The Taku uses a 2 layer construction which is generally favoured for urban and travel waterproof clothing as it tends to be the quietest in use. This bears out fantastically well in the Taku which feels soft to the touch and quiet when you're on the move. This helps to make it an extremely comfortable jacket to wear, with the travel rather than athletic fit boosting comfort further. The mesh and taffeta lining feels great on the skin and much more like a normal everyday jacket than a highly technical one. We also love the looks of the Taku, the stylish and understated design making it as suited to espressos on a sunny terrace as to hiking in the hills.
Being stylish and comfortable doesn't mean it falters in the rain though, the Hydro/DRY membrane provides a 20,000mm hydrostatic head and there are water resistant main and hand pocket zips as well as a chest pocket with storm flap. The Taku generally performs well in a deluge with the only caveat being that the outer wets out quickly in abrasion areas, which in turn can lead to loss of breathability in those areas. Having said that, the Taku feels more breathable to wear than the 15,000 g/m²/24hrs suggests, probably in part thanks to the loose fit.
The hood is adorned with a two-way adjuster which is easy to use and results in a good fit that doesn't restrict head movement or adversely affect peripheral vision. Although the brim doesn't extend particularly far from the face it has a stiff wire, so you can shape it to be effective. The chin area is spacious and there's a comfy fleece backed zip garage to reduce irritation.
The hem provides good coverage finishing around mid-bum and split hem drawcords allow you to cinch it in tight in a storm. The cuffs are slightly tapered, and arm length is long providing excellent coverage which extends right over the backs of the hands.
An internal pocket houses a handy stuff sack for packing the jacket into when not in use, the result is around the size of a 2-pint milk bottle - not as small as some but still a handy packable size. The 480g weight of the jacket makes it suitable for a wide range of uses from hiking to cycling and travelling. Part of this weight can be attributed to a thick and durable 50D ripstop face fabric which should see the jacket through many years of abuse.
The Taku impressed overall with it's mix of travel and active friendly features as well as a comparably low price of £140. We had issues with sticking zips on the hand pockets but saving that we couldn't find fault in what is a well balanced, if not overtly technical waterproof jacket.
