all day, and the hunter is stationary for long periods. That’s a whole different level of clothing requirement. Scandinavian, North American, alpine Euro, winter hunting anywhere needs more, obviously.

 

[Long drag]

Rivers West Hill Pro (pretty warm) had it for around 3 yrs great piece of kit.I especially like the underarm zip vents

Rgds Billy

Rivers West will win hands down, great bit of kit, I had a small problem with mine sent it back, new one in return no questions asked.

 

[243varmint]

That's a Surprise !

Does the job in a Celtic climate