Waterproof jacket

[6ixThirty]

Not entirely sure that this is style or beauty, but posting here anyway, as S&B gets lots of traffic.
DD 14 is soon to go on her first DofE expedition, and we need to get her a proper waterproof jacket. Looking online, there are not many which are suitable, in her size, and reasonably priced.
I am looking at the Craghoppers Atlas jacket, but they only have sizes 8 or 12, when ideally we would be getting the 10.
Does anyone have any experience of these? Do they come up big or small?
All advice greatly appreciated.

i think Craghopper a are pretty accurate for size .

@redtrain123 thanks for that.

I think we need another option. Can anyone recommend a similar type jacket suitable for a DofE expedition?

Here is a link to the Craghopper one
www.craghoppers.com/womens-waterproof-atlas-jacket-blue-navy-1/

These have. 10 in stock OP.

www.outdooraction.co.uk/craghoppers-womens-atlas-waterproof-jacket-p13231?srsltid=AfmBOoqVT2OPGubY9U3WtInWhIaVa3-BMobSYMxg1e2DsYvJ4rKHaoI7

Decathlon and Mountain Warehouse would be my go to for this kind of thing. DD has a waterproof jacket from MW for a school trip, did the job!

@MrsWidgerysLodger thank you 😊

Obviously make sure it's big enough to layer a fleece (or two) underneath. And it's best for arm length to be rather long rather than short for rainwear.

I think it's well worth going into an outdoors shop to try on jackets - and definitely should for boots. Go Outdoors and Cotswold usually have a range of brands.

At Mountain Warehoyse, if you show DoE card , you get discount .

Alpkit and Decathlon are good for the price. Size up in Decathlon.

I wouldn't get the craghoppers personally as it is only waterproof to 8000mm which isn't much more than a light shower. You want something that is proof to 10-15000mm which will cope with most rain. Though for something that will really be waterproof through a full day of hideous rain then you need 20000mm.

Sport pursuit which is a flash sales website can be good for getting decent kit heavily discounted. Or look on go outdoors.

@OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea thank you, this is very useful information 👍

Though the Craghopper one I linked to above is the one on the DofE own kit list!

I do have another question, seeing as I have the attention of some knowledgeable people.
The DofE list recommends trousers and tights underneath. Is
Is this right, or should I go for thermal lined trousers?

Depends where she's going and what the temperature is going to be, but thermal lined trousers might well be too warm for a lot of walking. The advantage of layers is you can adjust as needed without packing lots extra

@BlackStarryNight that makes a lot of sense.

Decathlon is good value & where i would be heading tbh for waterproofs

Lined trousers will be too warm - waterproofs are very good at cutting wind which is what makes you cold more than wet. You also don't want to sweat too much as that will make you cold once you stop moving.

https://www.outdooraction.co.uk/craghoppers-womens-caldbeck-waterproof-jacket-p9604

I think this jacket looks better?

The DofE kit list isn't the best, to be honest, it's looking at okay quality for middle budget.
Jack wolfskin do a very good waterproof jacket with a hydrostatic head of 20k. It's also breathable.
Any gortex jacket will fit the bill too, but unless it's a generic waterproof coat, you'll be paying quite a bit more for the branding.
Backpack wise go for a 2nd hand osprey or Berghaus, ideally the one designed for women, as they are fully adjustable to make sure the weight goes through the hips, not on shoulders or lower back. DofE recommend vango, but they are nothing like as comfortable as the osprey or Berghaus.

Backpack wise go for a 2nd hand osprey or Berghaus, ideally the one designed for women, as they are fully adjustable to make sure the weight goes through the hips, not on shoulders or lower back.

A teenage girl will very likely really need the women's fit and should try it out in a shop where they can help with adjusting it correctly. My DD was probably under 5 foot when she did bronze, I've forgotten what brand we got but none of the recommended ones fit her well. It saw her through all her DofE and then useful for student train travel and beyond - turned out to be a good investment.

@veritasverity OK quality for middle budget is exactly where I am at! I just looked at the Jack Wolfskin website, and one jacket is substantially more than I am looking to pay for the whole kit list!
I am buying practically the whole lot from scratch, and it won't be used more than a handful of times!
And we need it all for next weekend!

Are you on Facebook?

There's at least one outdoor kit buy and sell group where if you post what you're looking for people will fall over themselves to help

Probably with the DofE kit they bought for their teen last year!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/usedgearexchangeuk/?ref=share

Just had a look at 2nd hand Osprey rucksacks, and the prices are very similar to new.

Has anyone come across the Forclaz MT100 EASYFIT?
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/women-s-trekking-backpack-60-l-mt100-easyfit//R-p-309808?mc=8678452&c=blue&utm_term=8678452-4449130&gclsrc=aw.ds&&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=gb_t-intbra_ct-shopp_n-pb-terms_ts-pro_f-cv_o-roas_spd-msp_spu-msp_sp-msp_pt-pb_pnl-com_l-en_pp-gads_bm-roa_pr-cpc&utm_term=_n-pb-terms_ts-pro_spd-msp_spu-msp_sp-msp_pt-pb_l-en_HighPerf&keyword=&network=g&placement=&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxsm3BhDrARIsAMtVz6N7-jiCoelBHDpdexb8WuuEPvF4ks-FEZPXSW2jHdQf-IF6xOXi6pQaAo_wEALw_wcB

@TiramisuThief thank you, I will give that a 😀

I've not tried it but Decathlon is very good value for money.

Your best bet is to go a shop - the staff will help. You need to put some heavy stuff into it to mimick a full load and see if it can be adjusted so it feels OK.

They also often have 'last chance' sale stock which isn't on the website.

The DofE kit list can be a bit rubbish. I would say what you spend depends on whether she's pretty much stopped growing and whether she's is generally outdoorsy and likely to do more of that sort of thing.

I got osprey youth series for mine but got them when the oldest was about 10 and they have gone through the kids and been on scout camps, scout expeditions and did silver DofE. Then when they've basically stopped going upwards I've got them a very nice and well fitted rucksack which will last them for the next 20 years or so. Or more. I still use my rucksack I got when I was 16.

Ditto waterproofs really. When full adult size they can have some good gortex!

Boots a decent pair of leather ones can be got very reasonably and will last well, you don't need hugely expensive ones.

Sleep mat I personally think the Vango ones are shit. Berghaus do a good SIM and the short length one is comfortable, small and light and not expensive.

Sleeping bags too can be worth investing in. Again I use my old ones still. My oldest took my 2 season that I used for Gold DofE on an international scout camp recently and my 4 season is still my most favourite, comfy bag in the world and is about 30 years old. I got snugpacks for general scout camp use for my lot. They do a decent expedition range.

And get dry bags. Lots of them. Big one to pack sleeping bag in and smaller ones for clothes. Then if they need a warm layer and it is pissing it down they can get it without the contents of their bag getting wet. Of you only line the bag then everything gets wet when you open it.

Decathlon is good value for money though I agree.

I would size up so you can layer a fleece. Do check the hydro rating to ensure it's actually waterproof, bizarrely most raincoats aren't! 5000 is the minimum I buy