Topic
lightest waterproof shell
Forum Posting
A Membership is required to post in the forums. Login or become a member to post in the member forums!
Home › Forums › Gear Forums › Gear (General) › lightest waterproof shell
- This topic is empty.
-
AuthorPosts
-
Nov 1, 2009 at 5:25 am #1241276
what is the lightest waterproof shell with hood available on the market?
Nov 1, 2009 at 5:44 am #1541600I'm currently stalking Haglofs' OZ Pullover. It may be the lightest, most breathable piece out there?
North Face has an anorak that is supposed to be the lightest rain gear around. It breathes poorly, though.
This article is still valid.
I remember Etowah had said they were going to make a cuben rain or wind jacket one day. I want one from MLD!
Jack
Nov 1, 2009 at 5:51 am #1541603I bought the NF Triumph Anorak as it was the lightest i could find. I didn't find the breathability any worse in use than most other waterproof/breathable fabrics, except e-Vent. I only carry it when every gram counts, and i don't expect constant rain. I wouldn't use it for scrambling on rock either.
I use different shells to suit the weather, use, and terrain expected.
Nov 1, 2009 at 6:00 am #1541604I have a Haglöfs Oz Pullover, and whilst it has not seen a lot of use in wet weather, I found it the ideal compliment to my Litespeed for 3 season use. For winter it is Paramo.
Nov 1, 2009 at 6:00 am #1541605I have an earlier Marmot (the model of which im confused about) that has held up very well versus granite and various tree limbs that weighs in at 226 grams. Its time is near and its weight is too much.
What do you use while scrambling, Mike?
Nov 1, 2009 at 6:31 am #1541607Hi Jack.
For climbing and scrambling on rock, i use a CRUX Flak Smock. The Smock has been discontinued though. It is a bombproof mountaineering shell, but too heavy for long distance backpacking, at 456g. I'll carry it for a weekend in the mountains though. In winter, or cold wet weather, i usually use a Paramo Aspira Smock.Nov 1, 2009 at 6:59 am #1541609The lightest is probably a Dri Ducks Jacket at 4.7oz, but there are several shells in the 6-9 oz range.
Nov 1, 2009 at 7:15 am #1541611I'll never buy DriDucks again. I bought a suit for my last trip a few weeks ago, cause it looked like a poncho wasn't going to cut it. The coat zipper completely failed at the trail head – after I zipped it up, the zipper would fall open by itself. luckily i had a bungee in the truck and could hold it together with that as a belt. i also almost caught on fire standing by the campfire. i threw the suit in the trash at the trail head after the trip was done.
Nov 1, 2009 at 10:22 am #1541637DriDucks sewing is often bad, but if you're willing to run it through a sewing machine is still makes for cheap rainwear.
Someone mentioned Cuben rainwear…that surely can't be breathable since it's two plies of polyester film.
Nov 1, 2009 at 10:26 am #1541638Mountain Hardwears' QUARK jacket is under 10 oz.
Nov 1, 2009 at 10:29 am #1541640Yeah cuben's not breathable. I would still use it for pants though as breathability is less important there. A cuben rain jacket would be of more limited purpose, but still neat to have. I would bring a cuben jacket if the forecast was calling for little to no rain and thus I expect to be wearing my rain jkt very little or none at all. If you're in a hurry though and you need to hike hard through the rain then you'd never want a cuben jkt except for in camp. With a cuben rain jacket, I would be hiking very casually or even not at all. This jkt would be ok around camp and darn light.
Nov 1, 2009 at 10:29 am #15416417.7 oz Gortex Paclite.
Nov 1, 2009 at 10:31 am #1541642FWIW, The North Face Triumph Anorak is claimed to weigh 160g or 5.6oz. That is pretty darn light if it's true.
My DriDucks size Medium rain jkt weighs 168g or 5.8oz so the NF is indeed lighter. Dang it..more gear to buy.
Nov 1, 2009 at 11:13 am #1541645My size Large weighs 168g.
Nov 1, 2009 at 11:41 am #1541658I can just warn everyone NOT to the Haglof Oz Pullover.
Even in Germany I had to pay a fortune for it, but I wanted it for a CDT thruhike. It proved to be a disaster: It leaked like a sieve. When I came back from the CDT I sent it back to the manufacturer and received a new one. I was still skeptical but took it with me for an AT thruhike. Again: Total disaster – not waterproof at all. As I continued on my trip I replaced it with another rain jacket.
This is the worst piece of equipment I ever had!!! This thing is water repellent and a good wind jacket, but not waterproof. And considering the outrageous price it is a rip-off!
