New Berghaus Hydroshell waterproof jackets

Berghaus has extended its Hydroshell waterproof jackets collection for this winter. I have been testing the Hydroshell Tower jacket.

Introduced earlier this year, Hydroshell was developed by the MtnHaus innovation team at Berghaus. For this winter, Berghaus has added two fabrics to the Hydroshell family:

• Ultra breathable Hydroshell Air.
• 3L Hydroshell Elite Pro (the first three-layer waterproof fabric that Berghaus has developed in 15 years).

Hydroshell products appear in every Berghaus apparel category and complement a comprehensive range of clothing made of Gore-Tex fabrics.

Berghaus Baffin Island jackets

The jackets include a combination of Hydroshell Elite Pro and Hydroshell Air. The jackets boast a hydrostatic head of 20,000mm and breathability of 20,000g/m2/24hrs.

The addition of 3L Hydroshell Elite Pro offers a durable storm-level protection, which makes the jackets ideal for mountaineering and close-to-rock activities, including climbing.

Hydroshell Air combines a polyamide ripstop face fabric incorporating stretch, with a non-woven electro-fibre nano PU spun membrane. In layman’s terms, this means the fabric is highly breathable yet also super waterproof.

The men and women’s Baffin Island jackets have been engineered using advanced body-mapping principles. Hydroshell Air has been used in key heat zones, for enhanced levels of comfort, while Hydroshell Elite Pro features in the main body of the jackets.

The Baffin Island jackets also have helmet compatible hoods with wired peaks, side stretch panels for freedom of movement and raised mesh-lined hand-warmer pockets.

The Baffin Island jackets retail at £300.

Berghaus Tower jackets

Made out of 3L Hydroshell Elite Pro, the Tower jackets – in both men and women’s designs – are “fully featured four-season garments for extended use in a wide range of mountain activities”.

The main body area is reinforced in high friction areas with a heavier weight version of the fabric to provide increased durability against rocks, rucksacks and hardwear.

• The Tower jackets feature:
• Fixed, adjustable full mountain hoods with wired peak
• Four zipped pockets (two front, one chest and one interior)
• Core body venting with two-way zips
• Hook and loop cuff tab adjustment
• Dual hem adjustment with concealed cord lock.

Hydroshell Elite Pro also features an anti-odour backer so they can be used extensively and over long days in the outdoors.

The Tower jackets retail at £250.

See my Berghaus Tower waterproof jacket review.

Berghaus High Trails jacket

Made of Hydroshell Elite Pro fabric but with a longer length for four-season walking, the High Trails jacket features:

• Adjustable fixed hood with peak
• Five pockets – two zipped chest, two zipped hand-warmer, and one zipped internal
• Covered centre-front zip
• Body venting
• Sleeve articulation
• Bonded cuff tabs with hook and loop closure
• Drawcord hem adjustment
• Dropped hem.

The High Trails follows in the tradition of “classic” Berghaus all season walking jackets and is priced at £220.

The Berghaus autumn/winter 2015/16 range is available at Berghaus and selected specialist outdoor retailers.