Have been testing the new Berghaus Vorlich Gore-Tex waterproof jacket. It is part of a range of so-called versatile and flexible products for autumn/winter 2023. There are three new waterproof jackets available in men’s and women’s specific versions, the Vorlich, Truda Flex and Arnaby. They feature GORE-TEX, Pertex Shield and Hydroshell respectively, and offer features and fabrics for a variety of end uses and conditions.
Berghaus Vorlich waterproof jacket
- The Vorlich is a new all-season 3L GORE-TEX waterproof jacket with a suggested retail price of £300. It is described as a robust shell that is designed for use in the hills and mountains throughout the year.
- The waterproof and breathable fabric has a PFC-free durable water repellent (DWR) face and features include:
- Adjustable fixed hood
- Cuff and hem adjustment
- 2 lower zipped pockets
- Zipped chest pocket.
- UK10 women’s jacket weighs 442g
- Men’s medium jacket weighs 520g.
Berghaus Truda Flex
At a recommend price of £270, the Berghaus Truda Flex is said to be a versatile multi-activity jacket that is made of Pertex Shield with a PFC-free DWR. Waterproof and breathable, the fabric is also very stretchy, allowing for great freedom of movement and comfort.
The jacket has a dynamic cut and features include:
- Snug, fully adjustable fixed hood
- Water resistant pit zips
- Adjustable cuffs
- Adjustable dropped hem
- 2 zipped lower hand pockets
- Zipped chest pocket.
- Women’s size UK10 weighs 420g
- Men’s medium weighs 480g
Berghaus Arnaby jacket
The lightweight and packable shell for walkers is priced at £150. It is made of stretchy Berghaus Hydroshell fabric. The 2.5L waterproof and breathable material has a soft feel for added comfort.
Features include:
- Fixed hood with single point adjustment
- Water resistant centre front zip with internal storm flap
- 2 zipped lower hand pockets.
- Women’s Arnaby weighs 298g
- Men’s weighs 338g.
On test: Berghaus Vorlich Gore-Tex waterproof jacket
I have been testing the women’s size UK10 Berghaus Vorlich Gore-Tex waterproof jacket. First off, I like the deep turquoise colour of the jacket. Overall, the jacket fit is generous and I was able to wear several base layers underneath. The length is good, too.
The cuffs are velcro adjustable, while the hem elastic cord is adjusted by two toggles.
The Gore-Tex 3L fabric also feels tough and durable. It is great at keeping out the wind and rain, too. I’ve had some testing weather conditions recently and the jacket has proved to be a good workhorse. The fabric is a little noisy but not overly so. The fabric does feel quite stiff, especially around the collar area but this will soften with use and age I expect.
The hood is easy to adjust and gives good coverage. I like the stiffened peak although I would welcome it being a bit longer. There is a soft piece of fabric on the inside of the zip so the fabric feels softer against the chin.
The chest pocket is useful for keeping items such as a car key safe. I can also just about fit in my large iPhone. However the lower zipped pockets are in an annoying place. When I have my walking rucksack hip-belt secured, I can’t make use of the hand pockets. These need to be higher up the jacket and if this happens, Berghaus designers might want to eliminate the chest pocket.
It surprises me that Berghaus have designed a hiking jacket with pockets renders useless by a rucksack hipbelt.
The two-way front zip is excellent. I really like a two-way front zip.
This is not a cheap jacket but it feels like it will be robust and long-lasting. It is the sort of jacket I would wear for late autumn through to early spring in Scotland and will likely get a lot of use out of it.
It’s nice to see it has PFC-free DWR, to.
The full Berghaus autumn/winter 2023 collection is available at www.berghaus.com and from selected specialist outdoor retailers.