58 Best Jackets for Wild Camping

Wild camping is a great way to explore the beautiful scenery the UK has to offer. Unfortunately, the weather can be a little unpredictable and it is important that you are prepared for things taking a turn for the worse. I decided to do a round-up of the best jackets for wild camping so that you know what you need to ensure you are prepared for what the UK weather has to offer.

If you are in a rush, here are my suggestions for the best jackets for wild camping:

My Men’s Wild Camping Jacket Top Picks

My Women’s Wind Camping Jacket Top Picks

Factors to Consider When Buying a Jacket for Wild Camping

Before you go out and buy yourself a new camping jacket, there are a few factors you should consider.

• How frequently will you wild camp? – If you are going to be wild camping once a month, you might be a little happier spending more on high-quality jackets. Less often and you might be better off going for something slightly cheaper.
• Types of weather you will be camping in – Camping in the winter? You will need something warm for when the temperature drops. Summer camper, you may just need to take a lightweight waterproof in case you get caught out.
• Packability of the jacket – If you don’t want to be carrying the jacket around with you or wearing it all of the time, having a jacket that packs down really small will be a good choice.

Types of Jacket for Wild Camping

Choosing the right jacket for wild camping can be a bit of a minefield. You are pretty much trying to strike a balance between warmth, waterproofing and weight. There are many types of jackets available, with each meeting some of the criteria above and not meeting others.

Best 3 in 1 Jackets for Wild Camping

The 3 in 1 jacket is essentially two jackets in one. You get a fleece, which provides you with warmth in colder weather and a waterproof outer shell, which will project you in the rain.

It is called a 3 in 1 as you have 3 different ways of wearing it:

• Fleece only – Good for when the weather is dry, but you need to keep warm
• Waterproof outer shell only – Good for water protection in warmer weather
• Fleece and outer shell – Great combination for when the weather it wet and cold

If you combine this with a good set of base layer clothes, you have a full layering system! You can take off layers if you get too warm and add more when you are getting too hot.

The downside to these jackets is that they tend to be on the heavier side as you are carrying two jackets.

These jackets are a great choice for those who want the flexibility of layering and aren’t concerned about weight.

Perfect for changeable conditions in the cooler months.

Men’s 3 in 1 Jackets – My Top Picks

Forclaz Travel 500 Men’s 3 in 1 Jacket – Best All-Round Men’s 3 in 1 Jacket

The Forclaz Travel 500 Men’s 3 in 1 Jacket is a great balance between quality, price and protection.

With a hydrostatic head of 5,000mm, taped seams and a comfortable down to -10°C, this jacket will be great all year round (unless you are camping in extreme conditions of course.

Forclaz Travel 100 Men’s 3 in 1 Jacket – Great Budget 3 in 1 Jacket for Men

The Forclaz Travel 100 Men’s 3 in 1 Jacket is a great budget option for those looking for a 3 in 1 jacket for wild camping.

With a hydrostatic head rating of 2,000mm, taped seams and comfortable down to a temperature of 0°C, this jacket will provide great protection for most of the year in the UK.

Mountain Warehouse Zenith Extreme II Men’s 3 in 1 Jacket – Great Men’s 3 in 1 for Extreme Adventurers

The Mountain Warehouse Zenith Extreme II Men’s 3 in 1 Jacket is a great jacket for those that will be camping in some of the most extreme conditions.

With a hydrostatic head of 10,000mm, tapes seams and a thermal comfort rating down to -40°C, this jacket will keep you warm and dry in pretty much any weather the UK can throw at you.

Men’s 3 in 1 Jackets – Alternative Options

Mountain Warehouse Fell Men’s 3 in 1 Jacket

Freedom Trail Versatile Men’s 3 in 1 Jacket

Berghaus RG Alpha Men’s 3 in 1 Jacket

Mountain Warehouse Climb Men’s 3 in 1 Jacket

Women’s 3 in 1 Jackets – My Top Picks

Forclaz Travel 500 RainWarm Women’s 3 in 1 Jacket – Best All-Round Women’s 3 in 1 Jacket

The Forclaz Travel 500 RainWarm Women’s 3 in 1 Jacket is my favourite pick of the women’s 3 in 1 jacket, due to the balance it strikes between warmth, durability and rain protection.

The hydrostatic head is 5,000mm, which combined with the taped seams should provide protection from a shower of up to 3 hours. It is also suitable down to temperatures of -8°C, great for most of the year in the UK.

