Waterproof Jackets

Jack Wolfskin Prelight 2.5 Waterproof Jacket | Review

A functional layer that’s light to carry and light on its environmental impact too.

I’ve been using this throughout the UK spring, putting it through its paces through a range of different environments and situations, from day-to-day dog walks in the Wiltshire countryside all the way through to long hikes in driven rain in the mountains of Snowdonia. My topline? This is a nifty waterproof jacket that, while not for top of the mountain performance, is a great option for casual hikes and as a just-in-case-I-need-it option.

Jack Wolfskin Prelight 2.5L At a Glance

At 254g, this is very light. It’s also one of the most packable membrane jackets out there. When it’s packed into its hand pocket, it forms a bundle no bigger than a pint glass – so it’s the kind of thing you can stick in a backpack pocket and totally forget it’s there. Also, it doesn’t skimp on features – it’s not just a basic pac-a-mac in other words.

Buy The Jack Wolfskin Prelight 2.5L Jacket: £150 at Jack-wolfskin.co.uk

OM editor Will out in Eryri testing the Jack Wolfskin Prelight 2.5 Waterproof Jacket. Photos: Dave MacFarlane.

Key Features

2.5-layer fabric: This is light and makes the jacket very packable. It’s also made in an environmentally-friendly way.

Packability: The jacket packs away into the left hand pocket, stashing down to about the size of a pint glass.

Adjustment: The hood has adjustment at the back, there’s dual adjustment at the hem and Velcro cuffs too, so you can really lock yourself away from the elements.

Ventilation: You can dump hot moist air by opening up the pitzip vents under the arms.

Two hand pockets: There’s are zipped so you can store valuables safely. They’re cut off and hard to access when wearing a backpack with a hipbelt.

Who Is the Jack Wolfskin Prelight 2.5 Jacket For?

From my experience with this, I’ve found it to be a useful layer for a range of uses. Primarily, it’s ideal as a layer to carry with you just out-and-about during daily life. The other day, I had to head into London for a meeting and, while it didn’t look like it was going to rain, I chucked it into my backpack just in case it did. It didn’t rain, the jacket wasn’t used, but that’s kind of the point. It’s so lightweight and packable that carrying it around didn’t feel like a burden at all – and had the weather turned, I’d have been completely covered. That peace of mind is underrated.

For hiking, it’s best-suited to warm to cooler weather and those hikes where rain isn’t really a big threat but you just need something to see off showers, light rain or buffeting wind while you’re sat on a hill eating your sandwiches. I’ve got a camping trip to Greece coming up this May and I think it’ll be ideal for that trip – it’ll do what I need it to and won’t weigh me down.

Buy The Jack Wolfskin Prelight 2.5L Jacket: £150 at Jack-wolfskin.co.uk

I can see cyclists really liking this too. It’s not a jacket for 200-mile bikepacking expeditions but it serves nicely as that layer to keep in your saddle bag or backpack just in case there’s a wind chill or some light rain.

While it’s not a jacket made specifically for running, I’ve used it for a fair bit of aerobic trail mileage and I think it works well as that layer you can stash into your running vest, or that you can set out in and then stow away once you’ve got the blood pumping.

Materials

This is a 2.5-layer design, which means there’s a shell fabric, a membrane and then there’s a thin, protective coating that’s directly applied to the inside of the jacket. It’s made from Jack Wolfskin’s Texapore Ecosphere Pro, a fabric with some excellent sustainability credentials. Not only is the outer shell fabric made from 100% recycled materials, but the membrane underneath it is derived from cutting waste from textile manufacturing. As you’d expect, it’s also PFAS-free, which can actually be said for Jack Wolfskin’s entire line.

Durability

A lot of lightweight and packable jackets can be on the thin and flimsy side but this has a nice level of durability to it. That’s thanks, I imagine, to its micro-ripstop construction. I’ve been happy to wear fully loaded 30-litre daypacks with this without worrying about the straps causing problems at the shoulders. So far for me, it’s held up to the repeated abrasion you tend to see from running packs too.

Demonstrating its water resistance during our Outdoor 100 Test Trip – the one day we didn’t have rain!

Did I Get Wet?

I’ve found this has been reliable for use in light rain and showers and it’s kept me dry in some heavy downpours too. I wouldn’t want to wear it in ferociously heavy, wind-drive rain, but it’s not made for that level of weather protection – only a three-layer mountain shell is going to offer enough in that kind of scenario.

During the times I’ve worn this in mild but wet conditions, I’ve found the underarm vents to be extremely handy. They keep air flowing through the jacket to maintain a dry and comfortable climate inside it, and without there being any risk of rain getting in through them.

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I like the hood. It has adjustment at the back and holds well in the wind while also moving nicely with your head. It has a slight peak to help to keep rainfall off your face. I always like to wear a baseball cap with a waterproof jacket and, as usual, I found this to be beneficial with this jacket.

The Jack Wolfskin Prelight 2.5L is a highly packable and lightweight jacket.

Fit

I’m 5 foot 10 and I have an average build. I tried this in my usual size, a UK Medium, and it fitted me well. I found it paired well with a light fleece and it was also comfortable against the skin when worn just with a t-shirt. The fit became a little tight when I wore it over a chunkier fleece – the same for a lightweight puffer. If you want something you can wear over thick insulation I’d recommend sizing up.

Verdict

With all those things I’ve mentioned, along with Velcro cuff adjustment and hem adjustment either side of the waist, I’ve found this to be a jacket that manages to cleverly blend the convenience of a pack-a-mac with the performance of a technical rain 2.5-layer rain shell. There is a limit to its storm-proofing, but it’s not designed for big mountain missions or long spells in the wilderness – Jack Wolfskin make other jackets for that kind of stuff. It’s made for lightweight convenience and it serves that purpose well.