Regatta Clothing Review: Affordable Outdoor Gear for Your Next Adventure

Are you gearing up for a camping trip, hike or other outdoor excursion? If so, you‘ll want to check out Regatta – a British brand that has been outfitting nature lovers with durable, functional and affordable clothing and equipment since 1981.

In this in-depth review, we‘ll take a closer look at Regatta‘s background, product offerings, customer feedback, and more to help you decide if their outdoor gear is right for your next adventure. Let‘s dive in!

About Regatta: Bringing the Outdoors to Everyone

Founded by a 12-person team in Manchester, England over 40 years ago, Regatta has grown into a leading supplier of outdoor clothing and gear throughout the UK and Europe. From the beginning, Regatta‘s mission has been to make enjoying the outdoors accessible to everyone by offering a wide range of products at reasonable prices.

But Regatta is about more than just selling stuff – they also aim to have a positive impact on people and the planet. Some of the causes and initiatives Regatta supports include:

• The Honesty Project – ensuring ethical sourcing, fair labor practices and sustainability in their supply chain
• Modern Slavery Statement – taking a stand against human trafficking and worker exploitation
• Sustainable product lines – such as using recycled materials and reducing packaging waste
• Charitable partnerships – donating products and funds to outdoor education programs for inner city youth and environmental conservation projects

In addition, Regatta is transparent about its workforce demographics and gender pay gap, demonstrating a commitment to equality and holding themselves accountable.

Regatta Product Review: Stylish and Functional Outdoor Clothing

Now let‘s get to the good stuff – the gear! Regatta offers a huge selection of outdoor clothing, footwear and equipment for men, women and children. For this review, we‘ll focus on some of their most popular apparel items.

Women‘s Bertille Waterproof Jacket

The Bertille lightweight jacket is a stylish and practical choice for rainy day adventures. Made with Regatta‘s Hydrafort waterproof and breathable fabric, this jacket will keep you dry without feeling stuffy.

The Bertille comes in a lovely purple floral print that adds a pop of color and femininity to your outdoor ensemble. It features a roll-away hood, secure zippered pockets and adjustable cuffs to seal out the elements.

Customers love how lightweight and comfortable this jacket is, making it perfect for travel and changeable weather. Reviewers also appreciate the attractive cut that is both flattering and allows for ease of movement.

The Bertille jacket typically retails for $110 but is currently on sale for just $28, making it an incredible value.

Men‘s Highton Walking Shorts

For warm weather hikes and outdoor activities, you can‘t go wrong with the Highton walking shorts. Made from a lightweight, quick-drying and water-resistant fabric with built-in UPF protection, these shorts will keep you cool and comfortable all day long.

The Highton shorts sit just above the knee for ease of movement and feature an elasticized waistband with drawcord for an adjustable fit. The dark denim color is versatile and easy to dress up or down.

Men appreciate the stretchy, comfortable fabric and functional details like the deep pockets (including one zippered security pocket). Many reviewers note that these have become their go-to shorts for summer travel, hiking, dog walking and more.

At full price, the Highton shorts cost around $70, but you can currently snag a pair on sale for only $18.

Kids‘ Grimshaw Hybrid Hooded Jacket

Regatta also offers many great options for outfitting your little adventurers. The Grimshaw is a 3-in-1 hybrid jacket with a removable inner fleece and waterproof outer shell, allowing kids to adapt to changing weather conditions.

The polyester fabric is durable and treated with a water-repellent finish to withstand light rain and snow. The jacket features a cozy hood, two zippered hand pockets and an internal pocket that doubles as a stuff sack for the jacket.

Parents love the versatility and value of this 3-in-1 style that can be worn in all seasons. Many also appreciate the reflective trim details that help keep kids visible in low light conditions.

This jacket is an affordable choice at $50, but you can currently buy one for your little explorer for only $25.

Regatta‘s Waterproof Ratings Explained

If you‘re going to be braving the elements, you need gear that can stand up to moisture. But not all "waterproof" items are created equal. To help customers choose the right level of protection, Regatta developed a waterproof rating system for their products.

Here‘s a quick breakdown of what the ratings mean:

• Waterproof: Can withstand heavy rain and snow, may feel a bit stiffer and heavier
• Waterproof Breathable: Same protection but made from a lightweight, breathable fabric to maximize comfort and movement
• Water Repellent Stretch: Quick drying fabric that repels moisture and stretches for active pursuits, but not fully waterproof

The ratings make it easy to pick the right product for your needs and environment. In general, the higher the waterproof rating, the more you can expect to pay.

What Customers Have to Say About Regatta

Of course, we can‘t base our review on specs and descriptions alone. To really determine if Regatta clothing and gear lives up to the hype, we analyzed hundreds of customer reviews from Regatta‘s website and third-party retailers like Amazon.

On the whole, customer feedback is very positive, with Regatta products earning an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. Customers frequently praise the:

• Impressive quality, durability and performance, especially for the price
• Practical, feature-rich designs that are both functional and fashionable
• Wide selection of products for the whole family and every outdoor activity
• Excellent value, with many noting that Regatta products far outperform more expensive brand name gear

The few complaints mainly relate to shipping delays rather than the products themselves. Some customers noted long delivery times, but Regatta customer service was generally very responsive and happy to help resolve any issues.

Based on reviews, Regatta clothing and gear is a great choice if you are looking for affordable, well-made outdoor wear that doesn‘t skimp on style or functionality.

How Does Regatta Compare to Other Outdoor Brands?

There‘s no shortage of places to buy outdoor clothing these days, so how does Regatta stack up against the competition? Here‘s a quick comparison to a few other popular brands:

• The North Face: Comparable quality but Regatta offers similar products at a lower price point and a wider selection of casual outdoor styles
• Patagonia: Patagonia leads the pack in terms of eco-friendly practices and donates more to environmental causes, but Regatta provides better value and more inclusive sizing
• Columbia Sportswear: Quite similar in terms of selection, style and price, both are great options for affordable outdoor gear
• REI Co-op: REI‘s in-house line offers some more technical gear but Regatta has more options for casual outdoor wear and a much lower free shipping threshold

All of these brands produce quality outdoor clothing, but Regatta stands out for its unbeatable combination of price, performance and variety.

The Bottom Line: Is Regatta Clothing Worth It?

After thoroughly evaluating Regatta‘s products, brand values and customer feedback, I can confidently recommend their outdoor clothing and gear.

While Regatta may not have the same name recognition as some pricier brands, they offer an unbeatable combination of quality, style, selection and affordability. Whether you‘re an avid outdoorsman or a casual adventurer, you‘re sure to find great pieces to fit your needs and budget.

Plus, Regatta‘s commitment to ethical and sustainable practices is commendable. As consumers, we should reward brands that are about more than just turning a profit by voting with our dollars.

One caveat – if you don‘t live in the UK or Europe, you‘ll have to shop through an international retailer like Amazon, as Regatta doesn‘t offer worldwide shipping directly from their website yet. Hopefully they‘ll expand to more markets soon!

The bottom line is that with Regatta, you can feel good about investing in gear that will last for many adventures to come. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and embrace the great outdoors in your stylish new Regatta layers!