Forclaz Travel 100 Women’s 3 in 1 Jacket – Great Budget Women’s 3 in 1 Jacket

The Forclaz Travel 100 Women’s 3 in 1 Jacket is a great pick for those after a 3 in 1 jacket that won’t break the bank.

For an RRP of £49.99, you get a jacket comfortable down to 0°C with a hydrostatic head of 2,000mm. This is enough to provide adequate protection in the milder month of the year in the UK.

Mountain Warehouse Climb Women’s 3 in 1 Jacket – Great Women’s 3 in 1 for Extreme Adventurers

The Mountain Warehouse Climb Women’s 3 in 1 Jacket is a great choice for those looking for protection from the elements in more extreme conditions.

The hydrostatic head of 10,000mm, coupled with the taped seams will give you 24 hour protection from torrential rain. It can also keep you warm in very cold conditions. A great choice for those looking to camp all year round.

Women’s 3 in 1 Jackets – Alternative Options

Mountain Warehouse Fell Women’s 3 in 1 Jacket

Freedom Trail Versatile Women’s 3 in 1 Jacket

Berghaus Fellmaster Women’s 3 in 1 Jacket

Waterproof Jackets

Waterproof jackets are designed to protect you from rain and snow when out on your wild camping trip.

Unfortunately, you can just pick any old waterproof jacket and hope it will be suitable as some are designed specifically for sports, such as running and cycling. These waterproof jackets tend to have a higher level of breathability, to reduce the amount you sweat when undertaking high-intensity exercise.

Outdoor waterproof jackets, designed for hiking, will be built more for durability and extra waterproofing above a running or cycling waterproof. Breathability is still important here, just not the very top priority.

The term waterproof is often used to describe several types of jackets for wet weather and it is important to understand the difference between these terms:

• Water-resistant – This is the lowest level of protection from the elements in a waterproof jacket. This is where the tightly woven material is acting as a barrier between you and the elements, with the resistance being the time it takes for the material to become saturated and let water through.
• Water repellent – This is a level up from water-resistant and with this type of jacket the water can’t seep through the material at all. Also known as hydrophobic, water will bead on the top of the material and drop off. However, a significant amount of rain will get through this type of material, particularly in persistently heavy rain.
• Waterproof – These are pretty much impenetrable. It will take a significant amount of rain to get through these materials, the amount of which is measured by the hydrostatic head. The higher the HH rating, the more waterproof your jacket will be.

Perfect for wild camping in wet conditions and packed to make sure you don’t get soaked in the summer.

Men’s Waterproof Jackets – My Top Picks

Mountain Warehouse Bachill Men’s Waterproof Jacket – Best All-Round Waterproof Jacket

The Mountain Warehouse Bachill Men’s Waterproof Jacket is a great jacket for wet autumn days.

Tested to withstand 5,000mm in a 24-hour period and with taped seams, this jacket has been designed to keep you dry in heavy rain. A great choice for those who need a cool jacket in wet weather.

Mountain Warehouse Pakka Men’s Waterproof Jacket – Great Budget Men’s Waterproof Jacket

The Mountain Warehouse Pakka Men’s Waterproof Jacket is a great budget option for those looking for a light jacket to take in case of rain.

Tested to withstand 1,500mm of rain for 24 hours, this jacket is great for light or moderate rain.

Rab Kinetic Alpine Men’s Waterproof Jacket – Great Option for Those After a Durable Men’s Waterproof Jacket

The Rab Kinetic Alpine Men’s Waterproof Jacket is a great investment for those who want a durable, waterproof jacket that will last for many years.

Designed with a hydrostatic head of 10,000mm, this is a high quality jacket that will keep you dry in pretty much any weather in the UK.

Men’s Waterproof Jackets – Alternative Options

Quechua MH500 Men’s Mountain Hiking Jacket

Quechua MH500 Men’s Walking Jacket

Dare 2B Recode Men’s Waterproof Jacket

Sprayway Rask GORE-TEX® Men’s Jacket

Sprayway Quorum Men’s GORE-TEX® Jacket

Saloman Untracked Men’s Waterproof Jacket

Women’s Waterproof Jackets – My Top Picks

Quechua NH550 Imper Women’s Waterproof Jacket – Best All-Round Women’s Waterproof

The Quechua NH550 Imper Women’s Waterproof Jacket is a great choice for those looking for a jacket that will keep them dry and comfortable when wild camping.

With a 2,000mm waterproofing and taped seams, this jacket will keep you dry most of the year in the UK. This jacket also features many adjustment points, so you can make it as comfortable as you need.

