In partnership with Kestrel Outdoor
Four things to check before you buy a waterproof shell
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1. The waterproof rating. Look for a hydrostatic head figure. Anything from 10,000 mm keeps rain out on a walk. A shell you will wear on a wet ridge in wind should read 20,000 mm or more, and the seams should be taped, not just stitched.
2. Breathability. The second number on the label, in grams. Sweat has to leave or you get wet from the inside. Around 20,000 g is a good working figure for anyone who climbs in the jacket rather than stands in it.
3. The hood. Put it up in the shop. Turn your head. If the hood stays put and the peak still shades your eyes, it will do the same in weather. A helmet-compatible hood is worth having even if you never wear a helmet, because it fits over a hat.
4. Vents. Pit zips let you dump heat on the climb without taking the shell off. Two long zips under the arms are the difference between a jacket you keep on and one you keep in the pack.
Kestrel Outdoor makes the Ridge Shell, a three-layer jacket rated to 20,000 mm, with pit zips and a helmet-compatible hood.