Just when I was happy with my kit (almost) I find a friend in a local outdoor shop wearing this ...

http://store.berghaus.com/p/clothing/me ... ket/420589

Hydrophobic down .. hood .. 320g !!!

Perfect multi day bike packing packable down ???

check out the mountain hardware ghost whisper with hood just brought one from cotswolds reduced to £160 so warm and weights 212grams packs down tiny great for overnighters!!

That mountain hardware jacket is superlight !!!

I was interested in the Hydrophobic qualities of the Berghaus ... especially for use on multi days in UK when its wet everywhere .. especially Wales

There is a review of the Ilam here

http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/reviews/ot ... 37395.html

Gets a good write up and the extra 100grm over the Ghost whisper is worth it to have a more versatile jacket IMO. Rab are also coming out with a range of hydrophobic down jkts this autumn too.

I am just hanging out for the spring sales, hopefully price will drop in a month or so :D

I got a friend who works for berghaus - she reckons it is actually genuinely brilliant (she does still slate the stuff that is actually crap by berghaus)

Hey Zippy, don't suppose your friend works in marketing or knows the right people to speak too ?? :)

I honestly think I'm a function-over-form type but what is it about Berghaus (maybe it's me) but their stuff always seems a bit goping

Love the look and idea of that Hydrodown but the price is a bit bonkers. I've come over to the school of sales / end of line / cheap down jackets (Uniqlo, Karrimor / F&T, etc).

The article implies that other manufacturers will start using the down as well so I reckon I'll stick to the old style stuff and wait, hoping that the prices will drop a bit over time.

I like Berghaus stuff but I think they definitely operate a two-tier system and sell general dog walking attire in shops like Millets and then sell higher end stuff elsewhere.

Their waterproof 3 layer gore-tex stuff works well as do the waterproof trousers.

Like the look of that down jacket. At £90 in a summer sale it would be ideal......

Cumulus just made one http://www.cumulus.pl/Incredilite-Endur ... ki,80.html with light pertex endurance shell, but watch out for their sizeing , i'm tall but slim and L was to small for me