I think that's the problem Fire. I help a lot of my elderly neighbours out so I was hoping to find a jacket and trousers that could survive a bit of a battering. My neighbours seem to catch me when I'm weeding my little front garden and before I know it I'm helping them to remove patches of brambles. I wouldn't want to ruin a lovely jacket when I'm doing something like that, I just need a hardwearing, practical jacket and overtrousers that keeps the rain out and isn't going to tear the first time I catch them on a rose thorn.
I wear a lightweight waterproof jacket, that type that can be packed into itself or into a tiny bag and that is sold in every outdoor shop for around £10 or £15. Mine is Regatta, my husband's is Gelert, but they are very similar. We do a lot of hiking and hill walking, if it is good enough for Snowdon, it is good enough for gardening (but I don't garden in heavy rain).
edhelka, do you get sweaty in them when you're hiking? I did think about something like you're talking about but my husband said they're a bit like binbags so the heat you generate can't get out and you end up feeling damp and clammy from your own sweat. Maybe I'm asking too much from a jacket?
Turmeric, yes, they don't breathe well. I only wear them when needed. I guess that good breathable and waterproof and lightweight is maybe too much... or if it exists, very expensive.
I think you're right edhelka. I might just try your suggestion though as I've just looked on amazon and they're not too pricey and I'm not running around the garden so might not get too sweaty? Just being dry would be a novelty!
Generally speaking I'm of the @pansyface school of gardening (don't bother if it's piddling down). I keep an old waterproof jacket in the shed to throw on if it starts raining when I'm in the middle of something that can't be finished later, but I don't think I've worn it for over a year so there's probably something living in there now.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
We have the cheapish lightweight scrunch up into a pocket type jackets. These days they are made with much better material than previously so no longer like wearing a bin bag. For trousers I have gone the other direction and have a pricey pair of rohan waterproof/wind-proof trousers that I wear all the time in autumn and winter, raining or not. I got them in a sale so less horrendous than they would have been. But v comfortable and I don’t seem to get wet knees. The dirt seems to shake off, and I wash them once a year or so with proper waterproofing stuff. My latest pair is 3 years old and still fine. Only problem with them is that the windproofing is quite good, so if you kneel down quickly they can make a fart sound🤭
In spring and summer I stick to waterproof legs, and a towel by the back door.
I have a brilliant lightweight, highly breathable, packs into it's own pocket, 100% waterproof, guaranteed for 5 years, jacket but..... it's a Rohan and it was very expensive (around £250) and there's no way I'd wear it for gardening until it's at least 10 years old.
My husband has a couple of cycling jackets which perform nearly as well but are a bit cheaper. He got one of them of them off ebay for a very good price. It may be worth researching some serious lightweight walking, cycling and running waterproofs and then looking for 2nd hand ones on ebay at the right price.
Incidentally - the specialist 2 and a half and triple layer barricade membrane jackets should be washed regularly in the machine using either soap (no detergents) or specialist waterproof washing liquid. If they are not washed the build up of body fats and sweat 🤢 ruins the waterproofing & breathability. They should be given an additional rinse to get rid of all the soap. The Rohan ones should then be dried thoroughly - preferably on a mild tumble dry setting or ironed with a cool to warm iron. The gentle heat rejuvenates the waterproofing.
Obviously 🤔 - you need to follow the manufacturers directions for maintaining other brands.
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
Posts
I guess that good breathable and waterproof and lightweight is maybe too much... or if it exists, very expensive.
In spring and summer I stick to waterproof legs, and a towel by the back door.
My husband has a couple of cycling jackets which perform nearly as well but are a bit cheaper. He got one of them of them off ebay for a very good price. It may be worth researching some serious lightweight walking, cycling and running waterproofs and then looking for 2nd hand ones on ebay at the right price.
Incidentally - the specialist 2 and a half and triple layer barricade membrane jackets should be washed regularly in the machine using either soap (no detergents) or specialist waterproof washing liquid. If they are not washed the build up of body fats and sweat 🤢 ruins the waterproofing & breathability.
They should be given an additional rinse to get rid of all the soap. The Rohan ones should then be dried thoroughly - preferably on a mild tumble dry setting or ironed with a cool to warm iron. The gentle heat rejuvenates the waterproofing.
Obviously 🤔 - you need to follow the manufacturers directions for maintaining other brands.