I've had all sorts of gear in 40 years, some of it expensive Gucci brand type gear, it all wets out eventually or getting soaked from condensation. It's a compromise between breathability and even the best Goretex loses ability of it gets dirty. When I was on Mountain Rescue, we had expensive RAB Pertex kit, but that would wet out after an hour or so in heavy rain. One piece of personal kit I had underneath it was a Buffalo Special 6 wind shirt. That was Pertex with a hi pile fleece, if it got wet inside it still kept me warm, and it dried out really fast. My best weatherproof jacket is a 30 year old Keela Ventile jacket, a parka type with a detachable snorkel hood, but it's heavier than Goretex, and gets even heavier when wet. Breathability is awesome, it will withstand downpour for about two hours before it gets a bit damp inside, but I've never been soaked to the skin in it even after a full day in heavy rain. When the rain does stop, any wind from a breeze upwards dries it out fast, if the sun comes out, really fast. I use that on the colder months with a zip in fleece. Goretex over trousers and gaiters (cotton duck). Yeti Goretex gaiters are the best, you can walk all day in wet grass, wade streams and keep dry boots in those, but the rands are the weak point which wear out have to be replaced which isn't cheap. I gave mine to a fellow MRT member when I retired from the team, as their need was greater than mine. I went back to my old pre-Yeti gaiters for personal use, if the cord wears out, I just put a fresh length in. Dalesman brand, bought from the Pen-Y-Ghent Cafe, Horton in Ribblesdale, 40ish years ago after a day's climbing on Pen-Y-Ghent's exposed grit stone rock face. Most of the time these days I use a lightweight cheapo Peter Storm jacket, with polyester cotton lightweight trousers that will dry out fast, or shorts with gaiters. The Peter Storm serves as a decent water resistant/wind blocker in light to medium rain. If it gets to heavy downpour, then my genuine USGI military poncho goes over me and my backpack. With gaiters on, the most that gets wet from drips etc is my knees. There's a bit of condensation around the shoulders because the poncho isn't breathable, but not enough to penetrate my jacket. Anything below that and my knees remains bone dry no matter what. The other thing about the poncho is it's a dual use item, a small tarp so you have an emergency shelter or a minimal shelter to backpack with if you aren't to fussy and use it with a lightweight bivvy bag. That's what works for me.

Its absolutely shocking how these manufacturers can claim to be selling this technical waterproof gear that clearly isn't fit for purpose - they should be held to account by trading standards! It drives me absolutely mad so well done for posting the review.

Thanks for the heads up Ben much appreciated.always a joy following your adventures good or bad.keep it going mate stay safe,

Perfect point made there you expect to get what they advertise thanks for the heads up

I have multiple jackets & fleeces from Craghoppers, love the brand.

Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for sharing, I was just about to buy one of the gelert jackets. Only because it’s reduced in bf sale and actually have my size in stock. But definitely not now.

Good advice!

as a newbie cpl we was looking for water proofs at a reasonable cost so thank you for the heads up

Used a columbia watertight II yesterday in moderate to heavy rains with some hail. It was pretty decent. I was dry inside. But my phone was in the outer pocket and somehow the inside corner of that pocket felt wet.

Ben I feel your pain. You are right, you get what you pay for (most of the time). I have a couple of those style Gelert packable jackets in the boot of my car for emergencies just to put on and not go walking in them. They act like a plastic bag so when it rains and you are walking and producing heat inside it turns into a swimming pool inside. I have bitten the bullet and bought berghaus paclite goretex over trousers and montane paclite goretex jacket. Yes at a cost but breathable and hopefully a lot better and less of a sweat bucket. We always forget we actually live in a wet country. As with anything if you can buy quality waterproofs and boots and sleeping system then you can scrimp on the rest of your gear.

