100% waterproof jackets - Gear

Dirt Tracker

20/11/2002 at 08:05

Anyone got a 100% waterproof jacket that they can run comfortably in ? i.e. without overheating and not too heavy ?
I'm looking to buy one but would rather stick with a light showerproof top than pay oodles of cash for something that might be waterproof but too hot/heavy to run in. Your top tips are welcomed !

Don Minquez

20/11/2002 at 10:34

Gore Tex is a luxury, but well worth the money! I've got a really water resistant Windstopper that works well, except in really bad weather. Haven't had any reason to wear my shiny new Nike storm fit one yet... Praying for bad weather!!!!

Tom Bombadil

20/11/2002 at 10:39

I read that Gore tex becomes just as impermeable to water vapour as non breathable fabrics when its raining, i.e. they're only breathable when its dry. Is this true ?

Muttley

20/11/2002 at 11:12

I've just bought a Viga waterproof jacket from Up+Running (www.runningshoes.co.uk). It's light, bilious fluo yellow for visibility, and comfortable to run in. I've been out in a couple of downpours and yes, it does seem waterproof. I got clammy inside but I'd rather be warm and soggy from my own sweat than cold and soggy from rain. A good buy for £40, I reckon.

Nessie

20/11/2002 at 15:48

Jon

Can you make your prayers very location-specific, please. We've had more rain than we really need up here already this year.

Thanks.

Don Minquez

20/11/2002 at 17:16

Sorry... I asked for them in Scotland... Thought you wanted to check you're waterproof aswell! sorry!

soft southerner

20/11/2002 at 19:07

The Nike Clima-FIT Max jackets are waterproof and a delight to run in IMHO. The Storm-FIT jackets usually have an extra lining and sometimes can be a bit too warm on the average rainy day. Depths of winter though - they are great. Consider that they are Gore-TEX in all but name.

I saw some Gore-TEX XCR jackets in an outdoor shop last weekend and they look really good. Light and waterproof, but breathable too. Plus they have hoods!

popsider

20/11/2002 at 21:08

Bought a saucony running jacket - OK so it only cost 25 pounds but it was half price - it is about as waterproof as a cotton t shirt - a bit off topic but there you go.

Weep Iglet

20/11/2002 at 22:06

I recently bought a Hind jacket made from microlight. I've had lots of goretex walking jackets over the years, but I've never had anything as effective as this against condensation. I've worn it with a HH baselayer in torrential rain and come home just slightly damp: absolutely no build up of moisture on the inside of the jacket. I bought it because the owner of the local specialist running shop wore one to training and said he thought it was much better than his goretex jacket. I'd highly recommend it, and at about £70 I think it was a good deal.

LizzyB

21/11/2002 at 09:55

I have a Lowe Alpine running jacket, and having worn it in some pretty foul weather over the last few weeks, I can guarantee that it is waterproof, windproof and breathable! If I'm doing speedwork, I do get a bit of condensation on the inside, but that's all. The Waterproofing is Triple Point Ceramic rather than Gore-Tex. Although it was expensive (about #80) I knew it would be a good buy - I have a Lowe Alpine Triple Point walking jacket which is 6 years old, still waterproof and still looks like new, despite my best efforts to kill it.

I've never seen one of these running jackets
in a running store - I bought mine in an outdoor store. It is SO lightweight as well (I'm fussy about that sort of thing). But it can be a bit noisy when it's windy - occasionally I can't hear my HRM!

Oooh - it's just started to rain - I'm off for a run in it .....

21/11/2002 at 14:21

The upshot is.....
If an item says 100% waterproof, it cannot breath. So all the moisture that your body produces will stay inside the jacket and soak you. It also doesn't allow air to pass through and will keep you too warm. And once your underlayer (cotton t-shirt in most peples cases,agh agh)has become wet it will stay cold next to your skin So if you are wanting to do hard physcial work, don't get a 100% jacket. For most walkers it's okay, but once you get running, no good.
Most of the mid price jackets (£40-£60) are water resistant and breathable enough for a good few hours in pretty bad weather.

Chaos

21/11/2002 at 17:25

Tom, I think that GoreTex thing only really applies to certain of the outer face fabrics which used to get soaked. Newer and better made goretex jackets with a water-repellent finish are less likely to get into this state. The XCR goretex is meant to be even better.

However I've personally found the Lowe Alpine stuff very good especially the lightweight range that was referred to in a post above.

Don Minquez

22/11/2002 at 09:06

I always treat my Gore Tex Stuff with Nik wax in wash reproofer...

donutto

22/11/2002 at 11:05

I have a couple of nice Goretex jackets - one a Hind, with zippable vents under the arms which are useful for letting out perspiration, and the second a Concurve - which is very lightweight, but does seem to keep out water very effectively.

I've always thought claims about the breathability of Goretex are overstated marketing puff, and the key to avoid being overheated is to wear very little underneath the jacket. Unless it is very cold (as well as being wet and windy) I don't wear more than a singlet underneath. Sometimes I won't wear anything at all (on my upper body, this is!). It is useful, for this reason, for the jacket to have some type of mesh lining which prevents the outer fabric from clinging to your skin in an unpleasant way.

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