Hillwalking jacket - unicorn and costly?

I have a couple of Mountain Equipment Gore-Tex pro jackets and the hood cinches down pretty well around my head using the elastic sewn in. Both wouldn't meet your budget but one is over 4years now and still going strong whilst being used daily for dog walking.

Will follow this thread as if you find something I want to know!

+1 for the ME jackets, I have a Rupal which doesn't meet your criteria but the helmet compatible hood isn't too cavernous when adjusted for my noggin.

That's interesting - the one thing my old ME jacket didn't get right was a huge flappy hood with oddball peak - you had to pull it in tightly compared to my now Berghaus and old Montane.

A Keela prosport jacket might fit the bill.

https://keelaoutdoors.com/product/prosport-jacket/

This any good? Not quite all the boxes ticked
https://www.norrona.com/en-GB/o/svalbard-lightweight-jacket-men/?color=7718

https://www.outdoorgb.com/c/rain/?q=&p=1&pp=20&ob=0&pmin=42&pmax=283&a=&b=1494&bc=

Something from Sprayway?

No pit zips, big hood, dull colour but.............

£28 for three layer Goretex...

https://forcesuniformandkit.co.uk/collections/distressed-range/products/austrian-army-gore-tex-jacket-alpine-distressed-range-1

Other jackets from the same site may suit Sir.

@matt_outandabout - have a look at ME Zeno jackets. It's DriLite but they're still very good

keela munro , thank me later

keela munro , thank me later

Only about 3x the weight he specified!

What wrong with helmet compatible hoods?

The good ones work very well with or without a helmet. ME hoods are fantastic

ME hoods are fantastic

I am not so sure.

My Berghaus, cheapy riding Sherpa and Montane all have non-helmet compatible hoods - and on a wet or windy day are soooo much better than my old ME jacket hood. They are closer fit, so don't need as much tension on the elastics to stay in place, turn with head better and don't flap crazily in the wind.

I am not sure I am going to get everything - but there are a couple of suggestions in here that are pretty good. I am off to spend some spondooolies.

(On an aside, it is amazing how many jackets/outdoor gear is sold on 'ideal for alpine climbing', not you want 5 hours on a Munro in freezing rain...or maybe I am becoming an old fart...)

I'm not a fan of helmet compatible hoods, just a load of extra fabric to flap about in the wind even if cinched down.

it is amazing how many jackets/outdoor gear is sold on ‘ideal for alpine climbing’

Esp as when climbing in the Alps, you generally avoid wet days / storms and just wait till it's sunny...

ME does two hoods - the standard one, as on the Lhotse etc - which is, I think, the Mountain HC hood, but in fact is a decent compromise that works pretty well with or without a helmet and the Super Alpine HC - the mad, high volume one - which is on stuff like the Tupilak which is huge and not great on a lidless noggin. The former is a pretty good hood tbf.

On pit-zips, most hill/mountain walking jackets with the longer cut don't have them, they tend to get specced on shorter-cut technical climbing shells because that's what they were originally intended for. Catch 22. The reborn Sprayway TL Torridon has them and sort of meets your spec on an old-fashion, bombproof tank kind of way. Too expensive though? And a big, bulky unit.

Oh, I'd maybe look at the Patagonia Torrent Shell 3L - the new, 3-layer version - it may be a little shorter than you want, but I think it's actually slightly longer than it looks in the images on the Patagucci website. Good price, solid build, has pit-zips.

it is amazing how many jackets/outdoor gear is sold on ‘ideal for alpine climbing’

Some of it's about marketing. Everyone knows that most ME jackets are bought by hill and mountain walkers who maybe do a little low to middle grade winter climbing, but talk to the guys at ME and they're emphatic that they're an alpine brand aimed at technical climbers. They sell as an aspirational thing - I may be teetering along Crib Goch on dreich winter day, but in my head I'm a sleek alpinist picking my way along the Mittelegi Ridge. A lot of UK outdoor folk would actually be very happy wearing Paramo, but ... image 😉

A lot of UK outdoor folk would actually be very happy wearing Paramo, but … image

I'd say it's got more to do with the fact that it doesn't work.

