[Product Review] Trespass Miyake Waterproof Jacket

I was recently invited to collaborate with Trespass, the outdoor clothing company. I wasn’t familiar with Trespass, but about the same time that they approached me, I saw someone recommend them in a UK Hiking Facebook group that I belong to. They mentioned that the company is based in Scotland and that their products were designed for British weather. That was definitely a selling point for me.

Now, I have an old lightweight waterproof jacket from The North Face that I got almost nine years ago. It’s been with me on many outdoor adventures, and it’s held up well over the years. If you’ve ever been with me on one of my She Walks in Nature hikes, then you’ve probably seen my pink jacket. It’s been good. But to be honest, it’s not really breathable, which makes it a bit sweaty on the inside, especially on warm rainy days. So I was looking forward to trying out a new (to me) brand, and see what it was like.

After browsing among their lightweight waterproof jackets, I chose the Miyake women’s hooded waterproof jacket in Bermuda. My first impression was great. I loved the color and I loved the fit. The jacket felt comfortable, and it had a breathable lining. I wore it around town a few times to run errands in the rain, and it got its true test last weekend, when I was not only camping, but I was on an outdoors course where we were outside all day long on two very gray, drizzly days.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored article, however all opinions are entirely my own (as always).

Waterproofing

The Miyake has a waterproof rating of 5000mm. Waterproofing is tested by placing a very long tube on top of the fabric, then filling the tube with water. With a 5000mm jacket, you could fill the tube up to 5,000 mm (5 metres, or 16.4 ft) before the water would start to leak through the fabric of the jacket. This particular rating is generally considered very waterproof, and is good for moderate to heavy rain.

The jacket also has taped seams, which is an important detail. What this means is that the stitching of the jacket is covered with tape, which seals it so that water can’t get through. It has a water repellent zip, which not only helps to keep you dry, but it also prevents wind from getting through. Finally, it’s got adjustable velcro cuffs, rather than just having elastic cuffs like my old waterproof has.

Breathability

This jacket also has a breathability rating of 5000mvp, which stands for moisture vapor transmission. The breathability of a jacket is measured by the rate at which water vapor passes through the fabric of the garment over a 24 hour period . This result is measured in grams of water vapor per square meter of fabric.

Even though I was wearing a lot of layers on my wildlife trailing weekend, I never felt hot or sticky inside the jacket, even when we were hiking up hills following a deer trail. And then I was vigorously packing up my campsite in the pouring rain to head home, I was dry inside my jacket.

Sizing

According to the Trespass size guide, an XS = 8 and S = 10. I vary between a size 8 and 10 in clothing, so I decided to go with the S, and it was perfect. If I’m just wearing a light base layer underneath, I would probably be fine with an XS. But for multiple layers (which is how I usually dress in the outdoors), the S is just fine.

I wore the jacket last weekend on a Wildlife Trailing Intensive course where I was also camping. I spent the days adding and peeling off layers, but it was a drizzly weekend, so the Miyake waterproof was my outer layer at all times. At the coldest moments of the weekend, I was wearing a light base layer, a lightweight fleece, my down jacket, and the Miyake on top, and it fit perfectly.

Trespass jackets come in sizes ranging from XXS to XXL, so it should be easy to find the right fit. Remember: size up rather than down if you want to be able to layer underneath it.

Are Trespass jackets true to size?

In my opinion, yes. As I mentioned above, according to the Trespass size guide, an XS = 8 and S = 10. I am usually somewhere in between the two sizes, so I sized up to a Small and it was a perfect fit. It’s comfortable when I’m wearing just a t-shirt underneath it, and it’s comfortable with thicker layers, like a down jacket or a fleece. 

Hood

One thing that’s very important in a waterproof jacket is the hood, and this is something I didn’t realize when I bought my first waterproof. It’s important that the hood be adjustable. That way, you can tighten it around your face and head so that it stays on in the wind and rain. This will also help to keep your head dry.

The Miyake has an adjustable hood, and has a three point adjustable system. This means that it has two elastic cords on either side of the face to pull the hood tight, and another cord on the back of the head. It’s easy to get a snug fit so the hood keeps your head dry.

Pockets

The jacket has two spacious pockets on the outside, and a great inner pocket in the front to store your phone or other items. This is something that I now look for when buying outdoors items. It’s not comfortable to place your phone in the side pockets of a jacket if you have a backpack with a hip belt on; it’s much easier to have your phone in a smaller pocket on the chest of the jacket. Because this jacket is waterproof, the pocket is accessed from the inside—just unzip the main zip, and then unzip the inner pocket.

Waterproof jackets

If you’re looking for a womens lightweight waterproof jacket with hood, I highly recommend checking out Trespass. The prices are very reasonable, and I’m very happy with the quality. Check them out!