Knowledgebase Page - Choosing a Shell Jacket
Mar 17, 2026
If you want a jacket to keep you dry when running, this will be a very different jacket to one suitable for backpacking or trekking. Waterproofs designed for running will be very lightweight so that they won't slow you down. It needs to pack very small so you can carry it when you don't need it, and the best examples will be highly breathable. Also, consider a smock to save weight. A backpacking j
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Time-Saver Guide to Choosing a Waterproof Jacket
Posted by Mark Richardson on Oct 16, 2023
A Waterproof jacket that will cope with most conditions will have a Hydrostatic Head of 20,000mm and an MVTR (breathability) of 20,000g/m2. In both cases, higher is better.
2 and 2.5 layer jackets are less durable than 3 layer jackets but tend to be lighter in overall weight and more packable. 2 and 2.5 layer can sometimes feel a bit clammy next to the skin because of the lack of an in
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