A brilliant emergency waterproof with a minimal weight penalty, which means you carry it in situations where otherwise you simply wouldn’t bother with a waterproof at all. Pros Built from consumer research, the Hydroshell range has been thought out to aid in your outdoor experience. And the fact that it was tested by award winning climbers gives it the added assurance that you are in safe hands. Great for technical hikers, it has already caught the attention of the hiking community, winning awards and being put through its paces during expeditions, including one to Nepal for the 1200km Great Himalayan Trail.

Berghaus Men’s Stormcloud Waterproof Overtrousers - Millets Berghaus Men’s Stormcloud Waterproof Overtrousers - Millets

Berghaus has also focused on sustainability when developing Hydroshell™, working to develop fabrics that have a lower impact on the environment than their predecessors. Two thirds of the Berghaus already comes with 50 years’ experience under their belt when it comes to constructing waterproof garments and Hydroshell comes fully tested in the harshest of conditions. Does this all mean it is better than Gore-Tex? Well, waterproof is waterproof no matter what and both technologies promise this so we must consider other options. When it comes to reputation Gore-Tex certainly has the waterproof market covered however this new technology from Berghaus is looking to build on their status in world of waterproof hiking. Their Hydroshell range certainly adds to their innovative products with the added bonus of a more affordable price than the top end Gore-Tex gear. Having a good big hood will obviously keep water out much better than one that barely comes over your face without a good peak.The other main differences are the tailored finish and features like more waterproof zips and more substantial hoods. The fabric is Berghaus’s own-brand Hydroshell Hyper fabric, a shimmering, semi-translucent Polyamide – Nylon – with a thin PU coating. The seams get the high-tech treatment too using an exclusive ultra-lightweight seam tape to save precious grammes. The main difference between a membrane layer like goretex or event, and a PU coated material like AQ2 or Hydroshell is longevity. The latter are a nylon face fabric with a waterproof coating essentially painted on. As such, after a while they will start letting water in. This is obviously dependant on how much you use it and how well you look after it. environmental impact made by apparel occurs during the consumer’s use of a product. Hydroshell™ products have been engineered to substantially reduce their impact on the environment, especially when it comes to excessive water consumption, one of the most environmentally damaging outputs of the textile industry.