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Anyone got the TNF jacket? Looking for a waterproof for dog walking for when my insulated jacket is too much. I’m a Patagonia fanboy as my Nano Puff has been an excellent buy but I’ve seen the TNF jacket available for £100 so wondering whether it’s any good and save a few quid?
My wife has a torrentshell. It’s not very good.
Columbia outdry..
A proper waterproof jacket.
No dwr to worry about.
Pitzips, Pockets and quite breathable.
Have a torrentshell, it's like wearing a bin liner. Doesn't breathe at all
It's a few years old to be fair - I'd guess the newer 3L ones are better
The newer, 3-layer Torrentshell is better than the old 2L version. It's just a no-nonsense waterproof jacket. Columbia OutDry Extreme works pretty well, but has a weird gimpish look to it which you may or may not appreciate. It's also not the most breathable jacket out there, though the breathability is sustained at that level as it never wets out.
I've not used the TNF jacket, but there's not much wrong with the Patagonia jacket, particularly if you're just dog walking - the hood could have a stiffer peak, but probably not an issue in non-mountain use tbh.
Have a torrentshell, it’s like wearing a bin liner. Doesn’t breathe at all
Which is definitely a no go for moving at pace in the mountains, but well, this is for walking a dog?.
Is there such a thing as over-jacketed? 😉
That Columbia looks like a bin bag, I’m shallow so the aesthetic is important to me.
Looking at the 3L Torrentshell. It has pitzips which should help vent.
Jam-bo, is your wife’s the older version, what’s wrong with it?
I've got one of the new futurelight TNF jackets with an insulated liner. Only really been out in proper rain once with it so far and it was very good at keeping me dry. Much more breathable than previous goretex or hyvent jackets.
Is there such a thing as over-jacketed? 😉
A chunk of the UK outdoor market is based on selling 'mountaineering' kit to people who are basically going for a walk in the Lakes, so yeah, totally. But that's aspirational consumerism for you - see also cars, motorbikes, aero road bikes, golf clubs, cricket bats and probably crochet hooks too.
On the face of it, overspeccing looks like a harmless thing, but there's arguably a point where it actually becomes an issue - eg: short-cut climbing jackets that leave walkers with a wet crotch every time it rains, or helmet-compatible hoods which are so large they won't cinch down to work properly with a bare head.
A chunk of the UK outdoor market is based on selling ‘mountaineering’ kit to people who are basically going for a walk in the Lakes around the shops in Ambleside, so yeah, totally. But that’s aspirational consumerism for you – see also cars, motorbikes, aero road bikes, golf clubs, cricket bats and probably crochet hooks too.
FTFY
is your wife’s the older version, what’s wrong with it?
noisy fabric, not very breathable, cut isn’t great. it’s a cheap jacket with an expensive logo. New ones may be better but I’ve not looked.
Patagonia make a lot of good things but their waterproofs are not until you get to the high end stuff where they start using goretex like everyone else.
Not a huge fan of my Patagonia Torrentshell tbh, as above it's not particularly breathable. Fine for walking the dog though! However I'm not sure it's worth the extra cost if that's all you'll be using it for?
How about one of the Jottnar hardshell jackets? I’ve noticed Steve Backshall wears Jottnar gear, and I think it’s fair to say that he goes places very few on here are ever likely to venture! I was watching one of his shark programmes, and he was out on a boat off the coast of either Scotland or Ireland, not sure which, and he was wearing one out on the open deck. That’s probably more exposed to the elements than taking Muttley for walkies.
It looked like it was probably this one. Not at the cheap end of the market, but yer gets what yer pays fer.
I have the torrent jacket and it is no better than my endura single-track jacket that cost 1/3 of the price. Which is waterproof but not breathable.
It looks nicer though...
I'm not sure a £400+ Jottnar mountaineering featured and cut jacket is needed for walking Fido in the local park for a half hour..
If it wasn’t for countzero bringing them up on every jacket thread on here. I’m not sure I’d even know jottnar existed.
I’m not sure a £400+ Jottnar mountaineering featured and cut jacket is needed for walking Fido in the local park for a half hour..
You’re quite correct, whilst I’m sure it’s great in the mountains it’s a bit overkill for what I want and 4x budget.
I did see the ME Xeno in the other thread which is another consideration I guess.
If it wasn’t for countzero bringing them up on every jacket thread on here. I’m not sure I’d even know jottnar existed.
I think it would be ideal kit for technical dog walking.
It's featured to not fit well for walking. It's got a huge mountaineering hood designed for a helmet. High pockets for security and wearing a harness, short body length so leaving bum/bits cold and wet (etc).
It's not just about price, it's a bit like buying a Ferrari as a family car.
That's why Arcteryx make Alpha, beta , Gamma ranges. The alpha range is great if you're going all in on the Fitz traverse but is a bit overkill for most people going for a walk. The Jottnar jacket is a bit alpha.
You can get the same material on other ranges at other cost points...
For the sake of clarity, I’m after a jacket that’s not too warm (I have a nice TNF Summit Series for cold days) that;
- won’t wet out in an hour or two of rain
- won’t have me sweating buckets
- has a hood
- has some pockets
- looks good (subjective I know)
- is cut fairly slim
- will last
- around £100
I don’t mountaineer, spend hours in the hills etc.
Doesn’t look like the Patagonia is hands down positive, the TNF jacket is within budget and I can get another 10% off, I may have a look at the next level up as suggested earlier in the thread.
That’s why Arcteryx make Alpha, beta , Gamma ranges. The alpha range is great if you’re going all in on the Fitz traverse but is a bit overkill for most people going for a walk.
I tackled the chilled section traverse of the local co-op yesterday in my Alpha FL…
I bought a Torrentshell earlier this year, to replace a Rab Pertex Shield and previously a Paclite. Its proven far better than I expected, very good breathability, a waterproof zip that works and a reasonable fit, though I went up a size as I wear it in winter over insulated jackets for wildlife watching. I really like it and it has proved genuinely weatherproof in some very heavy rain. The only negative about it is that the toggle on the hood drawstring slips slightly, though not drastically. I wouldn't replace my mountain Goretex with it, but its the best more basic jacket I've ever had and seems good value.
I also have a work TNF jacket in a very basic fabric, so the performance isn't brilliant or expected to be. However, the hood is actually unusable, with no way of adjusting it to stop it dropping over your eyes, its just too voluminous for a bottom-of-the-range product. I've only worn it twice, and won't be doing so again! So check the hood!
I've had A Rab downpour plus for dog walking duties for the last couple of years. I love it! Pit zips, a very decent hood, reasonable pockets, looks ok... All for about £100....
Have you had a nose at Sport Pursuit's jacket section?
There's bound to be something cheap and functional in Goretex on there.
I think it would be ideal kit for technical dog walking.
🙂