Aqua Tech Field Jacket, X-Large (Black)

Comments about Aqua Tech Field Jacket, X-Large (Black):

I'm not sure why they'd call this a breathable photographers jacket. The fabric is not very breathable and the pockets are too small for lenses (way too small for f/2.8 zooms). The only photographer's feature I've found is the no-slip texture on the shoulders, otherwise it's a normal heavy duty rain jacket. With this minor differentiation and poor ventilation I can not recommend the jacket. And this is just strange, the zipper is installed backwards on mine.

Comments about Aqua Tech Field Jacket, X-Large (Black):

I purchased this product to use as a light-weight jacket while travelling with my gear in the wetter fall and colder winter months and then resort to my vest for the warmer spring and summer months. I have had this product for 1 week now and have mixed feelings about it. While the claims of being wind-proof and water proof are valid, the claim of being breathable is a little far reaching.I was intrigued by the advertised qualities of the jacket as well as the storage available for lenses. I tried the jacket right away while walking around on a cold windy morning in Hamburg. With a tee shirt, a fleece pullover and the fleece liner from my Columbia jacket underneath it performed well in keeping me warm and cosy from the biting wind. I was able to fit my 70-200 f4 lens in one pocket, a 1.4x TC and a 50mm 1.8 lens into the other breast pocket. A warm watch-mans cap in one lower pocket and a scarf fit in the other, I had trouble closing the zipper with the pockets filled this way and this is an X-large jacket, by the size chart I should be using a large jacket. Perhaps being new things need to be worn-in a little.While the layers below did their job and wicked the moisture away from the body it only went as far as the outer jacket and stayed there, leaving me eventually feeling very cold.Back at the hotel I found the moisture was present throughout the back panel and in particular at the reinforced elbows, underneath the shoulder patches and underneath the silver patch on the upper back.Within 10 minutes of being turned inside-out in my hotel room all was dry. The interesting part was the beads of water that had pooled on my fleece liner at the shoulders where the camera had been slung-over. The no-slip shoulder pads work well, as does the hood and the water-proof pockets. I have just tried the jacket again on a chilly, damp Frankfurt morning (1 week later) and can honestly say it works to keep the chill out from the wind and rain very effectively, however the jury is still out on whether or not it is viable as a breathable garment. I tried again but this time with only 2 layers, one a long-sleeve hiking shirt from Crag Hoppers and the fleece zip-out liner from my gortex jacket.With no camera equipment and a slow walking pace to prevent over-heating we walked for 3 hours this morning and upon returning to the hotel the moisture was present throughout the back, elbows and in particular the upper back area.Do I like this jacket, yes I do but not as an all-round garment, while it has worked very well to fight off the cold and wind, performing equally as well as my much heavier gortex garments from Columbia. The big let down however is it's lack of ability to adequately ventilate the moisture away without having to resort to temperature control via continuously opening and closing the zipper.There are better alternatives with equally as large front cargo pockets, however at a higher price. I will continue to use it but I will be a little more cognizant of my activities so as not to over-heat too much.My 2-cents for what it is worth

Expertise: Serious amateur

Problems Encountered: Size chart not accurateMain zipper hard to close when breast pockets are fullMoisture is trapped in areas that have doubled-up materialMoisture does not ventilate away from the jacket, or if it does it is EXXTREEMMMLLLYY SLOW! not good when you are being chilled from the inside.

Previous Equivalent Item Owned: Columbia Goretex 3-way jacket