@Spin - don't start that old argument again. I've never got wet in mine and I've been out in horrific weather in it.

@Spin – don’t start that old argument again.

Pretty sure BWG started it....

He's a very naughty boy

Pretty sure BWG BWD started it….

Yeah, sorry about that. It does work for a lot of people. I find it hard to get worked up about it either way, so it didn't really occur to me that it might be remotely controversial. I like it, but only in proper sub-zero conditions. Above that, I tend to get too warm.

I’ve never got wet in mine and I’ve been out in horrific weather in it.

I've been soaked to the skin in moderate rain in Paramo salopettes. If it works for you great but it certainly doesn't work for everyone.

I’ve been soaked to the skin in moderate rain in Paramo salopettes. If it works for you great but it certainly doesn’t work for everyone.

Schoolboy error, you should have wore a jacket too. 😉

(On an aside, it is amazing how many jackets/outdoor gear is sold on ‘ideal for alpine climbing’, not you want 5 hours on a Munro in freezing rain…or maybe I am becoming an old fart…)

If that's more of a priority then discount your desired weight and have a look at a Keela Munro Jacket. It's decently tough and waterproof and for a me makes a good dog walking jacket. The only thing I'd say against it, other than being heavy, is it's warm.

Schoolboy error, you should have wore a jacket too

Classic Paramo evangelist response, I must've been using it wrong. 😉

have a look at a Keela Munro Jacket

Sorry, I've enough friends who have had these and just don't rate them so well.

Patagonia Torrentshell was mentioned earlier which seems to fit the bill. It's long enough in body and arms for me at 6'2" and has kept all the water out so far.

@Spin - I'm certainly not an evangelist. I use mine in the colder months but for the rest of the year it's just too much, so I now use a ME Quarrel GoreTex jacket. I have never used Paramo waterproof trousers though

Interestingly in the last 30 years I've gone from being a fan of GoreTex in the late 80s/early 90s (purple Sprayway) to despising it. I've had coats from many brands using may different membranes but now come full circle and use Paramo in winter and GoreTex in the summer. For me they just work.   My friends used to laugh at my steadfast refusal to buy anything that wasn't GoreTex and some of them have used  Paramo for 20yrs. Boy did I laugh at them (a lot) but when they started doing more fitted coats I got an Alta III and have been very happy with it for 5 years now.

I've been through a lot of coats in those years. Tenson MPC, Marmot Precip, Patagonia 2.5layer H2NO, LoweAlpine TriplePoint Ceramic, eVent, Gore PacLite, Haglofs Proof, some other Haglofs thing, some Berghaus thing. All used for walking, scrambling, climbing, via ferrata and riding the bike. They all have different levels of waterproofness and breathability on the hill, some good, some terrible.

I’m not a fan of helmet compatible hoods, just a load of extra fabric to flap about in the wind even if cinched down.

Flapping from the top of your head to your toes huh? 🤣

In true form recommend what you have.
I have an older version of this jacket, Mountaineering Waterproof Jacket - Alpinism Ultra-Light Blue.
My daughter has the slightly cheaper one, both are excellent.
Only criticism is the breathability of my one!
I don't find the helmet sized hood an issue when it's cinched down.

Right, I've won a Cotswold voucher, so I'm buying from there.

Does anyone own a Rab Downpour? I own no Rab kit so what's the sizing like?

It seems to be all the same other than:

Downpour = velcro storm flaps over normal zips
Downpour plus = waterproof zips
Downpour Eco = newer fabric and velcro storm flaps.

I've been using Marmot Spires for work for the last few years, and reckon they tick most of your boxes...

Got a few colours on Sportpursuit at the mo
https://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/product/view/id/1896371

I've used the current Rab Ladakh which nominally has a 'regular' cut, same as the Downpour. The Ladakh's a generous sort of medium, fits over bulky midlayers fine, has a waistcord to cinch in the midriff. Not as fitted as the slimmer ME cut. Rab stuff tends to be long in the sleeve too.