Very informative Ben that's another waterproof to cross of my list it seems very hit and miss trying to find a waterproof and breathable jacket hope you dried out on the way home 💪💪👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

I've tried pretty much every brand and waterproof fabric on the market at one stage or another over the last 25 years and my favourite was Polartec Neoshell because it breathed so well. I spent hours in torrential rain on multiple hikes and didn't get wet. The fabric dried quickly, was soft and it would be warm when I took it off from my bodyheat. It allowed a small amount of airflow through (unlike GTX) but performed better as a result. It didn't wet out in my use and that extended to hours of hiking in Ireland, Scotland, Iceland, French & Spanish sides of the Pyrenees and Sweden. Polartec bombed on the market because of a few reasons. 1) People believed bullshit about hydrostatic head needing to be over 20k. I used to believe this myself but it's a marketing lie. In practice air permeability is much more important to staying dry and comfortable. 2) It was expensive. No more so than GTX Pro but it was a direct competitor to the best Gore can offer and polartec didn't have the brand recognition. 3) Polartec had production issues. The price never dropped and it remained a premium product of limited availability. But in my experience, the best waterproof breathable membrane I tested.

Ayup 👋 at least you know what doesn't work now 👍I agree, I expect products to do what they say, at least once 😂

Thanks for the field test Ben. Sorry you got wet mate. Dedication.

Thanks for the heads up- I was going to buy the Gelert waterproof Jacket which clearly isn't up to the mark.

I use a north face waterproof jacket that's very light and breathable. I cycle to work on my ebike and I wear that with insulated waterproof fishing trousers . Abit overkill but I'm always bone dry no matter how bad the rain gets and even the trousers are very light weight so ok to walk in .

Ultimately, if you go out in the rain you're gonna get wet: seems like either you have summat 100% waterproof and you end up sweating inside it, or you have summat nice and breathable that will eventually wet out. I had a similar thing happen to me with a Mammut hard-shell I'd bought and first time in the Peak district it was soaked through in 30 minutes. I've since switched to an OutDry EX rain jacket that, whilst nowhere near as breathable as some jackets more expensive (although it still cost 150 bloody quid in a sale), the material is completely waterproof (the waterproof layer is on the outside of the jacket, and not sandwiched in between two layers of fabric with a DWR outer coating) and a cheapo pair of old-school boil in the bag over trousers. There's also the fact that a coat has at least 4 ruddy great openings for water to get in.

We had a tad of sun today amongst showers. Got washed out Wednesday at 'Barlick', Barnoldswick. I was only 8 miles from home, but a plastic poncho saved my top end to my knees. By LAW all goods sold in the UK MUST be fit for purpose, that's why we have customer's protection laws.

Provided the day is not too windy, I usually take a big umbrella when I go walking. Not so good for filming , though!! For an anorak, I like the Regatta brand and I buy them in discount shops.

Really helpful Ben, despite your obvious disappointment and discomfort. Have to say I've become entirely suspicious of far too many companies claiming to be selling "waterproof" gear - especially when I discovered that in the leisure industry the term waterproof is regarded as being 'legitimate' for any garment with a hydrostatic head of just 1500mm (!) or above. At 1500mm, you might as well wear a J-cloth........

Just bought RAF foul weather pants, un-used £26 membrane (gortex type) Army navy RAF surplus is your friend.

Hi mate ever thought about a poncho .I grabbed one off Amazon heavy duty 25 quid ideal for summer downpours . Nice and vented so no sweating

Used Craghoppers jackets for years and they have been very water proof, they are durable and long lasting (have to reproof them once in a while). Also have water proof trousers from them and they were life savers after a match but I don’t think they are the Kiwi ones. The reproofing on my boots failed that day but that was my fault.

Lucky for me .. I was in my local Sports Direct store this week, first time in over a year as my wife was in the shop next door looking handbags I think (boring .. yawn yawn) ... Anyway I saw the Gelert jacket you mentioned in a previous video, but they didn't have my size in stock. I do have a Berghaus Goretex jacket, but just fancied something lightweight to stick in my rucksack in case of a summer downpour. Might go for the Regatta Imber ii now, as a lightweight option BTW .. you link to very cheap pair of waterproof overtrousers which you didn't actually mention in the vlog

I have Berghaus Gortex packable jacket and trousers. When I first got them they were great but washing them seems to have helped degenerate the waterproof ability considerably. I just used ordinary biological liquid cleaner at first. But then I started using Nikwax Tech Wash and Nikwax TX Direct. This has made very little difference and it doesn’t take much of a downpour to soak through. I’m out with my dog in all weathers doing about 7 miles a day (I’m retired now). Any suggestions for a set that will work appreciated. BTW I have a Sprayway Gortex insulated jacket that is 36 years old and that was waterproof for years before it started to fail.

