The weather is taking a turn for the worse, and winter is fast approaching so what piece of hiking gear equipment should we have a look at? Well I thought it was time to write another little kit guide and what better than something that is useful all year round in the UK, the waterproof.

So what do we need to consider when looking at the waterproof, here area few things to think about when looking at your next purchase.

Fabrics: Depending on the conditions you expect to contend with then in general you need to look for a fabric that is both waterproof and breathable. Remember that the higher the breathability of the fabric then the less chance of condensation forming inside the jacket. A mesh lining on the inside on the jacket improves comfort as it helps to keep any condensation away from the body. However, this will add weight to the garment so may not be the best solution depending on the environment the jacket is being taken to be used. A lightweight jacket may alleviate this, but thinner jackets may compress in the wind so can feel quite cold in comparison to stiffer and thicker fabrics.

Ventilation: However good the fabric, there could well be certain occasions where you need increased ventilation. Therefore, additional underarm zips are ideal to increase the venting ability.

Pockets: Big pockets can be ideal to store everything from maps to gloves and are easily accessible rather than having to get access to your rucksack. However, you may have to make note of their position as when you are wearing your rucksack then straps and belts may obscure them. It is always useful to see if there is a specially designed pocket for your mobile phone or gps device.

Hoods: These should always fit snugly so that they don’t blow off in the wind, but there should allow you to move your head so that you can see ahead. The inclusion of a peak in the hood can allow for additional protection from the elements; personally I prefer to wear a baseball cap under the hood so that I get the best of both worlds, but this is because I have to wear glasses. Another feature to look for is the ability to roll down the hood and secure it, normally within the collar of the garment.

Zips: These do not tend to be waterproof so look for those garments that have a single or double stormflap to cover the zip. Lightweight jackets can often have this omitted as a feature so can possibly leak in extreme situations. An internal flap behind the zip is often incorporated as an alternative to the stormflap.

This is not meant to be exhaustive but I’m sure that it will get you thinking about this particular hiking gear equipment, so have a look at the latest jackets available on the website and see which suits you best.