UKH

Looking for recommendations for new waterproof jacket. Budget up to £150 and looking for good performance when caught out in the rain climbing - I wear glasses so a good hood design is important. Looking at Alpkit Argonaut or Gravitas if anybody had experience of these. 

In reply to marky:

In your position I'd be checking out decathlon, as well as alpkit.

In reply to marky:

Not sure of suitability for climbing but you can never go wrong with ME IMO

https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/mountain-equipment-mens-garwhal-jacket-A1...

In reply to marky: or Needlesports offer

https://www.needlesports.com/Catalogue/Clothing-Footwear/Technical-Clothing...

In reply to marky:

The Alpkit Balance is a great jacket and I think they are currently doing 20% off so might be in budget. The gravitas is very lightweight and I wouldn't want to do any climbing in it as I feel it would easily rip. The Argonaut strikes me as a bit of a generic cheap jacket that is rebranded with Alpkit logos but I could be wrong

In reply to marky:

My dad had an Argonaut and the breathability was rubbish. 

In reply to marky: If M L or XL Magic Mountain still have Mountain Equipment Goretex at £125 which seems a good price. A good wired hood and no idea how Goretex  compares to other suggestions here but ME is a good brand for most.

https://www.magic-mountain.co.uk/collections/men/products/me-004103-verbier...

In reply to marky:

The Gravitas is a great "so-light-you-can-carry-it-for-emergencies" jacket. Can't comment on the hood/glasses compatibility.

In reply to marky:

If your looking at lightweight/ultralight options have a look at the outdoor research helium ii, I got one just before Christmas for £89 , waterproof, breathable and so light and small you don't notice it, I even wore it for climbing ice in heavy snow and it worked well

https://www.gaynors.co.uk/mens-c4/waterproof-jackets-c25/outdoor-research-m...

In reply to marky:

I've got a gravitas. It's great for just-in-case and trail running. I've used it for scrambling and it survived, I've also done some bushwacking on a XC run, it's not going to last long with that kind of abuse but it's not totally fragile either. The hood is great, won't fit over a helmet but it stays in place while running and has a wired peak so I'm happy.

However, for an all-round jacket, I'd buy a Simond mountaineering waterproof from Decathlon. Good price, durable and better than expected performance. 

In reply to marky:

Something I've started thinking about recently is PTFE. It's supposedly safe, but the chemical industry has a long history of lying to the public and hiding serious health and environmental risks. We already have enough chemicals in the world anyway. It's in goretex and I know alpkit use it on their jackets. I own both goretex and alpkit jackets, but in future I'll no longer buy them, instead looking for PFC-free waterproofing - paramo, for example. I think they recycle and repair clothing, too. More expensive, but better for the environment.

In reply to marky:

I have a Rab Mantra that I can fully recommend has dealt with some really bad weather never let me down. I use it loads even as a hard shell when belaying (can zip up from the bottom to expose belay loop) wear it over my down jacket in winter. Absolutely love it. Think I paid about £150 On offer a year or so ago.

https://rab.equipment/uk/mantra-jacket