TGO Rating: 4.5
Honestly, I’m just as surprised as you are to see high-end label Patagonia represented in a bargain-priced jackets review. Like Berghaus, Patagonia’s way in was to submit a smock-style waterproof – smocks being cheaper (and lighter) than jackets.
TGO Rating: 3.5
Light and packable, the PreCip may appeal to those conscious of weight as well as price.
The Pinnacle Lite is weighty – the second heaviest jacket here – but it packs a real protective feel; this is the kind of jacket we’ve traditionally turned to for foul weather protection, albeit with up-to-date design features.
TGO Rating: 2
Like other black jackets supplied for testing, the Rainpod (also available in blue) absorbs heat noticeably. Perhaps not an issue in colder months – a boon then, perhaps – but in summer, when you might face heavy showers one minute and bright sunshine the next, that can lessen comfort considerably.
TGO Rating: 1.5
Another only-available-in-black jacket which absorbs enough sunlight to bake the wearer. The Techlite jacket is lined with a polyester taff eta mesh which, according to the blurb, adds warmth.
Several familiar brands, when invited to submit jackets for this test, admitted they couldn’t meet the sub-£100 criteria. Berghaus slipped in creatively, with this lightweight pullover, one of only two such featured here.
The Kiwi has good points – a nice cotton-like feel to the fabric, effective cuff adjustment, backside cover and a double storm flap over the front zip.
TGO Rating: 3
Designed as a basic waterproof, the Seven J struck me as perhaps a tad overpriced, even within the budget context of this feature. On the plus side, pockets, torso and hood are mesh-lined, useful for assisting moisture dispersal.
I found myself swimming in condensation in this jacket: the fleece collar lining was sodden, my hair, back and shoulders were damp and my arms were drenched.
The Hydrolite is not among the lightest jackets tested but I found it to be very comfortable, thanks in part to the fabric’s stretch quality.
