A new collection of Berghaus apparel includes four-season Ridge-Seeker GTX waterproof jacket and trousers, plus weather-resistant Ridge-Roamer softshell jacket and trousers. All of the products are available in male and female-specific versions. I have been testing the Ridge-Seeker GTX waterproof jacket and trousers.
Berghaus Ridge-Seeker GTX waterproof jacket
Features include:
3L GORE-TEX ePE fabric
Fully taped seams
Reinforcements in key wear areas
Fixed, wired hood with two-point adjustment
Zipped internal and external chest pockets
2 x zipped hand pockets (compatible with pack or harness)
Pit zips
Velcro adjustment at the cuffs
Cordlock adjustment at the hem
Two-way centre front zip
Sizes: F: UK 8 to 20; M: XS to 2XL
Colours: F: Dark blue or red; M: blue or brown
Weight: F: 500g (size 12); M 556g (large).
Price: £350
See Berghaus and also the Amazon Berghaus store
My thoughts: Berghaus Ridge-Seeker GTX waterproof jacket
Berghaus states that the Ridge-Seeker jacket offers a balance of maximum durability with low weight. I think this is a fair summary. It’s a jacket that is winter ready with a durable fabric. The 3L GORE-TEX ePE fabric does an excellent job of keeping out the elements.
I’ve used it in heavy rain, snow, wind and rain and when it’s simply very windy. It’s very good at protection from the cold and wet.
Yet, it doesn’t feel really heavyweight. Certainly, the jacket is heavier than my summer waterproof jacket but it is not overly heavy compared to other four-season jackets that I’ve tested.
When testing the jacket, I was working fairly had at going uphill and I did not end up too sweaty. This means the fabric offers good breathability. However, the days were cold and I am not a hugely sweaty person so this is my personal experience.
The fabric feels quite stiff but that will be the same for many fabrics designed to withstand winter weather. I like the dual use of fabric, which means there is extra reinforcement in areas where wear is more likely, including arms, shoulders and lower torso, plus a lighter fabric under the arms and at the back. These latter areas are where people are more prone to sweat, too.
There fit is quite roomy. I have the UK10 and I have plenty of room for layers underneath, including a winter warm insulated jacket.
Strangely, the sizing feels very different in the trousers (see below).
My jacket is more of a maroon colour yet I notice on the Berghaus website there is a colour choice of dark blue or red. I much prefer the maroon colour!
The arm and torso length are great with plenty of coverage, which you do need in winter when the wind can whip around you.
There are plenty of nice details, with a good range of zipped pockets, a hood that can fit over a helmet or be adjusted to give a closer fit around the head without a helmet, velcro adjustment at the cuffs, a two-way front zip and the softer fabric where the inside of the jacket touches the chin when fully done up.
I did find the hood a bit over-sized and I needed to draw it in using the full extension of the elastic adjustments. It took a bit of time to get it right and I felt there was a bit too much fabric around my head. But I guess it is a tricky balance of sizing to have a jacket hood that fits over a helmet and over just the head. It’s a small criticism because it does work fine once you have it sorted.
Overall, I felt very protected in the jacket and it’s one I will now choose for all winter mountain outings. It’s not a cheap jacket but the fabric seems likely to be long-lasting and it’s a product I would expect to give me many winter seasons.
Berghaus Ridge-Seeker GTX Pant
Features include:
3L GORE-TEX ePE fabric
Fully taped seams
Reinforced “stress wear” areas
Patch panels at the inner calves
Three-quarter leg zippers with two sliders for ventilation.
Leg cuffs adjustable at two points
Sizes: UK8 to 20 and in different hem lengths; men’s 28” to 42” waist
Colours: F: Blue M: Black
Weight: F: 366g (size 12); M 389g (large).
Price: £280
See Berghaus and also the Amazon Berghaus store
My thoughts: Berghaus Ridge-Seeker GTX Pant
The over-trousers are made with the same 3L GORE-TEX ePE fabric and designed to fit with the jacket. The sizing of the women’s pants seems small. I ended up with a UK12 and even then, the waist felt tight. I am usually a standard UK10. I think the sizing felt tight because the waist is high. And you possibly need a more hour-glass figure (wider hips and narrower waist), while I am more of a straight-up-and-down shape.
These are the sort of over-tourers you might choose for more extreme winter weather and for activities such as full-on mountaineering, climbing or ski touring. For winter hiking in Scotland, I tend to wear a lighter-weight over-trouser, such as the Berghaus Paclite Pant, because I find the thicker fabric too stiff and restrictive. I like to be able to stride out on the flats and uphill without feeling the fabric is too tight on my hips and legs.
However, the Ridge-Seeker pants are great for my other favourite winter activity of ski touring.
There are plenty of decent features with the Ridge-Seekers including reinforced areas where you are likely to get more wear, like the knees, inner calves and seat.
The two-way side zips are useful because they allow you to pull on the pants over boots and also give ventilation when you warm up. I find this is really important when ski touring because the uphills make me hot and sweaty, while the downhills can be chilly.
Again, these are not cheap over-tourers but they have the same durable looking fibre and design as the jacket so they should prove long-lasting.
Berghaus Ridge-Roamer jacket and pant
There are two other products in the collection, for both women and men. Berghaus Ridge-Roamer Softshell Jacket (£270) and Berghaus Ridge-Roamer Softshell Pant (£200), made with 3L Softshell fabric.
Berghaus states: The highly weather resistant and breathable 3L softshell fabric has fully taped seams. It’s very breathable and has four-way stretch, ready to help users take on the cold and wet in comfort and with freedom of movement.
A PFC-free durable water repellent (DWR) coating delivers enhanced protection from the elements.
I haven’t tested these products but they will offer a lightweight option with a good degree of weatherproofing but not to the same extent as the Ridge-Seeker GTX jacket and over-trousers.