This British summer has reminded me that I need a new jacket.
I've had a Jack Wolfskin 3-in-1 jacket for years now and it has served me well, but it's a bit past it now. I was quite happy with the 3-in-1 setup as it served me in the winter and I could take the inner fleece out when it rained in the summer. I never used the fleece alone though.
A quick google shows that the range of 3-in-1 jackets is quite a lot smaller than 'regular' jackets though, so I was wondering off I'd be better of just buying a jacket and one or two separate underlayers instead? I live in the South of England, so it doesn't really get that cold, so I'd value waterproof-ness and flexibility over a thick parka.
I'm not sure of the terminology of the jacket I'm after. Websites seem to have a lot of categories: Softshell, hardshell, waterproof, windproof, insulated, ski, climbing, etc. What's the difference? Surely there's overlap across a lot of these categories?!
My budget is sub £300 for the jacket and any layers to go with it. Any suggestions on brands to look for/avoid, or decent shops I should look at? There's a Cotswold Outdoor and Blacks close by, and a Snow + Rock, Millets and Trespass not too far away.
I've had a Jack Wolfskin 3-in-1 jacket for years now and it has served me well, but it's a bit past it now. I was quite happy with the 3-in-1 setup as it served me in the winter and I could take the inner fleece out when it rained in the summer. I never used the fleece alone though.
A quick google shows that the range of 3-in-1 jackets is quite a lot smaller than 'regular' jackets though, so I was wondering off I'd be better of just buying a jacket and one or two separate underlayers instead? I live in the South of England, so it doesn't really get that cold, so I'd value waterproof-ness and flexibility over a thick parka.
I'm not sure of the terminology of the jacket I'm after. Websites seem to have a lot of categories: Softshell, hardshell, waterproof, windproof, insulated, ski, climbing, etc. What's the difference? Surely there's overlap across a lot of these categories?!
My budget is sub £300 for the jacket and any layers to go with it. Any suggestions on brands to look for/avoid, or decent shops I should look at? There's a Cotswold Outdoor and Blacks close by, and a Snow + Rock, Millets and Trespass not too far away.