Quechua Women’s Country Walking Waterproof Jacket Raincut Zip – Great Budget Women’s Waterproof Jacket

For those who just need a budget friendly waterproof jacket to throw on when it is raining, the Quechua Women’s Country Walking Waterproof Jacket Raincut Zip might just be the perfect waterproof for you.

With a waterproof rating of 2,000mm, this jacket will keep you nice and dry during the spring/summer/autumn showers. The added benefit is that this jacket folds down very small and weighs just 220g, making it the perfect emergency jacket.

Rab Kangri GTX Women’s Waterproof Jacket – Great Women’s Waterproof Jacket for Extreme Adventurers

For those with a bigger budget, looking to make a long term investment, or simply adventuring into the most extreme conditions, the Rab Kangri GTX Women’s Waterproof Jacket might just be the perfect jacket for you.

The GORE-TEX® out shell provides a waterproof rating of 28,000mm, making this jacket practically seaworthy. With YKK zips, fleece chin guard and lots of adjustment points to suit your needs, this jacket is built for comfort, built to keep you dry and built to last.

Women’s Waterproof Jackets – Alternative Options

Mountain Warehouse Pakka Women’s Waterproof Jacket

Regatta Baymere Women’s Waterproof Jacket

Craghoppers Toscana Women’s Waterproof Jacket

Sprayway Kelo Women’s GORE-TEX® Paclite Jacket

Merrell Whisper Women’s Waterproof Jacket

Sprayway Reaction GORE-TEX® Long Womens Jacket

Rab Kangri GTX Women’s Waterproof Jacket

Down and Insulated Jackets

Down and Insulated jackets are jackets that have insulation built into the lining. The type of insulation depends on the jacket you buy:

• Down jackets – These are insulated with soft, warm feathers from either a duck or goose
• Synthetic insulation – These jackets use man-made fibres to provide warmth to the jacket.

Insulated and down jackets are extremely warm as the insulation creates air pockets inside the jacket that stop your body heat from escaping and stop the cool air from cooling you down.

There are pros and cons with each type of insulation that you should consider before choosing the right insulated jacket for you:

Down Filled Jacket:

Synthetic Insulated Jacket:

There are other features to be aware off with these jackets that may influence your purchasing decision:

• Baffles – These are the sections of the jacket that are filled with insulation. The more baffles the jacket has, the more efficient it is at keeping you warm as the down doesn’t move around in the jacket.
• Hood – Some of these jackets come without a hood, which makes them less suitable in wet weather
• Cuffed waist and wrists – These are better at trapping warm air inside the jacket
• Weight – Down jackets will be lighter than synthetic insulated jackets.

Perfect for wild camping in colder weather.

Men’s Down and Insulated Jackets – My Top Picks

Henry II Extreme Men’s Down Padded Jacket – Best All-Round Men’s Insulated Jacket

The Henry II Extreme Men’s Down Padded Jacket is a great blend of warmth, style and price.

Rated down to -30 °C, this jacket will keep you warm in the most extreme UK conditions. The smaller baffles as well as the down filling help with this warmth and ensure there are no colder spots on the jacket.

For just £89.99 at the time of writing, this is a great all-round insulated jacket (some colours are as little as £44.99).

Freedom Trail Blisco Men’s Synthetic Padded Jacket – Great Budget Men’s Insulated Jacket

For those after a low cost insulated jacket, the Freedom Trail Blisco Men’s Synthetic Padded Jacket may be just what your wallet has ordered.

With thin, synthetic insulation, this jacket is not designed to keep you warm in the most extreme conditions, but will certainly keep you warm whilst keeping active in the colder months.

A good option for those not wanting to break the bank.

Rab Microlite Alpine Eco Men’s Synthetic Padded Jacket – Great Men’s Insulated Jacket for the Active Adventurer

Designed for the active adventurer, the Rab Microlite Alpine Eco Men’s Synthetic Padded Jacket is built from strong stuff and great for those who need something durable and warm.

This jacket is made from recycled down, making it a great eco-friendly choice. It’s also very lightweight and very warm due to the down insulation.

Men’s Insulated Jackets – Alternative Options

Mountain Warehouse Seasons Men’s Insulated Jacket

Simond Alpinism Men’s Insulated Jacket

Hi-Gear Packlite Alpinist Men’s Insulated Jacket

OEX Idris Men’s Insulated Jacket

Women’s Down and Insulated Jackets – My Top Picks

Mountain Warehouse Seasons Women’s Padded Jacket – Best All-Round Women’s Insulated Jacket

The Mountain Warehouse Seasons Women’s Padded Jacket is a great all-round option for those who want an affordable insulated jacket that will keep them warm in the colder months.

