Waterproof Jacket recommendations?

[parkertrees]

As title suggests, i got very wet very quickly last week! my old jacket is now leaking like siv... (arbortec smock)

 

what's everyone using in 2025? want something actually waterproof, not soft shell that is resistant for 10 minutes. if I'm climbing ill take the thing off regardless, so its more for ground work/ being out in the woods finding trees in a downpour!

 

TIA

[jameshs22]

I've tried most jackets and haven't found one that keeps me dry all day in really bad weather.. I've settled with 2-3 midrange coats and spare tshirts and swap through out the day.

I think if you spend £200-£300 on an expensive mountaineering jacket it will keep you dry all day but id probably but a hole in it pretty quick 

[Mark Bolam]

Swazi.

End of.

[Rich Rule]

Is yours still doing what it says on the tin?  
 

@Mark Bolam

[Gabriel82]

2 hours ago, parkertrees said:

As title suggests, i got very wet very quickly last week! my old jacket is now leaking like siv... (arbortec smock)

 

what's everyone using in 2025? want something actually waterproof, not soft shell that is resistant for 10 minutes. if I'm climbing ill take the thing off regardless, so its more for ground work/ being out in the woods finding trees in a downpour!

 

TIA

I've tried many synthetic jackets ,but many are just for advertise ,a lot of horse sht , even in motorcycling equipment...

 

The longer you stay in rain the more chances are water will get in through somewhere...

 

What I found it works is thick leather AND a good grease(animal preferably as ducks use 😁. ) or even synthetic.

 

Grab a thick (at least 2-3 mm) leather dry jacket ,a cotton rag big as your palm a bucket of grease(I use grasso foca-Reflex) and start "massaging" the grease in that leather. Insist on stiches, that's where water gets in from my experience. 

 

Of course ,eventually you might get wet in a leather jacket too but it will take some time.

 

At the end of a normal 12 hour work day in rain you won't be wet. 

But the jacket will be.

 

You must dry it the time you sleep(if you sleep at least 4-5 hours). 

Not direct heat, just dry hot air room.

 

Other issue is the jacket will protect you but the pants AND boots will also get wet... 

 

In extreme situations just a plastic rubberized "suit" might keep you completely dry. 

 

Not that I'm a "rubber sicko"/Latex fan but that's what will really keep water out from your clothes be it light rain or pouring rain ALL day/12 hours or more.

 

Latex by itself is not as tear resistant as rubber. Keep that in mind.

 

But a thick rubber clothing over the leather jacket will keep water out and the leather jacket will keep you warm. 

 

Also the rubber coat must be long enough to cover your legs until boots. 

 

Or all water will drip ON your pant and INTO your boots...

 

Don't ask me how I found that out...

🙄

 

Cheers.

 

Edited 2 hours ago by Gabriel82

[Gabriel82]

2 hours ago, parkertrees said:

As title suggests, i got very wet very quickly last week! my old jacket is now leaking like siv... (arbortec smock)

 

what's everyone using in 2025? want something actually waterproof, not soft shell that is resistant for 10 minutes. if I'm climbing ill take the thing off regardless, so its more for ground work/ being out in the woods finding trees in a downpour!

 

TIA

Rubber or PVC full suit. 

 

Leather jacket under that if it's also cold. 

 

But your boots+socks will get wet ,unless covered in rubber too. 

 

I can't see other materials tough and durable enough to resist pouring rain all day. 

 

[Mark Bolam]

Well there you go then Parker.

 

Remember to put some pics up.

[Gabriel82]

I forgot to mention: 

for me ALL grease is "grease"... 

 

Since I'm "one of a kind" don't actually use lubricating grease on your leather jacket... 🙄

 

Grasso Foca from Reflex looks like this, and its synthetic(no animals got melted down into the metal box 😁 ). 

 

But first "production" boxes DID contain animal fat(best so far for water sealing leather clothes). 

You could also use rubber jacket OVER leather jacket and rubber pants over normal pants. But boots must also be covered in rubber or they will get wet(socks included...). 

 

And if you're climbing 20-30 meters in a tree in rain the rubber jacket must tight around your wrists or water will go straight into your dry clothes... 

 

Head covered in same rubber material, or else water will slowly go down your back and... you're wet in no time around your lungs... 

Pneumonia is around the corner not long(second day...). 

Same for the neck/chest area.  

 

Good  luck! 🥳

[Gabriel82]

39 minutes ago, Mark Bolam said:

Well there you go then Parker.

 

Remember to put some pics up.

Hey, jokes aside ,lattex/rubbery gloves are good for grip. 😁

 

A "kind of" good thing when in slippery wet conditions at 20-30 meters in a tree . 

I don't trust leather for grip. 

 

🙄