Waterproof Jackets

Rohan Elite Jacket | Review

A smart looking, fully waterproof jacket that's as at home in the city as it is on the mountains

Rohan is just one of those names, those British brands, that quietly exude quality and timelessness. It was founded by Sarah and Paul Howcroft, with a whopping £70, and a pair of mountaineering salopettes in 1972. The equipment that came out of the doors quickly caught the attention of mountaineers worldwide, including Peter Habeler, the first person to climb Mount Everest without oxygen – quite an endorsement.

After that the company began opening shops across the country, steadily becoming a much-loved manufacturer of travel and outdoor clothing; how many outdoor brands boast a fan site?

One of the reasons for its success is that the clothing doesn’t look overly technical. This is apparel that can be worn on trips to town and yet, can form a barrier against whatever the fickle weather on the top of a Scottish Munro can throw at it, whether that’s UV rays or, more likely, wind and rain.

The Elite Jacket is one of Rohan’s lightest 3-layer jackets yet. It weighs a meagre 250g yet it’s still able to withstand heavy showers while remaining impressively breathable thanks to Rohan’s proprietary Barricade waterproof fabric.

An interesting statistic from Rohan is that the added Durable Water Repellent coating, which causes rain to bead straight off the fabric, is supposedly able to maintain 80 per cent of its effectiveness after 20 washes. Once it does, we recommend re-treating it with some of Grangers’ products to restore it back to its straight-out-of-the-shop former glory.

We found the hood to be especially effective against driving rain. With one pull, it cinches in comfortably around the head while the wired peak (a vital feature often lost when trying to cut down weight) allows you to angle it against the rain. There’s also an adjustable hem and cuffs.

Two sizeable zipped hand pockets, big enough to swallow an OS map, sit high up so as not to interfere with a hipbelt.

This is apparel that can be worn on trips to town and yet, can form a barrier against whatever the fickle weather on the top of a Scottish Munro can throw at it.

Two sizeable zipped hand pockets, big enough to swallow an OS map, sit high up so as not to interfere with a hipbelt, plus there’s a zipped security pocket on the inside at chest height.

Another aspect that’s worth mentioning with this is the tailored fit. It doesn’t bulge up and instead sits close but comfortably to your torso over a base or mid layer.

Overall, it’s an impressive technology-packed garment from Rohan that doesn’t look out of place anywhere.

Tester’s Verdict

“The Rohan Elite Jacket is a great lightweight waterproof jacket ideal for always keeping in your pack for those just-in-case moments, as well as for seeing out torrential downpours in the mountains. The perfect jacket to keep you prepared without filling your rucksack and weighing you down.” – OM Editor, Will Renwick.