Sprayway Santiago IA jacket as supplied by Go Outdoors.

Adam Smith at Go Outdoors asked me if I would like to review one of the waterproof jackets from their sub £80 range and I chose a Sprayway Santiago IA model.

I already have a Montane Superfly jacket, which is a good few years old, but the thing they have in common is that they are both designed by the same person, Julie Greengrass, and I wanted to see how the Sprayway jacket would match up against its more costly big brother.

The Santiago is constructed from 'Hydrodry' which is one of Sprayway's 4 technical fabrics, and is rated at 5000mm proof, which isn't bad. It has a nice soft feel to it and doesn't rustle much when worn. The jacket has lined sleeves and a mesh liner over the shoulders and across the back. I suspect that as the cheapest option of their fabrics the entry level Hydrodry will not be as breathable and this mesh is to help with internal ventilation. All the internal seams are taped to increase waterproofness.

There is also second inner zip which can allow you to zip in a Sprayway compatible fleece 

The hood is excellent, with a wired peak, adjuster velcro tab and soft fleece chin guard. It moves with your head, and is better than the Superfly one in my opinion, which is too big.

There are 2 large zip pockets, with storm flaps easily capable of holding a map, and an internal phone pocket too.

The long front zip has 4 velcro patches which can be used instead for ventilation. However this zip is a standard plastic one rather than a more costly weatherproof one, and this would let in water and wind in extreme conditions, so it's important to make sure the storm cover is velcroed up.

The cuffs have Julie's trademark 'upside down' velcro sealing tabs; I took this up with her a few years ago, and still don't agree with her reasons for  designing a jacket this way, I find the velcro can catch on the main zip patches, but this is just my pernicketiness.  A shock cord adjustable hem with nice big tabs finishes the jacket off.

In use? Well it's a decently made comfortable jacket at a very reasonable price. Over the last few days it has been worn in some horrid rain and coped well, and I would recommend it for all domestic use, rambling and even for light DoE trips, but for extended committed outdoor use I think the limitations of the jacket would show up as the material is quite thin, the liners for the sleeves could become very damp and the mesh liner could be uncomfortable under a heavy backpack when walking hard uphill.

However it is very good value from Go Outdoors at the moment and the Sprayway Santiago should be considered for a good all round lightweight waterproof walking jacket.

I am not paid to review any of the gear supplied to me by Go Outdoors, they simply ask that I give an objective and honest review based on my opinions and experience of similar outdoor products.