Lowe Alpine Foraker Jacket

Hmm... It all depends on when I'm wearing it. Sometimes I find it's one of the best jackets I've ever worn, sometimes I can't believe I took it out with me.

The sizing and cut of the jacket is brilliant. It's comfortable to wear, doesn't cover my mouth, stays put while reaching up with ice tools has a hood big enough to fit a petzl ecrin roc helmet under.

Problem is the lining. The reason is because it does exactly what it's meant to do: it absorbs moisture. This is great whenever it's dryish outside; any sweat absorbed quickly evaporates and passes out of the jacket. Whenever it gets really wet outside, the lining continues to absorb any sweat and any drips that run down my sleeves, but has nowhere to send it all. The jacket then feels wet and clammy, even though no water has leaked in and remains like that until I take it off and dry it out completely, rain or no rain.

I know people will say "Reproof the DWR" or words to that effect. No joy to date...

If they made a three layer version of this jacket I would be the first to jump on it. Till then I'm open to suggestion.

A brilliant jacket -- the hood is wonderful -- really keeps the rain at bay. It is functional, and also looks really good. It's got all the features you'd ever need.

Only got two gripes. Firstly, when working hard, it does get wet inside. I've never tried Gore-Tex, so I don't know how this compares. Secondly, the inside map pocket isn't quite big enough to take a British Ordnance Survey map.