Wet weather jacket

I was thinking the same thing yesterday as I seemed to wetter on the inside of jacket than it was outside. You don't mind so much about the cost as long as it works , the trouble is once you have bought it and used it you cannot take it back . Any suggestions as to what base layers to wear to minimise this.
Bog standard fleece works really well.

Better still the stuff that I think is called 'grid' fleece.

Someone will be along to rave about wool shortly - and I agree that merino works quite well. But it just isn't quite as good as fleece at retaining warmth when wet.

So I use a thin merino base layer with a grid fleece mid layer. The merino wicks well and the fleece deals with leaks etc from the hard shell.
 
Worn Swazi jackets for quite a while now and whilst not perfectly breathable I've found them pretty good. As has been mentioned merino base with a fleece helps delay the feeling of being sodden. Used Norrona trousers for quite some time also, after a Norwegian client claimed to be dry on a day when I didn't have a square inch of dry material on me. They're certainly good for the first 2 years wear but I've never plucked up the courage to fork out for one of their jackets!!
 
Staying dry is almost impossible either condensation sweat or water ingress get you one way or another. A good breathable jacket but several wicking under layers seem to be important. Even then you need to take on and off layers as you heat up and cool down. My current favourites are army goretex with lots of layers... or harlika pro hunter less layers but it has excellent wicking breathable brilliant liner..
 
I was thinking the same thing yesterday as I seemed to wetter on the inside of jacket than it was outside. You don't mind so much about the cost as long as it works , the trouble is once you have bought it and used it you cannot take it back . Any suggestions as to what base layers to wear to minimise this.

Icebreaker 200 merino wool top, not much else if your heading for a 'stroll' up the hill, lol! If it's below freezing, perhaps 260 weight ( frames per sq metre of cloth, they do long johns too, 160 is good if you're active, 200 and you're getting too warm again) Once you get up and stop, you may want to stick on a thinnish fleece or fibrepile or similar, but if you're putting the rain coat on the top, unless you're going to be static, you may as well take it off again, otherwise the 'grease' about you begins to soften somewhat!


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Is that Basildon I can see in the distance? 🤣
 
So far army gore Tex jackets have kept me dry over the years. A regular wipe over to try to get the muck off, and a regular does of nikwax spray has done the job.
 
Used arcteryx leaf gear for years and whilst expensive, it outlasts other brands I also have used

On wet - sideways rain wet days , I remain dry under the overtrousers and jacket I have

Yes, spendy, yes it doesn’t stop you getting sweaty,(nothing does) but the brand does what is says on the tin

Top quality
 
With all this wet weather we've had recently in the highlands I've found out that there is NO jacket I own up to the task of being waterproof and breathable...

Stoney-creek, KUIU, harkila orton, all supposed to be waterproof but not ..... Any recommendations for a waterproof /breathable lightweight jacket (remember it's for highland hill stalking)...
Thanks
I use a cheap oversized packable jacket from decathlon does the job
 
Used arcteryx leaf gear for years and whilst expensive, it outlasts other brands I also have used

On wet - sideways rain wet days , I remain dry under the overtrousers and jacket I have

Yes, spendy, yes it doesn’t stop you getting sweaty,(nothing does) but the brand does what is says on the tin

Top quality
My mate is an avid hill walker (done all munros) and mountain rescue team member and swears by the LEAF stuff. His is 10years old getting used in all sorts of conditions and he said its the 1st thing he would buy again even at full list price.
 
Arcteryx Leaf Alpha Jacket, 3 layer Goretex and the fit really suits being 'active'
I have had mine 10+ years, faultless. VERY pricey, if you are lucky you see the odd one pop up on the Bay.
Issued to UK and other nations SF units, they don't tend to entertain second rate kit.
Standard issue Army Goretex is not to be sniffed at for the price either.
 
By their nature all breathable membranes will leak if its really wet. Add a howling gale and you're in real trouble with a strong chance of hypothermia besides.
Put a cheap impervious plastic or oilskin rain suit on top , it'll keep you dry and wind proof and have a change of clothes handy in the car
The answer to a technical failure isn't always newer more expensive technology, the old stuff still works.
Except for that that waxed cotton crap, seriously, a jacket that your definitely going to get covered in clag but can't wash?
It makes me wonder about hygiene standards in the Royal family.
 
You can find Leaf products for less than posted if you look

I’ve an Alpha jacket and overtrousers that I bought nearly eight years ago - they are still as waterproof now as they were when I bought them

They get used all the time but also looked after

It may be expensive - but I’d wager I would have changed jacket and overtrousers several times over from other brands so the costs would in my view be equal or slightly more from lesser brands

The adage buy once cry once springs to mind
 
Which Kuiu model were you using? I have the Yukon and have had no issues with it. However if you want something cheap and cheerful that will actually keep you dry try and find an unused dpm wet gesr jacket. They are work very well. Just a tad noisy!
 
Forget the manufacturer, if it says goretex on it then they have put there membrane and name to that jacket and it will be waterproof.
I've tried all sorts from my motorbiking trips and if a goretex jacket can keep me dry in rain at 70 mph on a motorway it's good enough to stalk in.
 
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