Don't buy that jacket – even the cheapest Frogtoggs are better.
ChristineNov 1, 2009 at 11:57 am #1541663Rain gear that leaks is terrible. I've got some Sierra Designs pants that leak huge right through the membrane. If I sit down on a wet surface, I get a wet butt almost instantly. Obviously I don't use them anymore. They leaked like this right through the membrane from the start. I just don't get it. Do manufacturers not test their gear? And if they do, why sell rain gear that won't keep out the rain? Utterly pointless and frustrating for the user.
Nov 5, 2009 at 11:38 am #1543085I like this stuff too. It has such a nice soft feel and doesn't make much noise. Arcteryx uses it a lot.
Nov 5, 2009 at 12:16 pm #1543093At 200 bucks, the Haglofs' OZ Pullover is just a tad pricey for the features, IMHO.
The Driducks are light (5.8 oz for the whole outfit) and really cheap. If they tear (the ubiquitous greenbriar is the chief culprit in Ohio) a bit o' the old duct tape fills the bill. Around here, you prove your hiking prowess by the number of duct-tape patches on your DD's.
To repeat a proviso mentioned earlier: The sewing on the zipper is sometimes poor. Before you hit the trail, stitch or ten at the bottom of both sides of the zipper will help to prevent zipper separation. Inexpensiveness and light weight does sometimes involve some trade-offs. :-)
Stargazer
Nov 5, 2009 at 12:21 pm #1543094"Driducks are light (5.8 oz for the whole outfit)"
Your whole DriDucks outfit weighs 5.8oz? Just my size medium DriDucks jkt weighs that much. The whole outfit is over 10oz.
Nov 5, 2009 at 12:28 pm #1543097My size small jacket is 4.7oz, so the outfit has to be around 10.
Nov 5, 2009 at 12:36 pm #1543099+10 for the Driducks.
Nov 5, 2009 at 12:38 pm #1543101I'd put another vote in for the OR Zealot at 7.7oz and good quality Paclite. It's also seam taped and compresses into nothing. I believe I paid about $130 from Backcountry.com who looks to have it on sale for $106 right now.
Nov 5, 2009 at 12:50 pm #1543106>My size small jacket is 4.7oz, so the outfit has to be around 10.
Sorry. Just looked in the DriDucks stuff sack. Forgot that I removed the pants (never use them). My medium jacket is 5.8 oz in the sack (just weighed).
With apologies,
Stargazer
P.S. Don't really need the sack, come to think of it.
Nov 5, 2009 at 1:11 pm #1543114I must be missing something pretty big.
People talking about just sewing some extra stitches into DriDucks just makes it even more… apparent. Driducks don't have sealed seams. Seams that have just straight been stitched through, not sealed, will leak. The zipper isn't backed by a flap or anything. I got seam leaks when I wore mine. Now, sure, everything I wear will dry quickly. And a soaked area under the seam is better than being totally drenched. But if you're buying raingear to keep you dry, it seems like sealed seams is a pretty basic thing.
Maybe people are only using them as a "just in case" set of raingear. Maybe cost is the definitive factor? There are certainly fully waterproof options available at similar weights…
Nov 5, 2009 at 1:22 pm #1543118Well, I never have had much trouble with seam leakage, and I've hiked all day in the rain. You're right, though. I've always though of DriDucks as a JIC thing. I can't justify the expense of a real rain shell given the fact that you're gonna get pretty wet anyway in an all-day downpour, and DriDucks work pretty well in other circumstances without much leakage.
However, I suppose one could use some of that leftover seam sealer to seal the seams in the places along the DriDucks that seam, er seem, to need seam sealed. (Try saying that ten times.)
I can think of another reason to take along the pants, BTW, instead of just buying an upper shell. When I was walking the AT and needed to do laundry, the Driducks outfit covered my entire frame. Thus, I could wash my Weatherpants and shirt without embarrassing myself at the Shenandoah laundomat. :-) And all that for ten bucks. What a deal!
Stargazer
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Forum Posting
A Membership is required to post in the forums. Login or become a member to post in the member forums!
Our Community Posts are Moderated
Backpacking Light community posts are moderated and here to foster helpful and positive discussions about lightweight backpacking. Please be mindful of our values and boundaries and review our Community Guidelines prior to posting.
Get the Newsletter
Gear Research & Discovery Tools
- Browse our curated Gear Shop
- See the latest Gear Deals and Sales
- Our Recommendations
- Search for Gear on Sale with the Gear Finder
- Used Gear Swap
- Member Gear Reviews and BPL Gear Review Articles
- Browse by Gear Type or Brand.