Dealing with wet weather is a fact of life for British and North European birdwatchers, but if you've got the right gear, you can brave the elements with only a minimal impairment of your birdwatching pleasure.

Country Innovation was the first company to examine the birding market and develop products in the best fabrics and colours to meet our specific needs. Earliest jackets were made in Ventile, a specially woven cotton fabric that forms a breathable, rustle-free waterproof barrier when exposed to rain.

While perfect for the worst winter conditions, many birders found Ventile garments too heavy and warm for use in other seasons, so lighter products have now been introduced to the Country Innovation range. I've been testing the Falcon jacket and trousers for the past three months and am not surprised that they are the company's best selling products.

This year has been the windiest I can remember for a long time, so having a lightweight, breathable but windproof barrier has been a great asset. The Falcon jacket is made from an olive green soft polycotton fabric with a waterproof membrane bonded onto the lining material, which minimises rustling noise.

Country Innovation clearly states that the Falcon material is not as robust as other products in its range, but it scores in terms of wearer comfort. The cut of the jacket is generous, allowing you to wear several layers underneath and to move your arms up and down without restriction.

I like the fact the hood is detachable. It features a wired peak plus high front fastening as well as a drawcord, so you can achieve a very close fit when the weather is at its worst. Lastly you can use a draw string to adjust the volume of the hood, handy if you don't always wear a cap or wooly hat.

There's plenty of carrying capacity with a large internal zipped pocket and security pocket, plus two capacious bellows pockets. These are protected by flaps secured by press studs on the outside. During testing I found that when the press-studs were not secured, there was a tendency for the metal parts to click together as I moved.

Three evenly-spaced press studs are provided at the cuffs to stop water and wind getting into the sleeves and there are drawstring adjusters at both the waist and hem to ensure the snugest of fits.

Men's sizes range from small to XXL (the largest size costs £10 more than the basic £125 models) and all represent great value for money. A more tailored version of the Falcon is available for women in sizes ranging from small to XL.

David Cromack editor of Birds Illustrated magazine August 2008 issue..