I don't know how the Downpour compares fit wise, it's lighter so it may be sleeker, but generally Rab sizes pretty much as you'd expect ime, not super fitted, not huge, though the Ladakh is pretty roomy.

I’ve been using Marmot Spires for work for the last few years, and reckon they tick most of your boxes…

The missus bought a Spire on eBay a few weeks ago. Nice jacket, but cut quite short.

Something from Sprayway?

A while ago someone recommended Sprayway and I thought since <insert name of female mountaineer I've forgotten> I hadn't heard of it. Checked out the website and it seems they make a jacket with bit longer length, ie. suitable for UK and not Chamonix. Worth a look.

(Better than my Paramo jacket that has never been waterproof 🙂 )

<insert name of female mountaineer I’ve forgotten>

Alison Hargreaves. And you may be thinking of the retro-style Torridon jacket. It's a tad over budget though at £300 RRP.

https://www.sprayway.com/collections/mens-clothing/products/torridon-mens-jacket

I’ve been using Marmot Spires for work for the last few years, and reckon they tick most of your boxes…

The missus bought a Spire on eBay a few weeks ago. Nice jacket, but cut quite short.

I am not sure a short, near kilo jacket with a snow skirt and helmet compatible hood meets my longer, lighter and non-helmet hood specification...

Alison Hargreaves. And you may be thinking of the retro-style Torridon jacket. It’s a tad over budget though at £300 RRP.

Yes, that's her 🙂 Ouch - a bit speedy !

Ah...sorry - just seen your reply - so probably too late.

I must admit I didn't see the 400g requirement. Tbf, if you zip the skirt out it's 600g rather than a kilo :/ , if I'm not working a climbing day the hood cinches up brilliantly round a beanie, cap, or nowt, with little flap, and it is longer than any Montane jacket I've had (always have issues with them riding out of a harness hipbelt, the Marmot I don't).

Just trying to give a tiny review based on what I've found based on experience - you can take it in the helpful manner it's intended, ignore it, or be mildly snippy, totally up to you!

All good.

I bought a Rab Downpour Eco from Cotswold after winning a voucher from them anyway.

So far so good, it's just a touch shorter than I wanted...

@matt_outandabout How are you finding the Rab after a few months of ownership? Looking at one for my daughter.

It is OK - does the job, but definitely is not as well cut as my old Berghaus or ME jeackets that precede it.

Pro: Light, v. breathable, so far waterproof, hood works.

Cons: Pockets seem to just collect all the water, quite square cut.

Perfect, thanks. Sounds reasonable for the price.

Hood on my ME Rupal doesn't flap about at all, brilliant jacket. It's genuinely the first waterproof jacket I've ever had that is breathable.

Rab Downpour is now 6 months old.

And has started leaking like a sieve across the shoulders....

I have been on only a few days walking with rucksack on over the jacket - and yet the leak is clearly the line of rucksack straps.

Warranty time...

That's really bad after such light use

And that was perhaps 15 mins of rain. I assumed DWR gone and wetting - but no, my jumper below had matching wet on both shoulders.

Wow! That’s really bad, it’s also seeping through along the curved seam where I assume the hood is attached, above the hanger loop.
I’d be a bit disappointed if a £20 Peter Storm from Millets started to leak like that after six months, but a Rab, I’d be bloody fuming!
While I don’t wear a rucksack at work, so avoiding pressure points under straps, I’m walking around for nine hours a day, in sometimes dreadful weather, and my regular combination of a Buffalo Special 6 with a £20 Peter Storm over the top to act as a barrier has proved remarkably effective right through the winter, with just surface wetting of the Buffalo, or dampening in fact. What I really need are over-trousers that are actually waterproof. The ones I bought from B&Q are pretty useless, once they get wet, and I have to sit down for a minute or two, I can feel the water seeping through, which is unpleasant, with only another six or seven hours to look forward to.
Hopefully, if the new wet weather hi-viz jacket I’ve just been issued meets expectations, and there are over-trousers to match, I might be able to leave my Buffalo at home, and stay dry all day.
I live in hope.

