Offering a fairly wide choice in size and colour, the Berghaus Paclite Dynak also works very well to keep out the rain whilst allowing sweat to escape.
The fit of the Berghaus Paclite Dynak UK10 is perfect for me which is why it features in our guide to the best waterproof jackets. The torso and arms are an ideal length; but if you are taller than 5ft 8in, you might want to go up a size.
There is a fairly wide choice of sizes on offer for women – from UK8 to 18 – which is to be commended, plus a choice of brighter colours.
Gore-Tex Paclite has a hydrostatic head of 28,000mm and works very well to keep out the rain whilst also allowing sweat to escape.
Berghaus has used a two-layer construction with a durable outer and a waterproof Gore-Tex membrane. One negative of the two-layer-only design is the inside of the jacket can feel cold or clammy against the skin, weather-dependent. However, the brand does score well on ‘sustainability’ and the Dynak is part of the brand’s Madekind collection, featuring at least 90 percent bluesign-approved fabric.
This is a lightweight jacket with a pared-down design, so it has more limited features compared to other waterproof jackets. The hood has only one volume adjuster and a stiffened but non-wired peak. This is adequate in light rain but not so great in stormy mountain weather.
The cuffs and hem are easy to adjust, although it would be good to have more room at the cuffs for larger gloves. There are two fairly large, zipped hand pockets that are positioned a bit low on the jacket. When wearing the jacket with a hiking rucksack, the hipbelt covers the lower part of the pockets. Lastly, there is a fabric shield over the top of the full-length front zip, but not a softer chinguard. Overall, this is an excellent summer-season shell, but with a feature set less suitable for the ‘shoulder seasons’ of early spring and late autumn.
Interested in the men’s version of this jacket? Check out our full men’s Berghaus Paclite Dynak review. Or compare it with other waterproof jackets in our guide to the best waterproof jackets for hiking.
Written and tested by Fiona Russell
Fiona tested the jackets on the hills of Scotland and in a range of weather conditions, from cold, wet and windy through to warmer, windier and wetter! She is usually a size small or UK10 although she is fairly tall at 5ft 8in and has long arms. The jackets were weighed on her home digital scales.
This review was first published in the Spring 2023 issue of The Great Outdoors.
