The ambassador checks out Workman's new fall/winter collection! [2] We try out some winter rainwear that could be used for hiking in the mountains

Cold rain is a nuisance when hiking in the winter. Once wet, your clothing takes a long time to dry, absorbs moisture, and gets colder and colder. It's a real downer, even though you've come all the way to the mountains, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. In some cases, it could lead to hypothermia, so it's no joke. On the other hand, you can't just pack everything you need, and winter hiking is already bulky and requires a lot of clothing. Of course, when choosing clothing for winter mountain climbing, you want to consider water-repellent and cold-weather properties. This time, we'll introduce some workwear that you'll want to add to your winter wardrobe

• AEGIS Cold Weather Rain Jacket
• AEGIS PERFECT Cold Weather Rain Pants
• FieldCore Windproof and Water-Repellent Gloves

AEGIS Cold Weather Rain Jacket (Outdoor Recommended Rating: ★★★★☆) 3,900 yen

Water repellency◎ Wind resistance◎ Warmth◎ Soft to the touch◯ Stretch◯ Breathability◯

It's excellent at keeping you warm and windproof, and keeps you cool. The fleece lining makes it hard to move around, but it's actually quite easy to move around in. The waterproof zipper is a nice detail

The fleece lining is smooth to the touch. In addition to its heat retention, it is also reasonably breathable, so it doesn't feel stuffy like other jackets

This warm-looking rain jacket features a fleece lining. It's also water-resistant to 10,000mm. The fleece lining feels soft against the skin and provides excellent wind and cold protection. It's like a combination of a warm fleece and a rain jacket. The front and chest pockets have waterproof zippers to prevent rain from getting in. The cuffs have non-slip hemlines to prevent them from rolling up, preventing cold air from getting in. Despite its warmth, its breathability of 8,000g/m²/24h means it doesn't feel too hot. It should be quite useful for cold winter hikes on low mountains around 1,500m. It also has a hood, so it's perfect for hiking on cold, rainy days

I poured water from the tap as hard as I could. It repelled the water so well that it was almost hilarious. I guess that's what you'd expect from a waterproof rating of 10,000mm

The hem is equipped with an elastic non-slip material to prevent the outside air from entering

AEGIS PERFECT Cold Weather Rain Pants (Outdoor Recommended Rating: ★★★★☆) 2,500 yen

Water repellency ◎ Wind resistance ◎ Warmth ◎ Soft to the touch ◯ Stretch ◯ Breathability △

The footwork is light. When climbing, the backs of my knees get a little sweaty and the fleece lining feels a little clingy, but it's within the acceptable range

My impressions after wearing them. Honestly, they're good. I think they're worth it. The fleece lining is comfortable and intuitively feels warm. The waist adjusters are an unusual type, with Velcro straps on both sides, no zipper. They're stretchy in all directions, allowing for smooth leg movement. While they're certainly effective against the cold, they're not suited to strenuous exercise. While they might be fine in extreme cold, they might not be suitable for regular mountain climbing (especially uphill). These pants also have a breathability of 8,000g/m²/24h, and because they're pants, they're less stuffy than the upper body, but I did get a little sweaty in some areas, and the fleece lining occasionally clung to the backs of my knees, which was a bit uncomfortable. My durable water-repellent test results were decent. I splashed tap water on my feet for about 30 seconds, and they repelled the water with ease. It's a bit challenging, but they might be quite good for climbing snowy mountains

I poured tap water into this as well. Even after pouring it in for about a minute, the water didn't seep in

The waist adjuster is made of Velcro, which is easy to use with one hand. It has good stretch, so fine adjustments are sufficient

FieldCore Windproof and Water-Repellent Gloves (Outdoor Recommended Rating: ★★☆☆☆) 1,500 yen

Water repellency ◎ Wind resistance ◯ Heat retention ◯ Soft to the touch ◯ Stretch △ Breathability ◯

These gloves are windproof and water-repellent with a Teflon coating. The size is slightly small. The lining is made of a warm, brushed fabric, which keeps you warm and effectively blocks wind. These gloves can be said to keep you warm all the way to your fingertips. However, perhaps due to the amount of fleece, mobility is just tolerable. There's a non-slip rubber padding on the palm, but it's only a temporary solution (sigh). There's a zippered pocket on the back of the hand, but it's not very big, so it's actually hard to know what to put inside. Rather than the pocket itself, I'd like to see more design improvements made to ease of movement. However, the water-repellent finish is quite high. The back of the hand, palm, and fingertips are all water-repellent. No water even got into the zippered pocket. While these might be good for snowy mountains, their cold-weather protection may be a bit unreliable

It repels water completely. Water didn't even seep into the zipper pocket

As you can see, even if you try to catch water in the palm of your hand, the water does not soak in and instead falls straight down

summary

Rain gear for winter mountains. Most people pack rainwear and insulation just in case. This is because rainwear is primarily water-repellent and generally offers little in the way of cold protection. Combined with insulation, it helps retain body heat and keeps outside air out, contributing to effective warmth. While it can be bulky, depending on the weather, the cold-weather rain jacket and pants introduced here are likely to be quite useful. With a water resistance of 10,000mm and breathability of 8,000g/m²/24h, they're not just for show. The windproof and water-repellent gloves also boast a high level of water repellency. Workman's rainwear is hard to judge without trying it

   

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