So I'm back on this.

I'll ignore the argument with the shop over actually warrantying it.

I'm back looking for sub-£200 hillwalking jacket (so not a helmet hood), with longer length, pitzips and decent (likely Gore) fabric....

Suggestions?

Best I have had are northface and berghaus.  I have a north face jacket with pit zips and good hood.  But it came with a zip in fleece and cost £240 ish

I really think you are after unicorn on a stick with added rainbows

Mountaineering Scotland 15% takes it down to 230?

https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/mountain-equipment-mens-rupal-jacket-A1115220.html?channable=00ff736964003235363233375f3130359d&colour=105&utm_source=google&utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=shopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3rfz66LK9AIVs4FQBh33IgBxEAUYASABEgIzifD_BwE

Instead of fretting about the hood tho how about using one of these hats?  Its fab.  Much nicer than wearing a hood and works really well until it gets really windy.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/waterproof-trekking-hat-mt900/_/R-p-302968?mc=8526272

Eh, naw.

Mate - they work so much better than hoods.  Ok you still need a hood if its a blowing a gale but the hat gives more protection and you can turn your head without getting a faceful of hood.  I was sceptical but would not go back to a hood now ( obviously I have one but its a foldaway one and I haven't needed it since buying the hat.)

A good hood stays where it is when you turn your head, your fold away one isn't obviously up to much, as I'd expect tbh.

A good hood, cinched down to fit properly, with a good peak is better than any hat. In driving rain/sleet/snow/hail conditions I'll have goggles on anyway, so will have to turn head a bit further.

Wish I'd taken goggles this morning, was a shit load more driving sleet than I expected!.

No beer - don't knock it until you try it.

If it works for you, stick with it mate!.

20 yrs ago these were fantastic in bad conditions and were fleece lined for added warmth. They seem to be available again after disappearing for years

Recently bought a Montane Alpine Spirit, quite pleased with it. Good fit for me, very solid build. I know, not the hood you are after but I found it cinched down quite nicely.

However the DWR coating is utterly useless, used for about 4 hours in admittedly torrential rain and it is almost completely gone. It kept me completely dry from rain but it is dissapointing spending that much on a high end gore-tex only for the face fabric to wet out so early from new. I know DWR has changed recently but I wasn't prepared for how much.

Waterproof zips don't last well. Why oh why don't they use them with storm flaps. Then you would have a jacket that might ot leak at that point.
Silly me, you wouldn't buy another if your jacket never leaked would you?

Just get a ME Lhotse. Virtually perfect other than body could be a couple of inches longer. That is the modern style though unfortunately.

@ElShalimo - I have (and still use) one of those hats. Yes, it's 20 years old...

My Lowe Alpine mountain hat has done 20 years of keeping my head warm and dry now, too. Worth buying if they are as good now.

I just ordered one of those Lowe Alpine hats

@scotroutes - I lost mine on An Teallach years ago. I loved that hat

Woe is me

Just get a ME Lhotse. Virtually perfect other than body could be a couple of inches longer. That is the modern style though unfortunately.

For the last 4 years I've had the 'perfect' jacket.

Staff uniform Berghaus Trek Lite.

Sadly not made anymore, and all of them seemed to get to 4 years and fabric started delamination.

Well cut, long length, nice hood, pit zips, two higher chest pockets.

https://outdoorsmagic.com/article/berghaus-light-trek-hydroshell-jacket/

And for 4 years before that I had Mountain Equipment ProShell of almost identical design, a rare jacket made for outdoor instructors. Again, long, good hood, pit zips, gore ProShell...

Have you checked out the Berghaus outlet / Sport Pursuit? They had Gore-Tex jackets at half price recently when I looked for a friend. Do you absolutely need pit-zips? Most non-climbing jackets don't have them, so it's a bit of a limiter. Personally I'd avoid lighter weight jackets if you hammer kit and maybe look at own-brand, 3-layer fabrics from the likes of ME and Berghaus. The garment designs are pretty much the same as their Gore-Tex kit, but a lot cheaper because Gore-Tex fabrics are expensive.

