YOUR TESTER
In summer, even under Britain’s famously fickle skies, your waterproof shell often spends more time in the pack than on your back. It’s an insurance policy – there if you need it, but rarely central to your day. Come winter, the game changes. The hills become a clash of walker versus weather, with rain, sleet, hail and snow often arriving in quick succession. A waterproof is no longer just back-up; it’s your primary shield against driving rain, howling wind and swirling spindrift.
That means a winter shell must be tougher, heavier-duty and more protective than its summer counterpart. It needs the durability to handle abrasion from pack straps, harnesses, rock and ice, while still allowing space for layers beneath. Coverage is crucial too, with long sleeves, a drop…
