Keela Munro waterproof jacket and salopettes

British birders are often active in wet and windy weather, so waterproof outer layers are a crucial piece of kit. Expensive Gore-Tex offerings by the likes of Berghaus and North Face tend to dominate the mainstream outdoor shops, but recently the SeaWatch SW co-ordinator, Russell Wynn, has been field-testing a cheaper alternative by British company Keela.

I have really started to appreciate the importance of good field gear. During the first three years of the Seawatch SW project I have spent several hundred hours perched on the exposed headland of Gwennap Head in Cornwall. Throughout this period I have experienced some pretty harsh weather, and have become increasingly frustrated by the failure of expensive Gore-Tex waterproofs to keep me comfortable in these conditions. Typically, I have found that, after a few hours of heavy rain, apparently waterproof jackets begin to leak in exposed areas such as the shoulders and forearms, while 'waterproof' trousers begin to leak around the knees. In addition, when sitting on wet grass, I start to get unpleasantly damp under my backside! I'm not talking about cheap gear either: for example, my Berghaus Mera Peak Gore-Tex XCR jacket cost in excess of £200 and was meant to be suitable for hardcore mountaineering. However, this was just one of a long line of expensive waterproofs that have failed to keep me dry in the worst of conditions, probably because of the current obsession with light weight and breathability. I decided it was time for a change.

Russ tries out Keela waterproofs

After some research on the web, I had three options. The first was to stick with Gore-Tex, but go for a top-of-the-range sailing waterproof such as the Musto MPX Offshore Jacket that is specifically designed to deal with foul weather conditions in the marine environment. A colleague who puts in a lot of sea time undertaking marine life surveys swore by his Musto jacket. However, the price tag of £385 was pretty unpalatable, and the bright colours were not ideal for general birding. Good old-fashioned fishermen's oilskins were another option, but again the colours were an issue and I wanted something that was at least reasonably breathable. The final option was Keela, a British company founded in eastern Scotland and specialising in performance outdoor clothing. Their major selling point is that their gear is "tried, tested and trusted by Mountain Rescue Teams, Tactical Forces and Expedition teams all around the World".

On their website, Keela claim that all single-layer waterproof and breathable fabrics stop working effectively after an hour or so of exposure to heavy rain and low temperatures. Keela therefore use a 'System Dual Protection' system for their outerwear, which is supposed to "offer unrivalled protection when it comes to waterproofing and breathability in any conditions". The SDP system was awarded the Queen's Award for Enterprise in 2008, and differs from rival systems by using a double-layer fabric with an air gap in between. The principle is comparable to double-glazing, with the air gap preventing cold air outside the garment coming into direct contact with warm air inside. I won't bore you with the science, but the Keela website quotes some interesting research explaining the failure of their competitors' 'waterproof and breathable' garments to work effectively in cold, wet conditions.

Encouragingly, the cost of Keela gear compared very well with rival products, and they had a range of birder-friendly colours available. I therefore took the plunge and ordered the Keela Munro jacket in olive and black, which retails at £160 and is described on the Keela website as "Keela's flagship jacket capable of taking you through the toughest conditions imaginable. Has helped conquer the biggest mountains on the planet". A quick Google search revealed that most user reviews were highly positive, especially during British winter conditions. I also ordered the Keela Munro salopettes in black, which retail at £120.

My order arrived promptly and, as well as my two purchased garments, I received a Keela goodie bag containing a fleece scarf, a headlamp, and a pac-a-sac to put it all in. A 20% discount code for future purchases was also included. I'm not a fan of purchasing important field gear over the phone, but the lack of any outlets in southern England left me with no choice. Despite a helpful phone discussion about sizing with a Keela rep, the 'Large' salopettes were too short in the leg so I had to return them. However, the revised order again arrived surprisingly quickly.

First impressions were good. The Munro jacket gave me a snug, secure feeling the first time I put it on, and was a perfect fit. It's not as lightweight as my previous Gore-Tex jackets, and is cut a bit shorter, but it felt reassuringly robust and yet still allowed a good range of movement. There are some nice details, such as the 'warm touch' fleece pocket linings and an elasticated inner snow skirt that helps prevent cold draughts. The salopettes were also comfortable, although even with the 'Extra Large' size they were still a touch short in the leg. This is certainly something that Keela needs to address, especially as I'm only just over 6 feet tall.

So how did the Keela gear perform in the field? My first outing was a ten-day session on Gwennap Head in October, at the end of the SeaWatch SW 2009 survey period. I was almost disappointed that the weather wasn't as bad as my July and September sessions, but I still experienced a reasonable variety of conditions. The jacket kept me completely dry on the wet days, while the heavier weight ensured that I remained warm when sitting still for long periods. The outer fabric seemed pretty durable, and showed no sign of wear despite being rubbed against sharp granite boulders. The shoulders are reinforced with heavier fabric, which should help reduce wear from rucksack, binocular and tripod straps. The jacket hood was snug and secure, with the wired peak and volume adjuster ensuring it stayed firmly in place even when walking into a stiff headwind. In heavy rain, the Velcro adjustable wrist cuffs could be secured tightly enough to stop rain running down my arms when I had binoculars raised for long periods. Pocket capacity was good, with specific spaces for an OS map and a mobile phone, as well as two pairs of general pockets.

The salopettes also kept me warm and dry, although the lack of a built-in gaiter or any lace hooks for the salopettes, combined with the slightly short leg length, meant that they often left my ankles exposed when sitting down. Consequently, I tended to wear them over a pair of waterproof gaiters. There is a single chest pocket, and a useful zip for the guys (the girls should be aware that answering 'calls of nature' while wearing these salopettes may be challenging). The fabric around your backside and inner ankle is reinforced, in order to resist wear in these areas.

As well as static observations at the watchpoint, I wore the jacket while walking to and from the B&B at Porthgwarra. It was noticeable that in damp and humid conditions (between 15 and 20°C) I started to overheat, and even the pit zips couldn't prevent some condensation forming beneath my rucksack and under my arms. This is consistent with online reviews, and suggests that the Keela DPS system is probably not best suited for low-level summer walking, especially if carrying a rucksack full of gear. However, the system really comes into its own in cold weather. I wore the jacket while out in the field during the recent cold spell, and found that even in –2°C (and with a significant wind chill) I remained warm, despite only wearing a base layer and fleece jumper underneath.

In summary, I think Keela's SDP system could well be a serious rival to big-brand Gore-Tex, although I want to see how it handles a year or two of intensive use before making a firm assessment. The Munro jacket is a really well-designed and well-made piece of kit, and should definitely appeal to birders active throughout the year, especially seawatchers who value warmth and waterproofing over weight and breathability. The Munro salopettes are probably better suited to really severe conditions, and need a few improvements to match the comfort of the jacket. Anyone over 6 feet tall may struggle with the short leg length, and overall I feel they are probably best suited to static observations while standing, e.g. boat-based birding. Both items are excellent value when compared with rival products.

Good points

• Great value
• Subdued colours
• Jacket has a very comfortable fit
• Sturdy construction
• Two-layer construction provides enhanced warmth and waterproofing

Bad points

• Heavier than most Gore-Tex waterproofs
• Tendency to overheat in warm, humid conditions
• Salopettes cut too short in the leg and lacking built-in gaiter or lace hooks