Review – Regatta wellies and waterproof jacket

It’s bluebell time again and I’ve been checking our local woods for that fragrant carpet of blue that I look forward to every year. My Regatta wellies and waterproof jacket have been keeping me warm and dry…

 

Regatta waterproof jacket and ankle wellies

Advertorial Feature

 

Bluebell wood in East Sussex

 

This year the bluebells in Sussex are late. It’s been cooler and wetter than usual and I’ve needed a bit of protection from Spring weather. I’ve got a down jacket but was looking for something a bit lighter, waterproof and with a hood, for when I’m outside exploring and those downpours hit. Let’s face it, we’ve had more than our fair share of showers lately and warmer days don’t seem to be in any hurry to arrive.

 

Regatta waterproof jacket for Spring showers

Regatta came to the rescue. They’ve got a full range of lightweight, showerproof jackets which are perfect for those spring and summer rainy days. They sent me over the Corinne IV, a Regatta women’s lightweight waterproof jacket with hood, and a cool pair of Regatta wellies, to try out. Here’s what I thought…

 

Warm and cosy!

 

The Regatta women’s waterproof jacket

This Regatta waterproof jacket is perfect for the weather we’re having. One minute sunny, the next blustery with showers. It’s made with Isolite 5000 a super lightweight fabric. It’s waterproof to keep you dry, windproof to keep you warm and breathable to keep you comfortable.

The Styling

The cut of this jacket gives a fitted feminine look which finishes at the hip. I like that it’s not bulky or shapeless. It looks good for wearing around the town, in the countryside or for coastal walks and has a reflective safety trim. I’ve got the jacket in dark cerise but it comes in a range of five other colours.

Waterproof and windproof

 

The Regatta Corinne IV features

 

The Corinne jacket has a durable water repellent finish and the taped seams mean the rain won’t leak through to your clothes and there’re no unwanted draughts. There’s also an adjustable shock cord hem and soft mesh lining. The jacket has elasticated cuffs which is great for keeping the rain out although I’d prefer something more tailored.

Two roomy side pockets zip up from bottom to top and have plackets to keep out the weather. The adjustable hood won’t blow down in the wind and stows neatly away in the back of the collar when not needed. The funnel neck stops the wind and rain whipping around your neck but isn’t restricting or annoying.

When I wore the Regatta waterproof jacket at the weekend the water just rolled straight off, without soaking into the fabric, and I kept completely dry. I also wore it with just a t-shirt underneath during recent blustery weather and it kept me nicely warm.

 

Stowable hood

Packable

I love that this jacket packs down neatly into the left hand pocket and doesn’t take up too much room in your bag or backpack. The two straps mean you could also just clip it around your waist as a belt bag when you’re not wearing it. Perfect for hiking, travelling and times when you want to pack light.

The Sizing

Sizing is true to size. I ordered the jacket in a size 14 because I wanted room underneath for a thick fleece. I’m a 12-14 and the sizing was perfect.

The Verdict

When it comes to Britain’s wet and windy weather the Regatta waterproof jacket will keep you warm and dry without being heavy or bulky. Its neat tailoring looks great and the jacket comes in a range of six colours. I love that it packs neatly away into a pocket and its handy belt strap. The Corinne IV is the perfect waterproof, windproof jacket for exploring outdoors in the UK’s temperamental spring and summer weather. I know I’ll be wearing this jacket a lot. 

 

Regatta waterproof jacket

 

Regatta Wellies

 

Regatta ankle wellies in burgundy

 

I loved the Regatta ankle wellies as soon as saw them – the DMs of the wellie world! The burgundy colour goes well with the jacket too.

The Lady Harper low cut Wellington boots are perfect for outdoor adventures, walking the dog and general everyday use. They’re also stylish enough to wear to the High Street and would be perfect for festivals.

 

Waterproof with good grip

As well as being smart the ankle wellies are practical and comfortable. The vulcanised rubber upper keeps feet warm and dry and the soft cotton lining means they’re comfortable too. The EVA foot bed is shock absorbent and with excellent cushioning.

The multi-directional cleated sole is made from gum rubber and has a deep tread which helps grip and stability in wet muddy conditions. I was glad of this in the woods this week where the rain has caused small streams to run through many the pathways.

 

Regatta ankle wellies

 

Styling

Although the Regatta ankle wellies look sturdy they’re actually very light at 416 grams and look very feminine. They’re vegan-friendly and come in a range of colours and patterns from stripes and spots to florals and plain.

The Sizing

The ankle wellies are easy to slip on with a pull on tab at the back and elasticated sides mean they grip your foot without being loose. They’re very comfortable. I have medium to wide feet and went for my usual size which fit perfectly.

I walked through the woods for over an hour on my first wear without any rubbing at all. Ankle wellies are a really good alternative to full length wellingtons if you have larger calves.

Easy to clean

The boots are easy to clean. Just wipe them over, or do what I did when we got back from our muddy walk, and just lightly hose them down.

Testing out the Regatta ankle wellies

The verdict

The Regatta wellies in ankle length wouldn’t usually have been my first choice but now I’ve tried them I absolutely love them! They look great, are warm and comfy, have good grip and are a lot lighter than full-length wellies. 

Whatever UK weather decides to throw at us at the moment I’m fully kitted out to deal with the wind and rain. The Regatta waterproof jacket will keep me dry and warm and goes perfectly with my ankle wellies which also look pretty cool. Have you tried ankle wellies? You should…

Many thanks to my good friend Frances for agreeing to be photographer and to Mr Jones who also took some of these shots.

The Regatta ankle wellies and jacket were gifted to me for the purposes of this review. However, all views, opinions and newfound love of an ankle welly are entirely my own.

In other news I was delighted to have made number 9 on Feedspot’s list of UK travel blogs.