The Berghaus Paclite 2.0 jacket is one of my lightest outdoor hiking jackets. At first, I wondered how it would possibly keep me warm and dry as it weighed literally nothing!
Here you can read about why I think this is the best packable rain jacket for hiking.
For those of you who love the outdoors and hiking in the UK, you’ll know how important it is to always take a waterproof jacket with you. The UK weather seems to have a mind of its own and just because it rains doesn’t mean your hike is over!
My first trip wearing my Berghaus Paclite 2.0 Jacket was for a weekend hiking trip in the Peak District in February. The temperatures were cold in the UK, even with the blue sky, but I promise it varied between 2C to -1C degrees. And was even colder with that wind chill.
But I’ve also tested the jacket on plenty of rainy day hikes too.
My pink Berghaus Paclite Jacket is no longer available, however, there are four colours to choose from on the Cotswold Outdoor website and if you decide you don’t like them you can easily return them as they have an up to 100 days return policy.
Read my full Berghaus Paclite jacket review here to see why!
Check availability hereBerghaus Paclite 2.0 Jacket Review
Paclite Jacket Features
The Hood
- The jacket comes with a fully adjustable hood, which is handy since my head is small, so I like a jacket I can adjust.
- There is a toggle at the back of the hood and at the front two more adjustable elastic pulls that pull it close to your face.
- It also has a small peak which is great to stop rain from getting in your eyes!
Pockets + Sleeves
- The Paclite jacket has two decent sized pockets with zips.
- And on the sleeves, there are velcro tabs so you can stop cold wind trying to sneak in!
How waterproof is the Berghaus jacket?
The Berghaus jacket design has an outer fabric which has durable water repellent fabric treatment. Next is an amazing GORE-TEX membrane (this guarantees to keep you dry). And lastly, an inner lining.
You really can’t go wrong with a GORE-TEX jacket if you want to keep dry. Read about the GORE-TEX guarantee here gore-tex.com/guarantee
During my first trip to the Peak District, would you believe that it didn’t rain! Although, instead of rain there was a crazy snowstorm, with sideways snow. And my Paclite jacket kept me both warm and dry.
Finally, a chance to review the Berghaus Paclite jacket in British rain (and there was a lot). In the UK, June was the hottest and dryest month, except the one weekend I attempted the Welsh 3000s Challenge in Snowdonia and we had 11 hours non-stop rain.
Out of a group of seven, mine was the only waterproof jacket that lasted against the continuous rain and kept me dry.
As you can see from this photo, the conditions were tough but the Berghaus Paclite jacket was awesome.
In fact, I would have stayed completed dry had my waterproof trousers not done such an awful job. I now own the Berghaus Paclite Waterproof trousers which are equally fantastic.
Order with Cotswold Outdoor and get FREE next day delivery – check terms and conditions here.
How warm and windproof is the jacket?
As I mentioned earlier in this review I tried this jacket out for the first time on a two-day hiking trip to the Peak District in February.
On my top, I wore a base layer, fleece jacket and my synthetic jacket. Then on top, I had my Berghaus Paclite jacket. This might seem a lot, but on the hills, it was below zero temperatures and I get cold very quickly. I’m currently sat in my house with two jumpers on now haha.
Even though the jacket is lightweight it still protected me from the wind and kept me lovely and warm. I even got a bit hot a couple of times on the uphill climbs, which is normal when hiking.
Read next: 22 best hikes in the UK
Why is Berghaus Paclite 2.0 the best lightweight jacket?
I’ve bought a range of different waterproof jackets over the years. I can safely say this is by far the lightest and most packable.
The jacket weighs approximately 330 grams (depending on what size you buy).
And I can fold it down so it’s almost as small as a tin of beans! To give you an idea of how light it is, this weighs less than half a standard loaf of bread. Now think about all the extra sandwiches you can bring along for the hike!
What are the colour & size options for the Paclite jacket?
I love my bright colours, especially pink! You’ll notice a theme if you follow my hiking trips on Instagram! I think it’s the perfect colour in case I ever need rescuing! But I know pink isn’t for everyone, I won’t judge!! The pink jacket is no longer on sale.
What other colours does the Berghaus Paclite jacket come in?
These are the four colours available via Cotswold Outdoor, see jackets online here to get a proper idea, the navy option is currently on sale. I’d absolutely love this bright red option, brilliant contrast for photos and also handy for people to find you if you get lost.
The Berghaus jacket comes in seven size options, from a size 8 to size 20. My jacket is a size 10, which is my normal clothes size and it fits perfectly. Use the size guide on Cotswold Outdoor below each product to find the right jacket to fit you.
Check prices hereRead next: Hiking Derwent Edge in the Peak District
Final thoughts on the Berghaus Paclite 2.0 jacket
For me, the Paclite jacket is perfect for all my hiking needs.
- The lightweight design makes it comfy to wear and also easier to fit into my rucksack.
- Most importantly, it’s both waterproof and windproof so ideal for my hiking expeditions in the UK and around the world.
Although this jacket will get a lot of its use on my regular hiking adventures, it is also a great waterproof jacket to take away on my other trips. I often travel light, hand luggage only so it will be perfect to pop in my bag for rainy days.
And finally, it’s pink and it makes me feel bright and happy when I wear it!
Want to buy one now? Click here to check prices at Berghaus online
Check availability at Berghaus.com hereOr alternatively, check out prices with Cotswold Outdoor. They also do FREE postage on items (see terms and conditions here) and if you’re not happy they do a up to 100 days return option (read here).
Are you looking to buy a new jacket? Or have you tried the Berghaus Paclite 2.0 Jacket? Is there anything else I’ve missed in my review of the jacket?
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**Berghaus provided me with this Berghaus Paclite 2.0 jacket for review. However, all opinions are my own.
*Becky the Traveller participates in the Amazon Services Associates Programme, as well as other affiliate programmes. If you make a purchase through these, I earn from the qualifying links. This is at no extra cost to you. Read more here.
It looks good too Becky! 🙂
I love my current waterproof jacket, but it is starting to get holes in the pockets and frayed edges. (Bad job Jack Wolfson!) I guess I’ll have to upgrade at some point. 🙁
Ah thank you, Josy, yeah I was really impressed. Initially, I got very excited about the pink haha, but it kept me lovely and warm too 🙂
Hi Becky,
Great review, I am about to invest in a new jacket and the Paclite seems the ideal choice, as I hate heavy jackets and that boil in the bag feeling you get with some cheaper ones. One question when you choose your size do you have to adjust your normal size to prepare for times you may want to wear extra layers underneath the jacket as I noticed in your review that you chose your normal size but could still accommodate the extra layers?
Hi David, that’s a really good question, I have the same size as my normal clothes for the Paclite but I do have a winter waterproof that I wish I’d gone up a size in. It would have been really helpful when laying on winter hikes. I guess it depends on whether you’re planning to use all year round, if you are then maybe worth going up a size 🙂
What is the difference between paclite 2 and paclite 2 dynak?
Hi Fran, I’m sorry, I’m afraid I don’t know