When you walk into an outdoor shop the choice of jackets can be overwhelming and the perfect jacket could be there but how do you know?

‘Has your jacket already picked you”

I spend a vast majority of my days talking to people about their jacket choice but does anything I say make any difference – has your jacket already picked you?

Where the jacket is, on ‘The Wall of Jackets’, can dictate which jacket you pick.

WHY you ask – well we place our jackets in special places and we use our knowledge of customer buying patterns to drive these decisions. BUT it’s not just us – the people that make your jackets, design the features, the colours, the shapes and the face fabrics have already made all those decisions for you.

‘like the holy grail!’

It’s all quite exciting really – you just have to decide whether you are going to succumb to what others think you need OR stick with what you know and trust but probably can’t find ever again – like the holy grail!

So..are you loud, outrageous, like living on the edge, like to be at the forefront of EVERYTHING OR do you wish you were like this but have just never found the confidence to be? The bright red Mountain Equipment Changabang could be for you – and low and behold – there it is front and centre on the wall – like a beacon – calling to you – be mine, be mine!

OR are you happy with who you are, just enjoy life, want to be one of the crowd, not make a fuss and just live the simple life? Well your Berghaus Glissade in Powder Blue will be sitting, very well behaved, somewhere a little less ‘in-your-face’ but still holding it’s own on ‘The Wall’.

OR do you want a jacket just for emergencies, you’re a fair weather walker really, don’t do the action packed hero holiday and it’s only because you don’t want to get caught out that you are picked by the Mountain Hardware Epic Jacket in a light and refreshing Lavender. She’s sitting in a prominent eye catching position but isn’t a show pony.

So my friends, the next time you walk into an outdoor shop (preferably a Cotswold) to purchase a Waterproof jacket – ask yourself this – has my jacket already picked me and do I just need to stand in front of this wall for a few minutes and wait for the sign?

‘ask the friendly assistant’

If this doesn’t work for you – ask the friendly assistant – because believe me I could talk to your for hours and hours and hours on Gore-tex, eVent, Hyvent, Aquafoil, Precip and all the other features of waterproof jackets!