Regatta

Regatta has built its reputation as the go-to name for affordable outdoor clothing rather than technical mountaineering kit. The British brand's whole pitch is helping people enjoy the outdoors without worrying about the price tag, and for school runs, dog walks and casual hikes its waterproof jackets and fleeces deliver reassuring value. If you want serious all-day protection in heavy rain, treat it as the dependable everyday choice rather than the summit specialist.

For the price, yes. Regatta's waterproof jackets use the brand's own weather-resistant fabrics with taped seams and storm flaps, and many reviewers find the build reassuring enough to last several years with care. The honest caveat is that water resistance is moderate, so they shine on shorter, casual outings rather than long exposure to driving rain.

They sit under the same roof. Both Regatta and Craghoppers belong to the privately owned Regatta Group, but they aim at different shoppers. Regatta is the value-first label for everyday outdoor wear, while Craghoppers leans more premium with tech-driven features. Pick Regatta if budget and casual use lead your list; reach for Craghoppers when you want more from the fabric and detailing.

Start with a waterproof jacket, the category the brand is best known for. It is the most versatile piece in the range and the clearest test of Regatta's value proposition. Once you trust the fit and finish, the fleeces make a natural second buy as a mid-layer underneath.

Regatta is a British clothing brand based in Manchester. Its roots go back to 1977, when Lionel Black bought a small workwear company called Risol Products; he began developing the Regatta brand in 1981, and the company took the name Regatta Ltd in 1996. That workwear DNA still shows in the practical, no-fuss design.

The line covers waterproof and breathable jackets, fleeces, trousers, footwear and camping equipment for men, women and children. Regatta has also pushed into novelty function pieces, such as battery-operated heated jackets in 2019 and the Brite Light range in 2021, which builds torches into jackets and hats.

It is recognised at a national level. Regatta has been awarded the Queen's Award for Enterprise: International Trade twice, in 2012 and 2013, in recognition of its international growth. That is a credible signal that the value-led model has scaled well beyond the UK.

Yes, kids are a core part of the range. Regatta launched its first licensed partnership with Peppa Pig in early 2021, with waterproof jackets, puddlesuits, wellies and fleeces aimed at children. If you are kitting out little ones for wet weather, this is one of the brand's signature strengths.

Regatta works with celebrity ambassadors, who over the years have included Girls Aloud member Kimberley Walsh, Alesha Dixon and Vogue Williams. The current womenswear ambassador is Giovanna Fletcher, while cricketer and broadcaster Andrew Flintoff, known as Freddie Flintoff, fronts the menswear side.

Treat the waterproofing as something you maintain, not something fixed forever. Wash on a gentle cycle, skip fabric softener, and reproof the outer with a wash-in or spray-on treatment when water stops beading off. Regatta jackets are designed to give you years of service, and good upkeep is the difference between replacing one in a season and keeping it going well beyond.