Cimalp Storm Pro 3 H Waterproof Jacket Review

Cimalp are a well-established French manufacturer specialising in outdoor clothing. The Storm Pro 3 H waterproof jacket was tested in the Peak District.

Features

  • Highly waterproof and breatheable UltraShell® 3 layer material.

  • Waterproof rating 20,000mm

  • Breathability rating 80,000g/m²

  • Hood (not adjustable) with visor, elasticated back panel and magnetic retainer.

  • Zipped chest pocket with internal routing for earphones.

  • Full length waterproof zip.

  • Closure clip (to keep jacket in place when unzipped)

  • Elasticated hem, (not adjustable)

  • Elasticated cuffs with thumb hole

  • Weight - 248g (Men’s Small)

  • RRP - £219.90

Man running in heavy rain and cloud wearing a red and black waterproof jacket

Fit

Sizing is generous with the men’s small still being quite roomy on me and there was plenty of room to wear the jacket over several layers. There was enough length to keep my backside covered and the arms felt particularly long. There is also ample room in the hood.

On Test

The Storm Pro 3 H was tested in the Peak District on both runs and walks lasting up to 80 minutes in mild, wet weather.

First things first, this isn’t a superlight jacket that packs down to the size of an apple! It is thicker and thus heavier and bulkier than some rival jackets, but having said that it feels much more robust. My men’s small weighed 248g.

The UltraShell® 3 layer material gives the Storm Pro 3 H a thicker and stiffer feel than some other waterproof jackets and I had no concerns about wearing it under a running back pack. It gives the impression that it is more resistant to abrasion than some lightweight materials. The thicker material also gives the jacket a warmer feel than some lighter weight waterproofs. The full length waterproof zip feels strong and there is a press stud at chest height which allows the jacket to be unzipped without it flapping around.

The front detail of a red and black waterproof jacket

The sleeves felt slightly too long for me but that meant I could pull the elasticated cuffs down over my hands to keep them warm. There are thumb holes to keep the sleeves in place and prevent water seeping up your wrists.

I know that I only have a small head but the hood was just too big. It has a small piece of elastic across the back panel but there was no way to manually adjust the volume or get it tight around my face. This meant that when I turned my head the hood didn’t turn with me and when running into the wind the hood blew down. I’m not a fan of jackets without adjustable hoods; if you are in the mountains in a storm you want your hood to stay securely in place!

An interesting feature is two magnets incorporated into the material that keep the hood in place and prevent it from flapping around when it is down. These worked well and may seem like a good idea but I personally I don’t want anything magnetic close by when I’m using a compass. Admittedly a compass wouldn’t be affected by the magnets whilst the jacket is being worn, but it could be if you put the compass in the jacket pocket and then took the jacket off or whilst carrying the jacket and compass in your pack.

The chest pocket is large enough to hold a phone and a folded A4 map. For people wanting to wear plug-in earphones there is a small internal hole in the pocket through which to feed the cable.

I tested the jacket in late summer / early autumn in quite mild, wet conditions. Rain beaded noticeably on the outside of the jacket  but despite the high breathability rating I still felt damp after running for an hour in the rain. The inside of the jacket felt wet to touch indicating that perspiration wasn’t escaping. However there was much less moisture build up inside the jacket when walking, even in heavy rain. I think that the jacket would perform better in colder mountainous conditions than in the wet but mild UK climate. I’d choose it to wear over both base and mid-layers for slower moving activities in cold, wet weather.

Pros

Robust and hardwearing.

Retains heat better than some other lightweight waterproofs.

text on a jacket describing the waterproof rating

Cons

Hood lacks volume adjuster.

No magnets needed thanks!

Less breathable than the figures suggest.

Heavier and bulkier than some rival waterproof jackets.

Conclusion

For me, the Cimalp Storm Pro 3 H jacket would be best used as a “wear all day” jacket for colder conditions rather than a jacket to use for shorter trail runs and races. The water repellency was excellent but the high breathability rating didn’t translate into the performance that I was hoping for when running in mild, wet weather. There are other lighter and more packable jackets on the market, but the Storm Pro’s more robust design may mean that it stands up better to abrasion and general wear and tear.

Find out more: Cimalp Storm Pro 3 H

Dave Taylor

Dave is an experienced, competitive fell runner based in the Peak District and runs for Dark Peak Fell Runners. He is a UK Athletics coach specialising in fell and mountain running. Find out more here: Fell Running Guide

Kate Allen