Jack Pyke Featherlite Jacket & Trousers

Anyone who regularly gets out and about in the great outdoors will know how changeable and unpredictable the weather can be at any time of the year. That’s why outdoor clothing needs to be waterproof or at the least have a high level of water resistance. However, there are times you need a dedicated set of waterproofs. These usually come in the form of a hooded jacket and trousers (pull-up and over design). These can be worn over suitable seasonal outdoor attire when required and/or kept in a rucksack until they are needed.

I’ve used many types of waterproofs, from ponchos to separate jackets and trousers, but none are as versatile and lightweight as the Jack Pyke Technical Featherlite Jacket and Trousers. Both are manufactured using a Taslon Nylon outer with a mesh lining, which offers the key attributes of being lightweight, hard-wearing, breathable, easy to store and 100% waterproof.

Up top

The Featherlite Jacket has a double zip front fastening with a very generously sized, hook and loop fastened storm flap. It features a detachable hood (zipped) with a generous peak, plus the top adjuster and elasticated draw cord allow it to be pulled snugly around the head. The generous size of the hood and the amount of adjustment available means that it can cover a relatively large proportion of the face, should this level of protection be required. With the hood removed, the standup collar is reasonably high, so thoroughly protects the neck area from the elements.

There are underarm zipfastened vents that help to regulate body temperature.

The jacket shows an elasticated waist cord, plus the cuffs are both elasticated. The generously sized, hook and loop cuff adjusters ensure a very secure fit at the wrist to help minimise water ingress.

Storage is catered for by 2x lower front pockets and a chest pouch. All of them feature weatherproof zips.

Bottoms up

The matching trousers have an elasticated waistband with a drawcord lock and 2x weatherproof, upper-side zip pockets. The trousers feature knee-length zips to help the wearer to put them on over large boots, plus hook and loop ankle strap adjusters and tough Cordura ankle and shin impact areas.

All the zips featured on both garments have generous cloth pull-assists and are self-sealing to ensure they’re fully weatherproof.

Conclusions

The Jack Pyke Technical Featherlight Jacket and Trousers are very well priced and are an ideal pairing. Plus, they will cope with everything the weather can throw at them. The design of both garments ensures they’re very comfortable and unobtrusive to wear, are extremely light, breathable, fully waterproof and will last many seasons of hard use. A major plus is the ability to pack the garments down very compactly, so as to make them extremely easy to carry and store for the times the heavens really do, ‘open up.’