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waterproof jacket for birding (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter gambirder
- Start date
LLBean in the US mail orders good gear at reasonable prices, although it is not specifically designed for birding. For example:
http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/st...4=504714&shop_method=pp&feat=504714-sub2&np=Y
http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/st...4=504714&shop_method=pp&feat=504714-sub2&np=Y
Beverly Stayart
Active member
Thanks for this helpful info about waterproof jackets for birding.
Birdbrain
"Birders do it in the Field"
Birdbrain
"Birders do it in the Field"
Yep your right Paul !
I have a Pajaro
nice coat but you have to keep it clean or it aint waterproof :eek!: nice jacket with some nice pockets, bit over the £100 mark though. :t:
NoSpringChicken
Well-known member
I have a Paramo Cascada but, whilst it is a quality product, I have found it to be very slippery and a bit 'clingy' to wear. On a more mundane level I have always found Regatta clothing to be excellent value and quality. Their Descend jacket looks well specified for the price. I don't know if anyone here has had any experience of it, good or bad. I also have a Craghoppers Kiwi jacket which is very good but, as the weather here has been unusually dry recently, I haven't had a chance yet to test it in a prolonged downpour.
Ron
Ron
Birdbrain
"Birders do it in the Field"
How about the Raven then ? its made for birders so you cant go wrong there :t:
Nick Elliston
Well-known member
I'm a big fan of North Face products - light, waterproof, breathable. Not sure what is now though.
If like me you can't/won't spend £200-300 on a jacket then the Regatta range has a lot going for it. I got one for £45 last year (list was £70) and so far I'm very happy with it. Definitely showerproof but I've never worn it in heavy rain. It includes a detachable fleece liner so it's very versatile. With the liner it's good for winter use, take the liner out and it's fine for much milder weather.
theconstantwalker
http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_constant_walker/?
I bought a Craghoppers Kiwi jacket in forest green about 8 months ago from my local garden centre for £50 and love it. Detachable hood, press studs instead of velcro and i also use it for hill walking in the lakes and it does the job perfectly. There are also matching fleeces so insulation can be added for the winter. Great clothing well made IMHO and even at full retail not expensive, well worth a look.
theconstantwalker
http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_constant_walker/?
Ebay have the Kiwi in Dark Khaki or Black around £50 various sizes
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SteveClifton
Well-known member
I bought a Paramo Cascada about 2 years ago-cost me about £140 in a local sale. Never had a problem with water getting in, condensation etc. It's very comfortable too and surprisingly warm-feeling. I do agree with what Ron says though about it being a bit slippery feeling, though this doesn't really bother me too much.
By contrast, my last coat was a Berghaus goretex jacket that was fine for about five years, but now it isn't really waterproof in a heavy downpour since the membrane has broken down.
I recently bought a Regatta jacket for £50, mainly to wear for work. It looks the part but feels cold, even when it's quite mild, which I think is because of internal condensation. Even sitting in the car on the way to work I feel damp when I arrive. I wouldn't dream of doing any strenuous exercise in it as I think I'd be soaked in no time, even on a dry day!
Costed over a period of 5 years or more the Paramo looks like better value, feels better to wear and is more waterproof, and can be kept waterproof indefinitely. I think they even come with a lifetime warranty? If you can find one on sale I would certainly recommend it.
Steve
gambirder
Kev Roy
Why not have a look at our new Hawk jacket. It fits the bill perfectly! Its a really high quality waterproof/breathable fabric and we've just parred down the features to be able to retail it at a really good value £85! Give it a look at www.countryinnovation.co.uk
I've been looking at the Hawk on the CI website since somebody else suggested the Raven jacket. Was thinking of going to check out the Raven at the weekend. The website says it's made of "microfibre" and is windproof, waterproof and breathable... Can anybody verify that?
- Does it keep you dry in a good downpour?
- Does it eventually degrade (like Goretex)?
- Is it really breathable?
NoSpringChicken
Well-known member
The Hawk is a brand new jacket so I don't suppose anybody will have much, if any, experience of it yet. Hopefully Maria Chilvers will come here again to answer your queries.
Many of the Paramo jackets are made from microfibre, which is the basis for some of their fabrics, including the Nikwax Analogy fabric in my Cascada jacket, although that uses two layers. I can confirm that my Cascada jacket is certainly waterproof, windproof, breathable and cosy. It doesn't absorb water and get heavy and a quick shake removes most of the water. I don't know if the Hawk jacket will perform in the same way but, if it does, it looks like a bit of a bargain. My partner has a CI ventile jacket and it is a beautifully made and thoughtfully designed product.
Ron
Many of the Paramo jackets are made from microfibre, which is the basis for some of their fabrics, including the Nikwax Analogy fabric in my Cascada jacket, although that uses two layers. I can confirm that my Cascada jacket is certainly waterproof, windproof, breathable and cosy. It doesn't absorb water and get heavy and a quick shake removes most of the water. I don't know if the Hawk jacket will perform in the same way but, if it does, it looks like a bit of a bargain. My partner has a CI ventile jacket and it is a beautifully made and thoughtfully designed product.
Ron
