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Lightweight rain gear recommendations


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Viewing 25 posts - 1 through 25 (of 32 total)
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  • #1290378
    Stephen M
    BPL Member

    @stephen-m

    Locale: Way up North

    Hi folks,

    My current rain gear is Event and weighs in at about 22oz, the trousers have 3/4zips as I wear size 13 boots and trail shoes.

    I really like event but looking for something lighter for when there is not much rain forecast.

    Any recommendations?

    Stephen

    #1881495
    David Drake
    BPL Member

    @daviddrake

    Locale: North Idaho

    DriDucks are ~12 oz for jacket and pants. Cheap @ ~$16.

    #1881496
    Ceph Lotus
    BPL Member

    @cephalotus

    Locale: California

    DriDucks are cheap,but not very durable.

    #1881499
    Hught
    BPL Member

    @hught

    DriDucks Ultralight 2 come as a jacket and pants set with a total weight of around 14 ozs. They are quite fragile – not for brushbashing – though a small amount and some duct tape are ok. They do not last long – though you can considerably extend their life by always keeping them in a plastic bag when in your pack so that they do not get "worn" by your other items and the quality control has not been great – always do a quality check before you need to – zip, seam welding.
    On the other hand they are very cheap (~$20) and very light (~14ozs), totally waterproof and quite breathable.
    The cuffs of both jacket and pants are elastic so you can usually slip them on and off over anything else you may be wearing. You are not going to win any fashion shows with these and the size runs big – I would not recommend getting a smaller size because of this though as I think they are deliberately cut large to avoid stressing the material and seems. I've actually taken to getting a size bigger than normal and wear the jacket over my daypack to keep it dry too.

    #1881500
    Eric Blumensaadt
    BPL Member

    @danepacker

    Locale: Mojave Desert

    REI's Kimtah is about the least expensive eVent "medium weight" parka I know.

    My XL Kimtah weighs 15 oz.

    #1881506
    Stephen M
    BPL Member

    @stephen-m

    Locale: Way up North

    Hi Guys,

    I have seen the Dri ducks in Walmart, I suppose for Emergency use they would be good.
    I am looking for something a bit more hard wearing.

    Hi Eric,

    My current jacket is 11oz and so are the trousers, probaly a bit misleading above when I mentioned the 22oz weight.

    Cheers all,

    Stephen

    #1881507
    Tommy Franzen
    Spectator

    @tomlike

    Locale: Pacific Wonderland

    The Golite Tumalo pants are $50 right now,7oz. and the Kenai Jacket is also $50, 10oz. Also the new Montbell Versalite jacket and pants are really lightweight options

    http://www.golite.com/mens/outerwear/waterproof-breathable

    #1881510
    Stephen M
    BPL Member

    @stephen-m

    Locale: Way up North

    Thanks Tommy,

    Will check them out.

    #1881519
    Don Selesky
    Spectator

    @backslacker

    You could always try some breathable cuben rain gear from Zpacks. The top and bottoms together weigh 7.5 oz.

    #1881520
    Stephen M
    BPL Member

    @stephen-m

    Locale: Way up North

    Wow, that's light.

    Any idea how the breathbility compares to other materials.

    Cheers,

    #1881560
     
    BPL Member

    @rememberthelorax

    I address the issue of the ZPacks WPBCF Rain Jacket within my two articles on it:

    ZPacks Waterproof Breathable Cuben Fiber Rain Jacket and ZPacks Waterproof Breathable Cuben Fiber Rain Jacket – Update #1.

    #1881562
    Stephen M
    BPL Member

    @stephen-m

    Locale: Way up North

    Thanks John,

    I would be all over them except for the colour :-)

    #1881563
    drowning in spam
    Member

    @leaftye

    Locale: SoCal

    Dri Ducks jacket with tyvek pants.

    Or go multipurpose and use a poncho tarp. I can't think of a lighter solution.

    #1881565
    Stephen M
    BPL Member

    @stephen-m

    Locale: Way up North

    Hi Eugene,

    Thanks for that, I don't think I am ready to go down the Poncho shelter route as I have used Ponchos users ago and they are a pain in strong winds.

