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What’s your favorite rain jacket?


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  • #1254531
    John Roan
    BPL Member

    @jroan

    Locale: Vegas

    I'm considering going from a wind shirt/umbrella to a rain jacket and would like to discuss the pros and cons of both.

    I've recently purchased a Driducks jacket and had some success with it, but the cheap fabric and zipper have left me wanting more. I love the simplicity of the Driducks (no zippered pockets, etc), and the weight savings that accompany the lack of features. At 6.25 oz (men's xl), it saves me a whopping 6.05oz over my Golite Chrome Dome umbrella + Golite Ether jacket. What I haven't found is a good quality rain jacket with extremely breathable material that comes anywhere close to the Driducks weight due to the fact that the manufacturers seem to think consumers need lots of heavy features. If I go with the heavier full featured rain jacket, I lose the weight savings, the breath-ability of the wind shirt, and the flexibility of the umbrella.

    So…what's your favorite setup and why?

    #1566505
    Bob Gross
    BPL Member

    @b-g-2-2

    Locale: Silicon Valley

    I mentioned this one recently. Anti Gravity Gear offers a very simple sil-nylon hooded rain jacket. No frills. Very little breathability. I think they claimed 4.6 ounces or something. Mine came a little closer to 4.0 ounces. I think it was only $65+shipping.

    As long as I control my underneath layers, I don't sweat it up. I'm happy with it.
    –B.G.–

    #1566519
    Weiyi Wang
    Spectator

    @wwyjedi

    Locale: mid

    marmot essence for the breath-ability and the weight

    #1566531
    Javan Dempsey
    Member

    @jdempsey

    Locale: The-Stateless-Society

    Anybody know of an eVent Rain jacket with only chest pockets, and a helmet compatible hood? (I say helmet, not because I need one, but because I've got huge hair, and normal hoods don't fit me). Pit zips would be nice, but I figure I'll have to do that myself.

    #1566569
    Gabe P
    BPL Member

    @gabe

    Montane Atomic DT 2.0

    10.5 oz
    No frills
    packs small, size of an orange
    Entrant DT is almost as breathable as eVent, yet lighter and more packable

    #1566570
    Gabe P
    BPL Member

    @gabe

    Rab Momentum
    only chest pockets
    helmet compatible hood
    no pit zips
    12 oz

    http://us.rab.uk.com/clothing/shell/new_momentum_jacket—131/

    #1566580
    James Lantz
    BPL Member

    @jameslantz

    Locale: North Georgia

    I love my GoLite Virga. Very simple, very effective, very inexpensive, & very light at 7 oz.

    #1566712
    Richard Lyon
    BPL Member

    @richardglyon

    Locale: Bridger Mountains

    Norrona Falketind Gore-Tex Pro. Westcomb Mirage SE a close second.

    #1566745
    John Roan
    BPL Member

    @jroan

    Locale: Vegas

    Thanks for all of the feedback.

    B.G., the Antigravity jacket looks like the perfect simple design, but since it's made fron Silnylon, I can't imagine hiking in it without being very sweaty.

    I've read that some of the WPB fabrics can wet through eventually. Has anyone experienced this and if so, with what fabric?

    I'll be doing some comparison shopping and let you know what I decide.

    Happy Trails! John :~)>

    #1566751
    Brad Rogers
    BPL Member

    @mocs123

    Locale: Southeast Tennessee

    I don't know if they wet through but the DWR can wear out and without the DWR the fabric can't breathe and you sweat inside so much. I think most people who think they have had a jacket leak, have really just been wet with their own sweat. It is amazing how much you can sweat in a rain jacket and not even know it.

    #1566835
    Eric Krumland
    BPL Member

    @eric_k

    Locale: The northwest is the BEST

    Ive been happy with my tnf triumph, 5.5oz, find one on sale.

    #1566859
    Ed Barkowski
    Spectator

    @edbarkowski

    MH Quark is excellent.

    Zips, light, very well made.

    A little hard to find (discontinued?) but seems to be on sale when you do.

    #1567051
    Richard Lyon
    BPL Member

    @richardglyon

    Locale: Bridger Mountains

    Gore-Tex fabrics can eventually lose waterproofing from soiling. Wash your jacket with a detergent-free product (Ivory Flakes, Atsko Sport Wash), dry in the dryer on the highest setting recommended by the manufacturer, and treat with a DWR "restorer." The cleaning and heat drying alone can work wonders.

    #1567057
    John Roan
    BPL Member

    @jroan

    Locale: Vegas

    I'm not sure how to paste my Excel spreadsheet onto this post…

    It seems like TNF Triumph is a good choice, being the lightest WPB fabric at 5.5oz, but there's some controversy on this weight. Can someone confirm the actual weight/size? A bit pricey at $179, and it's a pull-over, meaning if useds as a wind shirt/rain jacket combo, you have limited control of heat.

    Driducks is next in weight at 6.25oz (my actual xl version) and $14.79 is by far the least expensive. But, if you do any off trail, this won't work…fabric is very fragile.

