I’m never going to advocate leaving your waterproof jacket at home when heading into the hills, but if you’re pretty sure it’s going to spend most of the day in your rucksack there’s no need for a heavy winter-spec mountain waterproof. Thankfully modern designs and outdoor fabrics have led to some very well-featured lightweight jackets that add little to your packweight but may not have the durability and breathability of heavier fabrics. The breathability of waterproofs is a source of major consternation and pub arguments, so rather than writing an essay on unrealistic consumer expectations and the joy of windshirts, this article…

Phil’s introductory comments on men’s lightweight waterproofs apply equally to womens’ jackets and some may prefer the fit of the male version anyway. In general these jackets are aimed at reasonably mild conditions so are cut fairly short, so anyone on the tall side should check the length. Similarly apart from the Craghopper Travelite II, all the jackets were cut on the slim side, fine if you of small build but if not and you plan to wear several layers underneath a larger size may be better. Surprisingly only the Craghoppers’ jacket is available in a size larger than 16.…

Whilst Scotland seems to be basking in balmy Spring weather I’m still holding out for a final icy blast for an oft-postponed igloo-building trip. Although there’s plenty of snow forecast for later this weekend, at the moment here’s a distinct lack of the white stuff around, but that shouldn’t lead to complacency when it comes to winter clothing, particularly insulating layers. Thanks to Scotland’s temperate, maritime climate I’m never totally sure that my puffy down jacket will remain free from moisture and that disconcerting descent to a feathery porridge consistency. Especially in winter, I want an insulating layer that I…