I am still considering the Kiwi trousers but only as showerproof and would carry extra waterproof leggings to wear over the top in heavy rain.

Best get a military poncho for when you get torrential rain, covers your bag too, also doubles up as a tarp, lightweight doesn't take up much room

Great honest vid Ben, which unfortunately is becoming difficult to come by these days on yt due to people being sent freebies and sponsorship by company's, I have some craghopper trousers and they come with a lifetime guarantee but not sure if this applies to all their gear, my worst waterproof buy which are now in a landfill somewhere were a pair of karrimor waterproofs, didn't even last 15 mins in a light shower, my best and go to water proofs and cheapest are my Aldi cycling waterproof trousers and my Aldi cycling waterproof jacket, both super light and packable and I've been out in everything the British weather has thrown at me and stayed dry, and the good thing about the jacket is it has a slightly longer back (for cyclists) so even if it rides up with your pack, it still covers your lower back, again great vid Ben 👍👍

I’m surprised about the trousers being midd range 😳 I’d be sending both back

I got the craghoppers kiwi waterproof trousers after an hour watching my son play football the only leak was the fly zip that is not waterproof just a flap over the top , then the crouch unraveled at the stitching so got them swapped out less than two months old . Second pair are hanging in survived the winter no leaks but they are very cold when wet on the thighs ,I need to try some long Jon's underneath . Not sure I would trust them on along trip in wet conditions alright to walk the dog for an hour or so .

Best to be aware of what your kit is capable of. I bought a pair of fjern waterproof trousers, jet washed the back, all good, dry as a bone. Used them on a hike and thought they'd completely failed until I noticed the big dry patch on my undertrousers, right next to the material where my phone was in my pocket. I can only conclude I was soaking from condensation as phone bit would have been wet too if it was coming from outside. Love your vids though.

I love your self deprecating sense of humour. Thats prob spelt wrongly but you get my gist. Very poor showing from craghoppers especially. Keep them coming. 👌

Uh oh! I have the same jacket along with the pants which I bought the other day.......I am going to the Lake District camping tomorrow 🤦‍♂️

I'd go to Decathlon they do excellent waterproofs at a cheaper price too. 👍

Great video as always Ben, shame about the kit. Still trying to find the best balance of lightweight, breathable and waterproof myself tbh. I use cheap as chips regatta over trousers which are pretty waterproof and light but not that breathable. Also decent goretex gaiters and a NOS RAF goretex jacket in winter which seems to work well for a good few hours while hiking in bad weather. Also have a fjallraven jacket which I love, but is best described as water resistant in the g1000 fabric - great for damp and cold, but only stays dry for about an hour in heavy rain before soaking through. The quest continues...

Good to hear reviews like this. Can you buy a rain cover for a rucksack that covers the entire rucksack? Seems to me a good waterproof coat would also make the inner surface of a rucksack wet too

i use paramo kit. the only thing i trust in british weather. not cheap but price doesn't always equal. the value i put on this lit is very high, had them for years.

I have just ordered some Graghoppers Kiwi trousers 🙈 I already have some Mountain Warehouse Ultra trousers and they seemed pretty good in the rain. I just wanted another pair of comfortable waterproof trousers. I have some Berghaus Paclite gortex trouser’s somewhere, but have misplaced them 😢

I remember when most of these products were made in in the UK and Germany, Austria a d Switzerland now all in China still at big prices, I've used Sprayaway and Wynster now all made in China North face, Berghaus Tec all made in China and hit and miss as to their performance. Mostly rubbish at premium prices, recently used Aldi's ski gear as good as any without the price tag also made in you know where.

