The Cape Wrath Trail is widely regarded as one of the toughest long-distance walks in the UK. It finishes in northwest Scotland, at the very tip of a remote peninsula that is frequently lashed by wind and rain. It’s a severely testing environment for any bit of outdoor kit. So, for Sprayway to name this particular waterproof jacket the ‘Cape Wrath’ shows their confidence in its design and capabilities.
The brand describes it as “the ideal shell to take on the wilds of a long distance thru-hike”. It’s very packable and fairly light, being made from the latest generation of Gore-Tex Paclite Plus fabric and tipping the scales at 400g (men’s M).
LFTOwww.outdooraction.co.uk
Pros
- Lightweight
- Packable
- Well-priced
Cons
- Only 2 pockets
- No zips
Features
The jacket has two roomy hand pockets, which are sensibly placed to sit above a rucksack hip belt. Both use reverse-coil zippers with easy-grab pull tabs, and though the zips aren’t laminated they are protected by external storm flaps. The jacket also stuffs away into the right-hand pocket, creating a neat, vaguely-torpedo-shaped little package that fits nicely in the lid of a pack.
The one-way main zipper is also a reverse-coil style, with both inner and outer storm flaps plus a bottom press stud to prevent zip creep. It has a Velcro closure at the chin, with a soft microfibre lining to prevent irritation.
The hood has a wired peak to keep out the wind and rain, plus rear volume adjustment and twin face drawcords. These have low-profile adjusters embedded in the fabric hem of the hood, which are much less bulky than external cordlocks. You do need to cinch everything in quite tightly to get a secure fit though, and unfortunately this then means there are two long elastic cords dangling outside the jacket, which have a habit of flailing around in high winds.
At the hem, there are dual elasticated drawcords for easy adjustment. Sleeves feature shaped cuffs to cover the backs of the hands, with fully adjustable Velcro tabs. The jacket lacks pit zips, which saves weight and bulk at the slight cost of added ventilation.
Fit
The Cape Wrath is available in both men’s and women’s versions. From experience, Sprayway kit tends to be generously proportioned and this jacket is no exception. Our tester Matt (6ft, 42” chest, slim build) ended up sizing down from his usual Large to a Medium for a better fit.
This gave a trim-fitting shell that still offered ample length in the arms and torso, with a generous dropped tail for better rear protection. All-round mobility was very good, the articulated sleeves offering full freedom of movement without too much hem lift.
Fabric
This jacket is made from the latest generation of Gore-Tex Paclite Plus fabric. It’s a 2.5-layer construction with a 75-denier polyester face (made from 100% recycled fabric). Inside is a dry-touch backer with a little more texture than standard Paclite, for a more pleasant next-to-skin feel.
It’s still not quite as comfortable as a three-layer jacket, but we wore it for extended periods in the hills without feeling too slick or clammy. The polyester face also ensures the jacket is very pliable, without the swish and rustle of stiffer shells. It’s a plain weave though, so don’t expect the durability of ripstop nylon.
Sustainability
Sprayway is a member of the Fair Wear Foundation and has signed up to the 8-point FWF Code of Labour Practices. Our test sample jacket was made in Myanmar, but due to the deteriorating political situation in the country and the difficulty of monitoring human rights due diligence, the brand has recently taken the decision to phase out production in Myanmar (as of early 2024), in accordance with guidance for Fair Wear Foundation members.
The face fabric of the jacket is made from 100% recycled polyester, though this is bonded to an ePTFE-based Gore-Tex Paclite Plus membrane and finished with a durable water repellent treatment that is not PFC-free.
Price and performance
We tested the Cape Wrath jacket in the hills and mountains of Snowdonia, through the wet and cold months of October and November. Despite being light and packable, we were impressed at the level of protection it offered. This is far more than a ‘just in case’ jacket, unlike many Gore-Tex Paclite rivals. It proved to be reliably waterproof and reasonably breathable, with good comfort levels thanks to the soft and pliable polyester face fabric.
The downside is that it doesn’t offer the same stiffness in wind or the long-term durability of high-denier nylon. Still, you’re getting the reliability of Gore-Tex here for around £200, which seems decent value.
How we tested
The Sprayway Cape Wrath was tested by Matt Jones, who gives outdoor gear a thrashing and reports back to us and our print title, Trail Magazine. Based in Snowdonia, Matt has also walked several long-distance backpacking trails in New Zealand, the USA and throughout the UK.
Verdict
The Sprayway Cape Wrath is a no-nonsense Gore-Tex hillwalking shell that is reliably waterproof, reasonably breathable and honestly priced, whilst also being lightweight and packable.