Decent coats....

hi,
as the weather is starting to turn i'm looking for a new coat - especially as i'm planning on doing a lot more walking in the near future.
i'm looking for something that is:
1) waterproof - 'cos this is the uk.
2) breathable - 'cos i sweat a lot.
3) wind proof.
4) light.

anyone got any recomendations?
cheers


julian

 

I have a Berghaus "Gore-tex" coat, which is excellent for all of those things.

P.S. This one in fact:

http://www.berghaus.com/index.asp?bhcd2=1092666489

(see under "the gear" - "clothing" - "Lightning")

 

What Tone said ^^

 

thanks guys, the berghaus looks like exactly what i'm after however the sizes go up to xxl (48-50 inch chest) now the thing is that i'm EXACTLY 50 inches round the chest so it may be a little snug fitting. i'd rather not spend that amount of money on something that may be uncomfortable. the local millets in bedford and a few places in mk do them so i'll go and take a look and see if it'll fit. any other ideas - just in case i'm too much of a big'yin for a comfy fit?
cheers


julian

 

Get a two-man tent from Milletts.

 

Anything Gortex has got to be the daddy. I also have a Berghaus Aquafoil too which is a couple of years old now, still seems to be waterproof and it is ultra light. I reckon any of the big names willl do the trick, Berghaus,Karrimoor (?), Craghoppers, etc. Stating the obvious but make sure you try one on with a fleece underneath. Windproof and waterproof with a nice warm fleece makes Sid a very happy bunny when walking the dog in the rain.

I know thay might not be everyones cup of tea but the Traditional design Timberland boots are great for mooching about with the dog in the woods and on the beach. I have two pairs, the first one's are 6 years old now, they just refuse to die. I had new Timberland soles put on them about 2 years ago now.(£40 !) They are still waterproof after all this time. I always treat them with a whole bottle of waterproofing stuff once a year (£5 a bottle- bargain).

Only a few weeks to go now before the wife and kids all stand around mocking, pointing and laughing ( with wet feet though !) ; " Oh no it must be winter again , dads got his boots out ".

 

Patagonia sizes seem to be more generous than others, and they also have an excellent environmental policy. Gortex based products are great when the atmospheric conditions are right for them to work, normally it is way too humid in the UK for them. Also these types of jacket must be used with appropriate under layers for the most efficient means of internal water transport, (the technical non sweaty bit) to work.

Gortex is a brand that like Hover that is now recognised as a product category, another to look out for is E-Vent. Most medium sized companies not wishing to pay Gortex for the material develop their own in-house material, these generally do not work as well, although Sprayway seem to produce good quality kit at reasonable prices.

For strength and durability get a three layer/membrane based jacket, this will be considerable stronger, my The North Face jacket has lasted over 7 years of winter climbing, skiing and walking. Gortex XCR and E-Vent are this years favourites. 3 layer membranes have a waterproof outer layer, (stops the rain getting in) a middle transport layer, (that removes water from the inside and transports it to the outside) and a light mesh lining that traps a thin layer of air in between your body and the transport layer for warmth.

Paclite Gortex, although really light is brilliant to run in, (I have a couple of these) but offer no where near the durability and should be avoided for general walking use.

Most brands already mentioned are excellent.

Edited to add: The more windproof a jacket the less it breathes, simple as that, for just about all UK conditions a waterproof jacket with correct under layers will provide you with everything you requested.

 

Useless Information Dept. All breathable/water repellent coats rely on the fact that liquid water, because of its high surface tension, cannot form droplets below a certain diameter. Water in vapour form has no such problems. Thus, if it is possible to provide a membrane with a porosity that is small enough to prevent the entry of liquid water droplets, your problem is solved. Providing the membrane was no problem, providing it in a durable form was.

W.L. Gore worked for DuPont, a big manufacturer of fluorocarbons, including PTFE (polytetrafluoroethane). He discovered how to make the stuff porous (the original method involved one guy holding one side of the sheet and standing still and another guy holding the other side and running away from him, stretching the sheet!). DuPont wasn't interested, so Gore left and set up on his own to develop the idea. PTFE is mechanically weak, so it had to be laminated on to a fabric to protect it. This took a long time to achieve, and the early "Gore-tex" fabrics had constant delaminating problems. In addition, the pore size had to be optimised - human perspiration has fatty compounds and can block pores that are too small. This still happens to some degree and the coats should be washed regularly to keep them working at their best.

"Gore-tex" itself is NOT patented, to the best of my knowledge. However, the best laminating techniques probably are. Moreover, it's an expensive technology. There are a number of cheaper alternatives. One of the most popular is to apply a porous polyurethane coating directly to the fabric (generally a woven nylon). This is much cheaper, but it's not as effective and it will crack with repeated folding.

 

Snap! It wasn't cheap but it has lasted a long time.

 

These are the best and are capable of keeping the North Atalantic out. As worn by Icelandic deep sea fisherman:
http://www.66north.is/default.asp?view=1

 

Actually the best of all heavy weather gear is made from plasticised PVC - but of course all vinyl fans knew that! It is completely waterproof and the seams, the weak points of any waterproof garments, are welded - it's relatively easy to get a 100% seal with a non-woven material such as PVC. Of course it doesn't breathe one iota, but that's not a concern in heavy seas.

 

Yes, the vinyl stuff keeps out wind, wet and cold, but you end up sweating. They also do other lines.
I also have an ancient Barbour for milder climates and a Stockman for positively arid climates. The Stockman is a good piece of kit - even if it does make you look a little bit of a plonker.