Plus size waterproof jacket that doesn't make you sweat?

[JiraffDeSaki]

I hate dog walking when it's rainy but muggy - I do 2 - 4 miles a day but I'm pretty fat, so in summer my core temp gets very high and then the sweat pours off me. 😳

All fine and good in a breathable top, but wearing a jacket in summer is hell - I wore one this morning and there wasn't much rain, but on the inside I was drenched - sweat soaked the wrists of the jacket and my t-shirt was wet like it had come out of the washing machine! Eww!

Another jacket consigned to charity for someone less sweaty. Has anybody found a decent breathable walking jacket that isn't too clammy and hot, but keeps the rain off? I have a couple of Regatta jackets that are good but they are too heavy for summer - I'd like something thin like a type of cagoul, but don't they make you sweat too?

I've tried the cheap ones from Mountain Warehouse but they were awful. I'm also a bit limited by being a size 20-22. I don't mind a men's jacket?

My raab one which I got in a Black Friday sale is a game changer for this. It has zips at the armpits so that air can get in

Perhaps a coat with that sort of thing? But I know what you mean I hate the greenhouse effect that waterproofs have

Well now I'm confused by all the options. 🤔

There are several decent ponchos at a good price but they vary in terms of waterproofness/breathability and just how wet your wrists might get - did find one with a full zip and thumb loops but suspect the fabric isn't that great...

I liked the M&S suggestions, it's just that the running jacket looks like it has a crap hood and although I liked their take on a long pakaway mac...it looks reeeaallly long so I'm not sure (not at £59 anyway).

The Didriksen (sp?) coats look good, but that coated polyester...are you SURE it's not like a sauna in there @LizzieBennett73

You could become a "Dryrobe Wanker"

🤣🤣🤣 Naaaaah!

<googles>

Half the time it’s the arms that get sweaty and sticky because they don’t line the arms for some reason.

I agree with a previous poster - soft shell jackets are good. They are warmer than a cagoule but breathe more and I find them much nicer to wear. Mine seems to be pretty waterproof too. I don’t sweat in them and I’m pretty big, run hot generally and I’m menopausal!

Following I was melting on my walk earlier

I have the peoples poncho and I used to sweat in a jacket like a wildebeest on heat with very little movement when I'm out cos I'm disabled and super slow 😂
The poncho is brill for me and reach for it first as it's also easier for me to put on and get off

https://www.thepeoples.co/?gadsource=1&gbraid=0AAAAAqVJPhzMGil8ZDBmpXehab55unDgA&gclid=CjwKCAjwy8i0BhAkEiwAdFaeGHj2Nmu3NDmLLbMJJsgGkUU-8TDhbiKbyhMUHEh2GPcpeIWkHxsbhoCmVYQAvDDBwE

I have a few Joules Right as Rain. They are proofed cotton with a cotton lining. They are waterproof but thin, no padding, you can wear them in warm weather and stay cool and in Winter with a jumper and stay warm. I chuck them in the washer and every so often (once a year) re-proof them with Niqwax wash-in.

https://www.joules.com/style/su107357/640054
I bought this one a few weeks ago and it’s great! I manage to keep cool and dry when wearing it. I was like you in that I couldn’t tolerate wearing a non breathable fabric.

Can you sew? The fabric for incontinence products is explicitly designed to wick moisture towards a waterproof barrier. It's expensive. https://www.cuddleplushfabrics.co.uk/l/fabric/zorb/zorb-4d-core-pul/

A clever dressmaker could make a garment with either the 4D Zorb I've linked or the wicking material plus the PUL, with as many ventilation slots as you require. It would be quite hot to wear, I think, but should keep you dry.

Their sample swatches are £1.

I've got a mesh-lined Regatta jacket, similar to PP's, and find it very comfortable.

Rather than trying to stop the sweat what about a sweat absorbing top?

https://www.sweatshieldundershirt.co.uk/pages/our-sweat-proof-technology

https://thompsontee.com/blog/sweat-blocking-materials-explained-choose-the-best-option-for-your-underarm-sweating/#:~:text=We%20highly%20recommend%20wearing%20a,fabrics%20like%20cotton%20or%20linen.