    Good idea though.

    Cheers,

    Stephen

    #1881567
    Stephen M
    BPL Member

    @stephen-m

    Locale: Way up North

    Great review John, definitely something I will put spend some time researching, it's nice you also brought up the topic of discoloration of the white material.

    Due to where I am living at the moment I only hike every 4-6 weeks so I have not given Sul or Xul much consideration.

    Cheers,

    Stephen

    #1881578
     
    BPL Member

    @rememberthelorax

    @Stephen, sure thing. Not aware of anybody else there that has done a detailed review of the zpacks wpbcf rain gear so thought it might be of some interest to you and others.

    You might also be interested in an article written by Will Rietveld called Make a Hooded Tyvek Rain Jacket and Chaps for Under $10 that he published via GossamerGear.

    #1881582
    Mike M
    BPL Member

    @mtwarden

    Locale: Montana

    the OR Helium is what I use for rainwear (don't wear rain pants), it's a low feature jacket, but the hood design is good and breathes about as well as any waterproof garment I've used- 6.4 oz in size Large

    #1881587
    Stephen M
    BPL Member

    @stephen-m

    Locale: Way up North

    Hi John,

    Will look in to that also.

    You mentioning the Cuben rain gear made me look at the Z packs Cuben packs also, most of my gear is UL except for my packs (Aarn Mountain magic 55 & ULA Catalyst) and my rain gear.

    I could save a nice bit of weight by moving to lighter kit.

    Cheers,

    Stephen

    #1881588
    Stephen M
    BPL Member

    @stephen-m

    Locale: Way up North

    Hi Mike,

    6.4oz is a nice weight.

    Cheers,

    Stephen

    #1881598
    stephan q
    BPL Member

    @khumbukat

    Howdy, my current set up is a Marmot Mica and DIY silnylon chaps. Under 10 oz. total and the chaps are great for wet bush hiking.chaps
    To compete the system, I use my visor/ballcap. If rain is certain, I include E-vent shortie gaitors. Adds 2 oz.

    stephan

    #1881602
    Stephen M
    BPL Member

    @stephen-m

    Locale: Way up North

    Nice job Stephan,

    Any issues with build up of sweat inside the chaps?

    Cheers,

    Stephen

    #1881615
    stephan q
    BPL Member

    @khumbukat

    Stephen,
    For hiking in the rain your legs would get wet from side spray or pack drippage long before condensation would become an issue. In light rain, with the baselayer protecting the skin, you get a heat pump effect. I am mainly at altitude (afternoon thundershowers) or on the coast ( morning dew on overgrown trails), but for PNW like conditions I would add yet another layer, the rain kilt. WPB rain pants only work well in cold weather. Umbrellas are great for downpours and shade, but don't work for my hiking conditions.
    I tried the Tilley Hat/ Seattle Sombrero route, but again, not for me. Pit-zips are great for breaks in the storm and uphills. I'll be DIY'ing some on my Mica soon. Enjoy.

    stephan

    #1881616
    Stephen M
    BPL Member

    @stephen-m

    Locale: Way up North

    Cheers Stephan :-)

    #1881629
    Linda Vassallo
    Member

    @eastbayhiker

    Locale: Eastbay

    Hello Stephen. I see rain chaps were mentioned in another post …… I use ZPacks rain chaps with my Gatewood Cape. This has worked well for me. The cape is also my shelter and pack cover. Wt of the cape/shelter is 13oz and the chaps weigh 1.3oz for the pair. If your rain jacket is long enough maybe the chaps would work for you. I also use an earlier version of the ZPack backpack.
    Cheers
    LV

    #1881879
    Brett Peugh
    BPL Member

    @bpeugh

    Locale: Midwest

    I am switching up my system some for when there is not much rain forecast or it is warm outside. I mainly use a trash bag rain skirt and am now just going to use an umbrella along with a windshirt with a good DWR. I could also throw in a tarp/poncho in case I got worried and I would also have a form of shelter. I have a pair of rain pants and a jacket but I just don't end up using them much.

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