www.craghoppers.com | £160
The last time we reviewed waterproof jackets in Adventure Travel magazine was in September/October 2014, when we had Craghoppers’ Kiwi Long jacket on test, and it embodied everything that a traditional hiking jacket should be. The Kiwi Long was awarded ‘Best Budget Buy’ in that review, and after that positive experience we now have the brand new men’s Ashton Gore-Tex on test.
Like most traditional walking jackets, the Craghoppers Ashton Gore-Tex jacket has a nice, long fit. Waterproofing is provided by a Gore-Tex membrane, with a full mesh liner to help disperse sweat. The jacket is adjustable at both the waist and the hem, allowing you to get the fit right and keep chilling draughts out. The jacket’s collar comes high over the chin and has a lovely microfleece lining for next-to-skin comfort. There are two large handwarmer pockets, although they become unusable when you have a rucksack’s waist strap done up. That leaves you with one internal chest pocket, although this is big enough to house an OS map.
If you want a jacket that you can roll up, stick in your rucksack and forget about, then the Ashton is not that: it weighs a pretty hefty 830g and folds to about the size of a football. But if you want a jacket that you can stick on when you’re going for a stroll in the countryside or off into town, this is the one for you.
Craghoppers Ashton Gore-Tex jacket verdict
A very nice jacket for casual strolls, one-day hikes and dog walks in the rain, but might not be suitable for longer expeditions, where packability and weight come into play.