Once the outer fabric gets saturated the breathability is minimal. Also, over time the pores in the fabric get clogged.

Mountain warehouse have different ranges at different price points. Their technical jackets are good, mine has the highest waterproof rating and doesn't make me sweat. Men's is probably the way to go as the women's jackets in this range top out at size 18. It won't be cheap though. All the brands make them too but also sell cheaper jackets so buyer beware, just because it's x brand doesn't mean it's good

I would add my good jacket has small holes under the arm which really helps

I can sew a bit @Garlickest but not to that degree! Lovely idea though...I wish!

Ah @focacciamuffin that makes sense. I once famously sweated inside a £280 Paramo jacket (in my slimmer days), DH effectively washed his hands of me. 😂

Ooh @sashh now you're talking - I've just been out in the warm drizzle and I dug out my slightly better (if a little bit small) Sprayway jacket - it did better than the cheap tat I was wearing yesterday but I still had sweaty sticky arms, because they don't seem to line the arms with mesh as someone mentioned upthread. I was thinking what if I just wore a super thin wicking top underneath instead of a cotton t-shirt - so thanks I'll go look!

I really rate North Face technical lightweight jackets. Mine is a man's one as I have long arms and like a more roomy fit, however it is a pale blue colour and doesn't scream "menswear".
My last one was a Rohan and the North Face one is much better.

I recently bought a raincoat in the Seasalt sale and it is the best truly waterproof and breathable coat I’ve had. https://www.seasaltcornwall.com/coverack-long-waterproof-coat?color=19270

You mentioned that you had tried a cheaper on from Mountain warehouse. Sadly the cheaper range from any brand will be less breathable. I have a bracken one and find it not sweaty at all. I’ve also got unsweaty ones from mountain warehouse curve, or Seasalt.

Yeah I hastily grabbed a modestly priced one in a hurry when away in the Highlands, but when I actually went out in hammering rain in it, water just poured in! Should've chosen more carefully. It was dubbed a "joke coat".

After much research I cooled off on the poncho idea because of the yards of extra fabric flapping around. 😕 But I might come back to it...

I did find a clearance item though - an Adidas Gore-tex jacket which had high levels of water resistance and breathability. Reduced from £80 to £17 so not the end of the world if it's a mistake...and given the weird sizing and inconsistent online explanations of the size, it will either be a good roomy fit or it'll be like a marquee.

https://alpkit.com/collections/womens-waterproof-jackets

alpkit are brilliant, not stupid money. Designed specifically for the wearer so their women’s coats actually fit a normal sized women. I wear a size 18 coat and tried all the main walking brands coats and looked like a bloody sausage but these are good.

I’ve worn it for several months now and no clammy insides and very waterproof outsides.

They also do repairs.

they have a store in Bristol that is worth a look. But don’t tend to be in the big outlets.

I haven't been able to reply to everything but thank you all so much for the great ideas.

Reading my responses back I look like I'm being really cheap - it's not that I'm not willing to spend more money, it's just that so many different things have not worked that I'm reluctant to throw too much at it.

One of the best jackets I ever had was a very average men's one, think I picked it up on sale in Go Outdoors and it was big and airy and I never sweated or got wet in it. But I lost a load of weight and reluctantly let it go when it swamped me. Now I've put it all back on and more I wish I'd kept it 🥺

I second this. I have one from Nike's plus size range which is fine with a decent wicking running top underneath.

Otherwise - and I say this because I'm very sore about it - it's virtually impossible trying to find decent outdoors stuff when you're a size 22 with big boobs (me!). My khaghouls and snow jackets are all from the men's ranges.

Every Body Outdoors has some waterproof jacket reviews, and a really helpful Facebook Group for plus sized outdoorists.

Vampire Outdoors specialising in sourcing plus size outdoor gear.

Breathable and waterproof is possible, but it comes at a price.

Alpkit are excellent. They only sell through their own shops and online, although they do now have about 10 shops. I find their stuff a touch short for me (5'8", long body) but excellent for the price.