    Golite Virga weighs in at 7.6 oz for $80 (on sale on their website right now for $56). The "2.5 Layer Waterproof-Breathable Nylon Ripstop Fabric with DWR" fabric has some mixed reviews in breath-ability, which for my purposes as a dual purpose wind shirt/rain jacket, makes me wonder.

    The Marmot Nano in GORE-TEX®Paclite® 100% Nylon Ripstop 2.2 oz/yd claims to weigh in at 8oz. This seems like a good choice, but costs $250 (found on sale for $175 at rockcreek.com – never purchased from this co)

    From there, the weight jumps up to 10oz and above, which isn't an option for me.

    Side note…Richard, $400-500 jackets? You must be much more well-off or dedicated than me :~)>

    Thoughts or other suggestions?

    #1567064
    Eugene Smith
    BPL Member

    @eugeneius

    Locale: Nuevo Mexico

    Marmot Mica is a good option for relative featureless simplicity and low weight. Nice hood, adjustable cuffs, better cut and fit than the Driducks. No pit zips, just 2 zippered hand pockets which are kinda worthless under a belt though. The weight is a mere 7 oz. and you can find the jacket for around $100-$130 depending on you luck with the online retailers and discounts.

    #1567073
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Patagonia Specter

    #1567090
    John Roan
    BPL Member

    @jroan

    Locale: Vegas

    Eugene,

    The Marmot Mica looks like a great choice. I found a BPL post here http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=17722

    Also the Marmot Essence looks very similar…somehow I missed Weiyi Wang's earlier suggestion.

    Both are similar in weight, breath-ability, and features. The Essence has a chest pocket and is made of 1.9oz/yd material vs. the Mica with the hand pockets (I assume that means 2 vs 1) and 2.2oz material…

    Marmot claims the Mica as 7oz, but doesn't show the weight of the Essence. Since the Essence has only 1 vs 2 pockets, and is made with 1.9 oz/yd material vs. the 2.2 oz/yd material of the Mica, I would assume the Essence would weigh a but less. Can someone confirm this?

    Thanks for all the help with this complicated subject :~)>

    #1567094
    Link .
    BPL Member

    @annapurna

    .

    #1567163
    Brad Rogers
    BPL Member

    @mocs123

    Locale: Southeast Tennessee

    My Men's Medium Essence weighs 6.4oz.

    #1567483
    John Roan
    BPL Member

    @jroan

    Locale: Vegas

    Here's what I've gathered so far (thanks Greg23)

    Rain Jacket Comparison

    #1567488
    . .
    BPL Member

    @biointegra

    Locale: Puget Sound

    Nice, John!

    #1567963
    John Roan
    BPL Member

    @jroan

    Locale: Vegas

    I decided to try the Marmot Essence. We just picked one up on clearance at REI for my wife for $94.93. I ordered one for myself at REI outlet as well.

    Her size L jacket (a bit large for her, but will fit nicely over her Montbell U.L. Down Inner Parka), weighs in at 6.45oz (exactly 3oz more than her GoLite Ether wind shirt. This saved her 4.70oz off of her wind shirt/umbrella combo. She's going to try it out on a 15 mile day hike at Red Rock tomorrow. The nice thing about REI, if she decides it doesn't breath well enough to wear as a wind shirt, we can return it with no questions asked.

    I'm also trying another method…I purchased a can of Tectron water repellent spray that I am applying to my GoLite Ether jacket (2 coats). This should make it mostly water proof (seems not taped), and keep the weight down to the current 4.65oz total. I plan to also test this during our hike tomorrow. If this works well enough to use in a rain storm, I'll probably return the Essence to save the additional weight (and cost).

    #1568150
    Roleigh Martin
    BPL Member

    @marti124

    Locale: Founder & Lead Moderator, https://www.facebook.com/groups/SierraNorthPCThikers

    John, what about this one, REI OXT Airflyte Running Jacket, made of eVent Fabric. http://www.rei.com/product/786903

    According to Backpacker.com's review, it is 11 oz. REI does not publish the weight. It lacks a hood but it is so breathable. Very affordable for eVent, $160. I worry about the underarm area — I think perhaps a strong rain, one would get wet there.

    Anyone experience with it?

    #1568356
    Nathaniel Lynn
    Member

    @bc74sj

    Locale: Midwest

    Just got my essence for 50 bucks on STP. Haven't had any rain that I wanted to go out in yet (did a 4 mile hike and caught a clear hour and a half pocket last weekend!)

    Just checked, too bad they are out now.

    #1568656
    Miner
    BPL Member

    @miner

    Locale: SoCAL

    I've been using an OR Zealot jacket (paclite gortex) since 2006. It's very minimalist in its features, but a size L is only 7.8oz which is the main reason I bought it. It keeps me dry, it isn't very heavy so I always carry it. What more do I need? Since I do most of my backpacking in the higher elevations out west or in cool weather when I encounter a need to use it, I don't feel the need for all those extra venting options of heavier jackets as I rarely feel hot inside it. Someone who hikes in different conditions might feel differently.

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