Coming in a variety of colours, this jacket is comfortable at temperatures as low as -30 °C. That, coupled with the water repellent shell make this a great all-round choice.

Forlaz Trek 100 Women’s Padded Jacket – Great Budget Women’s Insulated Jacket

The Forlaz Trek 100 Women’s Padded Jacket is a great choice for those looking for a budget insulated jacket.

This jacket is comfortable down to -5 °C, meaning it won’t be suitable for extremely cold conditions. However, this will keep you warm when out walking in the winter months. For those wild camping in early spring/late autumn, this jacket would be suitable for your needs.

Rab Microlite Alpine Women’s Padded Jacket – Great Women’s Insulated Jacket for the Active Adventurer

The Rab Microlite Alpine Women’s Padded Jacket is designed with durability in mind.

With its active fit technology, body-mapped baffles and recycled down insulation, this is a great choice for those who need a lightweight jacket that will keep them warm in extremely cold conditions, without restricting movement.

Women’s Insulated Jackets – Alternative Options

OEX Women’s Zenon Ultra LT Insulted Jacket

Berghaus Finsler Women’s Insulted Jacket

Simond Alpinism Women’s Insulted Jacket

Sprayway Women’s Uska Insulated Jacket

Softshell Jacket

Softshell jackets are great when worn as part of a layering system to keep you warm and dry when wild camping.

The jackets are generally made from woven synthetic materials that are lightweight, durable and breathable. They are also stretchy, making them a great choice when you need to make significant body movements, such as scrambling up hills and climbing.

Most softshell jackets have the added bonus of being wind-resistant and water-repellent, meaning they should do you well in conditions with light wind and rain.

As part of a layering system, you can use this jacket as a “mid-layer” meaning you can add a thin, waterproof over the top in the rain and take it off when you get too warm.

Perfect for wild camping in spring and autumn where a thinner layer might not quite cut it.

Men’s Softshell Jackets – My Top Picks

Mountain Warehouse Iona Men’s Softshell Jacket – Best All-Round Men’s Softshell Jacket

The Mountain Warehouse Iona Men’s Softshell Jacket is a great option for those who are going wild camping in the late spring/early autumn months.

Offering a durable water repellent coating, great fit and breathable materials, this jacket will make sure you don’t get wet should there be a short shower and make sure you don’t get too hot either.

Forclaz Trek 500 Windwarm Men’s Softshell Jacket – Great Budget Men’s Softshell Jacket

The Forclaz Trek 500 Windwarm Men’s Softshell Jacket is a great option for those who don’t want to spend too much on a softshell jacket.

With a windproof membrane, water repellent surface and comfort rating of around 7°C, this budget option would make a pretty good medium term investment.

Men’s Softshell Jackets – Alternative Options

Regatta Cera III Men’s Softshell Jacket

Mountain Warehouse Grasmere Men’s Showerproof Softshell Jacket

Sprayway Men’s Anax Hoodie Showerproof Softshell Jacket

Rab Borealis Men’s Softshell Jacket

Women’s Softshell Jackets – My Top Picks

Dare 2B Obstinacy II Hybrid Women’s Softshell Jacket – Best All-Round Women’s Softshell Jacket

The Dare 2B Obstinacy II Hybrid Women’s Softshell Jacket is a great all-round softshell jacket, offering a great blend between comfort and warmth.

With synthetic insulated baffles, this jacket will keep your body warm in cooler conditions. The hood sleeves and hood will protect you against light rain showers and windy weather. A great choice for those after a jacket offering multiple levels of protection against the lighter UK weather.

Forclaz Trek 500 Windwarm Women’s Softshell Jacket – Great Budget Women’s Softshell Jacket

For the more budget conscious wild camper, the Forclaz Trek 500 Windwarm Women’s Softshell Jacket is the ideal choice.

With a fleece lining, wind proofing and water-repellent surface, you get a good quality softshell jacket for your £44.99.

Women’s Softshell Jackets – Alternative Options

Regatta Connie IV Women’s Softshell Jacket

Mountain Warehouse Exodus Printed Women’s Softshell Jacket

Mountain Warehouse Oslo Printed Women’s Softshell Jacket

Summary

As you can see, there are various options for when you are choosing a jacket for wild camping. My personal preference is to be able to have layers I can add and remove as needed. For me, the Forclaz Travel 500 Men’s 3 in 1 Jacket would meet these requirements perfectly.

Which jacket will you choose? Let me know your favourite jacket and why you think it is the best for wild camping.