If you don't mind something that's slightly heavy, the Sprayway Torridon reboot is a longer-cut jacket, with pit-zips, pockets, a mahoosive, very effective hood with a peak based on concert hall entrance canopies. They can be had for just over £200 online and are three-layer Gore-Tex. The pocket arrangement is a bit faffy with double-ended zip-entry, but nothing terrible, everything else just kind of works and the whole jacket feels reassuringly solid and protective in a tank-like way. I guess the retro styling's not to everyone's taste, but I think it looks kind of cool and it's not a walking jacket compromised by pretending to be a climbing jacket. I think I mentioned it on this thread months ago, but my long covid fogged brain can't be 100% sure 🙂 Not GTX Pro, but the fabric's quieter and arguably nicer in day-to-day use as a result. Drapes better too.

https://www.sprayway.com/collections/mens-clothing/products/torridon-mens-jacket

Someone mentioned the ME Zeno earlier in the thread and that might be a good shout. I use one as a lighter weight waterproof to chuck in my pack during summer and it's held up to everything that has been thrown at it. Most of the time it's been worn with at least an overnight pack and it still works/looks as it did when new. I've not measured it, but it seems to fit a bit longer than the Lhotse/Tupilak jackets i wear in winter.

I really think you are after unicorn on a stick with added rainbows

MrsToast to the forum, paging MrsToast to the forum!

As far as hoods go, I've never really found any that were comfortable to wear or didn't get blown off your head by the wind.

However, I bought one of these last year and found it works really well, either for cycling or walking.
Keeps your head warm and dry and doesn't get in the way. You kind of forget you're wearing it?

https://www.sealskinz.com/products/waterproof-all-weather-head-gaitor

That looks good, but would be improved if it had a peak.

As far as hoods go, I’ve never really found any that were comfortable to wear or didn’t get blown off your head by the wind.

Older Montane, Berghaus, ME and Patagonia were/are superb. But the fashion is for every jacket to be helmet compatible - and that just creates a load of flappy fabric IME.

20 yrs ago these were fantastic in bad conditions and were fleece lined for added warmth. They seem to be available again after disappearing for years

Yep I had one in the 90s!

I now have a Rab thing which looks pretty much the same..

@ElShalimo – I have (and still use) one of those hats. Yes, it’s 20 years old…

@scotroutes you're not wrong either of you. I have a 15 year old one. Best hat ever.

MrsToast to the forum, paging MrsToast to the forum!

Was it she who created a magical world that delivered on about 20 conflicting commissions in one fell swoop?

Be aware that ME do either the Mountain Fit hood or the Alpine fit hood which differs as an option depending on the specific model - with the Alpine being the helmet compatible one, Mountain HC being nice and close fitting. I have a recent ME Janak (now discontinued) it has the Mountain HC hood combined with an Alpine fit body, its like a Lhotse but has the tougher 80D face fabric all over- but is actually lighter as it has less pockets. Win. Win. It is the most faultlessly perfect jacket I have yet to own, feels bombproof, perfect cut, great hood, pit zips that have never been used...and not too costly at what were run-out sale prices. Pro is bit crinkly but if the cut fits you perfectly its not that noticeable, and it is noticeably more breathable then previous gore versions.

Also would highly recommend the Rab Ladakh for a classic Uk hillwalkery cut rather than full on alpine, with the softer less crinkle cut C-nit fabric with tougher Pro reinforcements on wear areas. Normally a bit more spendy but an underrated model so might come into sales in next few weeks.

I have the ME Shivling jacket with the HC hood. As you say, it's a good fit sans helmet. I paid £240 and I think it can still be found for that.

Aye, same hood cut as my ME Rupal, works great.

I’ve resolved a lot of hood issues by wearing a cap under the hood.

Update: Cotswold/Rab warrantied it, gave me a nice voucher to spend.

Obvs. therefore I am typing this indoors wearing a shiny ME Zeno, hood up of course.