Oh dear. You’d expect to get more than 20 minutes protection from anything claiming to be waterproof. I think those pack away waterproofs are probably aimed at someone taking the dog for a quick walk in the rain. Personally, I use a jacket with goretex pro waterproof membrane. It was expensive but it’s pretty much bombproof and I go out in conditions where I need all day weather protection. Having said that, I wouldn’t have spent anywhere near what I did if I was walking in less hostile environments when the weather turns. I’m sure your video will save a few folk from making the wrong buying decision 👍

Somewhat off topic, but can’t seem to find the answer on the internet. Is it ok to drink from a tarn using a sawyer mini water filter or does it still need to be a flowing stream? Thanks

Waterproofs can be hit and miss, my go to is a cheap as chips crivit lightweight and it has done the job so far. I guess waterproofing it when it gets older might be the answer

well done for showing good and bad stuff

Hi Ben Sorry about the waterproofs... £75! Just did a garden camp to test out old and new gear. Can I ask for help re: sleeping bags? Looking at one that says extreme -22, limit -5, comfort 1, upper 18. I don’t really understand how there can be such a gulf between limit and extreme. If the limit is -5, how is -22 even possible? I mean it’s telling me that I’d be warm down to 1 degree right but I’d survive down to -5? -22 is just a bit silly right? Many thanks Got a cooking stove question too but... one question at a time! Really enjoying the channel. Paul.

decathlon waterproof jackets are GREAT, (10000mm and above) they are sim sealed and they are not expensive, i bought mine for 50€, a 15000mm jacket would cost around 60-70€, a 20000mm 100€ and so on.

After many years spent messing about in the rain, I used to ride motorbikes and I'm a gardener who spends 99% of my time outdoors, I'm convinced the only truly waterproof thing in life is a duck's bum

Oh dear.....nothing worse than being soggy whilst out. I use the good old British army gortex gear. I find if you keep it clean it works very well but is bulky to carry. I wear it for metal detecting in in winter too and have been stuck in the middle of a field in absolutely torrential rain and its held up. I would love some lighter weight kit, but it all costs a premium unfortunately so I'll stick to looking like like I've just jumped out of a helicopter on an assault mission but keep bone dry in the process!! Keep safe, cheers.

I love my craghoppers non-waterproof kiwi and nosilife trousers. Very light and quick drying so I rarely wear waterproof trousers on top. My opinion is that no waterproof jacket for fell walking is completely waterproof. My trusty berghaus goretex jacket failed me last summer walking around Derwentwater. During my military days my issue gore text waterproof jacket failed a few times in Sennybridge. Even the more expensive jackets can't keep out Incessant heavy rain when one is moving about, has a rucksack etc. Water does have a way of finding a way through our layers!

5000mm hydrostatic head? Hardly surprising then that they weren't waterproof given that the minimum HH rating for something to be considered waterproof is 10,000, and most of the better waterproofs are at least 20,000.

It is pretty hard to claim that these Jackets waterproof. My experience is that craghoppers waterproof pants might be strong enough for a walk in a rain since naturally the legs will caught less rain (except bikers). But I agree their tech is pretty far away to be called water proof and highly unlikely fit the purpose for jackets.. Gtx pro/3l would be the go to tech/material for series hikers.

Relf compelled not to be first this time as have to admit even I was finding it weird ..🤣🤣🤣🤣

Im surprised the Craghoppers let you down(all their gear is guaranteed for life, if not abused so you should get a full refund on them)......on the other hand Gelert is cheap rubbish. The best waterproof bottoms iv'e ever had are the Berghaus deluge, very reliable and wont break the bank. Nice vid mate and in future stay dry lol......ATB.......Stu...👍

If so try the Craghoppers Stefan waterproof trousers they have a better waterproof rating and breathability than the kiwi pro

