Waterproof jackets don’t need to break the bank. Gear editor Chris Townsend assess the best budget waterproofs. On test Berghaus Stormcloud waterproof jacket
This short lightweight jacket is made from a slightly crinkly but quite soft fabric with a matt finish. Unusually the inside is a different colour to the outer. There’s a good hood that is easy to adjust and which gives good protection, though it only has a lightly stiffened peak, and doesn’t restrict your vision. The pockets are quite roomy but as with so many of these jackets they’re cut off by a hipbelt. The pockets are made of waterproof fabric so no rain should get inside the jacket through them even though the zips have no flaps and aren’t water-resistant. The main zip isn’t water-resistant either, just reversed, which gives a bit more protection against rain than a non-reversed one. There is a flap on the inside to stop any rain that gets through the zip but I’d still be wary of leakage here. I haven’t had a problem but with more wear rain might start to get through. The Berghaus Stormcloud has wide cuffs, which is great for venting the arms. Otherwise the only ventilation comes via the main zip.
The very light weight of the Stormcloud makes it a good jacket for backpacking, especially in warmer weather (it’s not really suitable for full-on winter conditions).
Reviewed in May 2015 Issue
