Why We Chose It: Lightweight, packable and breathable
When it comes to lightweight waterproof jackets, the Berghaus Hyper range is hard to beat. We’ve always been impressed with this lightweight number since its inception a few years ago. Now, for 2021, Berghaus has released a brand new version in a women’s-specific fit, incorporating their high spec Hydroshell elite 3-layer fabric that was developed by their team of in-house experts.
Who Is The Berghaus Hyper 140 Waterproof Jacket For?
Thanks to the low weight, high breathability and packability of this jacket, we can see the Hyper 140 being suitable for a wide range of activities. First of all, it’s best use is as a standalone running jacket, where the 164g will barely hold you back. When it comes to stuffing it into your trail running vest, it’ll be easy to forget it’s there.
We wouldn’t recommend this as your only 365-days-a-year standalone waterproof jacket as you’re going to want something a bit burlier for those really rough winter day hikes. That being said, we’d be happy to turn to it for all but the very, very wettest and windiest of three-season hiking conditions. We could see this making an ideal jacket to stuff at the bottom of your hiking pack, for days when you don’t think you’re going to need a dedicated waterproof jacket but reckon you should have one just in case.
Materials
Featuring Berghaus’ impressively lightweight three-layer Hydroshell Elite fabric, the jacket comes in at a weight of 164g and packs down to about the size of an apple. It’s impressive stuff. OK you see this a lot with 2.5L jackets but you don’t see many 3L ones with that packability.
While the 10,000mm waterproof rating of Hydroshell is decent enough but not particularly staggering, it more than makes up for that in the breathability department with a stated hydrostatic head of 50,000g/m2. That’s pretty phenomenal – up there with many of the premium membrane technologies.
“When it comes to lightweight waterproof jackets, the Berghaus Hyper range is hard to beat.”
The super thin 6-denier face fabric has been treated with a PFC-free durable water repellent (DWR) coating. This upholds the waterproofing of your jacket, without the use of any nasty chemicals that are frequently found within other DWR treatments.