reminds of doing a 10 mile hike in Dartmoor and wearing a Peter storm packaway jkt and trousers. windy as well. I wanted to blend in with there hikers. had my army issue gortex trousers and jkt the car. my boots failed which is wear and tear . I sat under a Rock on belever tortoise get bourbon the rain and I said out loud. who are you trying to impress. there is no one here. your damp. yes my feet are wet which was avoidable but next time wear the army issue stuff because I am the one who suffers. so next time I went for a hike in January I wore my map windproof Jkt and had my army issue gortex in the bag. I had a local hikers walk past and one lady gave me a filthy look. then later a couple walked past me and the wife said are you in the army. I explained why I wear army issue due to cost of Berghause is too expensive then the husband said I gave crag hoppers Jkt. I said nicely good bye 2 scoffers. At that point I didn't care because I knew my comfort and safety with a budget comes first rather than being worries at being scoffed at. I always go through woodlands during walks and brambles wnd even branches are abrasive which I have ruined a £60 jacket with a HH of 11.000 through brambles making pin prices in a jacket. plus I can't justify a jacket for £150 gortex Jkt. so on the 27th may I am doing a 2 mile or 5 mile hike . I have packed my dpm Jkt . new salomon boots. gaiters. I know I will be dry. I may get someone who scoffs but they won't be wildcamping in the rain like me . I have packed a 3x3 tarp to sit under so I can sit under so I won't be tent bound. dry and these scoffers will be no wherel to be seen. lesson learnt. pleasing others with inappropriate clothing can be dangerous. One day I would like to upgrade to hard wearing gortex . but army issue gortex for.me is my cheapest and safest. thank for the video. reminds me why being dry on a hike is a must..

Where they the Craghoppers Kiwi Pro waterproof trousers

Get an NI patrol pack DPM

Will you be taking them back to the shop asking for a refund? I bought a Marmot Precip Eco jacket which hasn’t lived up to expectations, it’s so frustrating when paying out good money for a product that doesn’t work. 😒

Some products should be removed from sale. I invested in a Lhotse jacket but I do go out in some harsh weather and berghaus paclite trousers but before that used the Berghaus deluge waterproof trousers which never failed me and can pick up for under £50, I only changed trousers due to wanting lighter. Stay safe 👍

im sure the craghoppers kiwi trousers are supposed to be water repellent not actually waterproof , but should be quick drying.

These cheap jackets are no good. People who say that they used them and worked well are the very lucky ones. There are certain items you need to spend money on, good waterproofs and boots. For the money go for the Berghaus deluge over trousers and there are plenty of branded jackets at a good cost that will work, Patagonia, Berghaus, Montane, even some of the Decathlon ones.

...Your Gelert waterproof jacket kept you drier 10 minutes more than mine....

Sorry to hear about your 'sodden' misadventure!

This happens a lot. Whatever happened to quality gear? I had a Paramo jacket about 10 years ago everyone sang their praises so when I needed a new jacket I gave them a try. Bought a very expensive item. Turned out to be one of the most useless things I've bought in 40 years of using outdoor gear. Leaked like the proverbial sieve, stitching in the pockets and cuffs came apart within weeks and the zip gave up the ghost soon after. They may have improved since but I wouldn't pay the prices to find out.

My berghaus gortex jacket is garbage.

Why? Why do people persist in buying cheap OR Gucci waterproofs..... that you get wet in. Stop!! Stop getting robbed off. After 47 years of ground dwelling, ever since I was ten, I've always had the same mentality as I have now. If you can buy a good piece of kit, great. But you can buy a good piece of kit that serves two or thee other purposes, fantastic! I think the most prime example of this, is a good old British Army poncho (preferably 95/ 98 pattern). It will keep you bone dry. Keep your Bergen bone dry. Keep your kit off muddy ground. Keep you warmer wrapped around a sleeping bag. Tie a knot in the hood and it's a lean too shelter. Stick a walking pole each end... voi-la, it's a temporary shelter. Lower the walking poles and it's an emergency bivvy. Sew 4 handles on and it's an emergency stretcher. It's a picnic blanket. Tie a knot in the hood and it's a water collector. And on and on and on.... A good old British Army poncho is one of the most versitile, and important pieces of kit that there ever was when it comes to the outdoors. And best of all.... they are dirt cheap!! I bought a non military ripstop nylon one because the pack size was much smaller, and at £20 it's nowhere near as versitile or durable as the military one. Thee things should be in everyone's loadout as routine imho. They really are the best piece of outdoor kit ever created, and at a 50th of the cost of leaking weekend warrior Gucci gear. You will never ever regret buying one, and that's a promise!!

Nothings 100% waterproof,if you are going to go out in heavy rain be prepared to get wet..