Waterproof Jackets

Berghaus Paclite Peak Jacket | Review

A super reliable, classic-looking, waterproof jacket from one of the most reliable brands around

Why We Chose The Berghaus Paclite Peak: Lightweight, functional and extremely waterproof

It wouldn’t feel right to talk about a Berghaus product in this year’s Outdoor 100 without first paying tribute to legendary co-founder Gordon Davison. Davison helped to grow the brand into what it is today, and sadly passed away earlier this year at the age of 85. The excellent Berghaus Paclite Peak waterproof sums up a lot of what the man who started the brand was all about and is, we think, a more than worthy inclusion in our annual round-up of the best outdoor gear.

Who Is The Berghaus Paclite Peak For?

This jacket is perfect for hikers and walkers who live for getting into the hills even when it’s raining cats, dogs, hamsters, goldfish and the rest. A highly packable number, the Paclite Peak will keep every drop of rain out when the heavens open and scrunch up easily into your backpack when the sun comes out again. If you’re planning a big multi-day hike and, logically, want to pack light, this product does precisely what it says on the tin. Pack light = Paclite.

Materials

Like any waterproof, the Berghaus Paclite Peak is only really as good as the waterproof fabric used. A waterproof jacket can look as stylish as you want but if it doesn’t get the fundamentals right, then what’s the point right? Fortunately, the fabric used here is excellent when it comes to serving its primary purpose.

“Gore-Tex Paclite fabric technology offers lightweight, fully waterproof, protection from the elements”

Gore-Tex Paclite fabric technology offers lightweight, fully waterproof, protection from the elements. What’s most notable about it is that unlike most other protection focussed jackets out there, it uses just a two-layer fabric system as opposed to three. Most jackets will have an internal ‘backer’ fabric or laminate that protects the membrane from dirt or body oils and adds a bit of next-to-skin comfort, but this has been done away with.

So is there any compromise with Paclite then? Fortunately, there doesn’t really seem to be anything too obvious.

Paclite’s membrane itself has a soft feel that’s actually comfortable enough against the skin anyway, and from what we’ve seen from it, the breathability doesn’t seem to get choked over time (at least not from the inside anyway). So a backer isn’t really missed in those regards. There may be some question marks over long term durability, especially when you’re regularly wearing a heavily-loaded backpack on top of it, but so far the tech seems to hold up.

The fabrics used here are bluesign approved, so the jacket is planet friendly. It’s also good to know that all fabric on the jacket uses environmentally friendly PFC-free DWR (Durable Water Repellent) technology.

Vents under the arms to cool you down. Photo: Mike Brindley

The jacket has a fully adjustable hood. Photo: Mike Brindley

The Paclite Peak by Berghaus is part of the MadeKind commitment. Photo: Mike Brindley

Features

Available in classic shades of ‘Red’, ‘Blue’, and ‘Black / Grey’, the Paclite Peak is a waterproof that’s all about getting the basics right. It might not set your pulse racing like some of its flashier rivals, but its solid list of good features have been implemented in such a way that you know, from the first time you put it on, that it’s a reliable bit of kit that won’t let you down.

As well as keeping you dry, the Paclite Peak has some nice comfort-enhancing features. Take the pit zips, for example. Ideal if you’re getting active, or the temperature’s gone up a notch, and you want to get some cool air flowing.

“The Paclite Peak has some nice comfort-enhancing features”

On the flipside, you can really lock yourself into this jacket and keep any draughts out thanks to its dual adjustment hem and handy drawcord features.

The Paclite Peak provides greater reach, and fit, than some of its waterproof jacket rivals thanks to its articulated elbows and armpits. The arms on the jacket also have reliably functional Velcro adjustment on the cuffs, so you can really nestle into it and make it – to some extent – your second, far more waterproof skin. You’ve also got handwarmer pockets that can be accessed when you’re wearing a harness or backpack hipbelt (that’s it for pockets though) and a hood with volume adjustment at the back.

Batten down the hatches with the adjustable hem. Photo: Mike Brindley

The MadeKind Commitment

The Paclite Peak is part of Berghaus’ MadeKind commitment.

“The ‘MadeKind’ commitment is the kind of corporate responsibility we like to see from our favourite outdoor brands”

The commitment is all about making products that are kinder to the planet, and the world we all want to explore. From making the effort to reduce the environmental impact of production to running the business in a more sustainable and ethical way, via making real and tangible difference in deserving communities, the ‘MadeKind’ commitment is the kind of corporate responsibility we like to see from our favourite outdoor brands.

Conclusion

If you want a quality, functional and reliable waterproof jacket that boasts some decent waterproof tech, this would be a good option, particularly for anyone who likes to keep their hill trips lightweight.

An equivalent product in the 2020 Outdoor 100 would be the, equally excellent but slightly more expensive, Black Diamond Highline Shell. The Highline Shell has an RRP of £222.95.

Tester’s Verdict

John Wells, Outdoors Magic staff

The Berghaus Paclite Peak has been one my favourite items of the year. I think it is a really good-looking jacket: the colours really ping and the details are spot on. My biggest problem with jackets is the fit. I’m 6ft 1” and consistently sit somewhere between M and L sizes, often going for the Large as the lesser of two evils. The Berghaus hit the goldilocks spot for me as the Medium is an ever so slightly larger cut than normal – so it fits like a dream. The jacket is definitely waterproof, standing up to the worst of Irish rain. The Gore Tex breathability has been on point as well, keeping me going for longer. Highlight of the year for me, great job Berghaus.”