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You are here: Home / Gear Reviews / Gear Review (Limited) / Enlightened Equipment Visp Rain Jacket Review

Enlightened Equipment Visp Rain Jacket Review

by Andrew Marshall on March 6, 2020 Gear Review (Limited), New Features

Introduction

The Enlightened Equipment Visp Rain Jacket (4.93 oz/140 g, $190) is targeted to users interested in a minimally-featured design, a fit-and-feature set for backpackers (instead of trail runners or climbers), made with high-performance fabrics at a low weight, and at a reasonable price.

marshall visp 23

Enlightened Equipment Visp Rain Jacket. Photo: Enlightened Equipment

About this Review

This Limited Review is based on my initial testing of these products, over about 10 days of day hiking, trail running, and overnight backpacking in the Tahoe region of the California Sierra in January and February.

Features & Specifications

  • overview
    • weight: 4.93 oz (140 g) – men’s size Medium
    • MSRP: $190
    • customization options: pit zips (adds $10 and about 1 oz/28 g)
    • sizing: men’s (S-XXL) and women’s (S-XXL)
  • fabric
    • 1.5 osy (51 gsm) 3-layer waterproof-breathable fabric construction:
      • 7 denier face-fabric with C6 DWR
      • ePTFE membrane
      • tricot lining
    • waterproof to 20,000mm H₂0
    • moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR): 75,000 g/m²/24hr
  • waterproof #3 YKK Uretek full front zipper
  • adjustable hood with stiffened brim
  • adjustable waist hem and wrist cuffs
  • no pockets
  • seam-taped

Performance Analysis

marshall visp 9 2

Testing the Enlightened Equipment Visp Rain Jacket (and pants and mitts) in a light snow-storm.

Since this is a Limited Review, a detailed performance analysis based on long-term use will not be presented. Instead, performance observations and issues are noted below.

criteria observations and issues
water resistance Other than a shower test, I haven’t been able to subject these garments to sustained rain in the field. Minimal hood brim limits its ability to provide protection in heavy rain. Zipper is effective at resisting water entry at high pressures.
fabric breathability Breathability seems on par with other high breathability spec fabrics (e.g., MVTR > 30,000), based on moderate-exertion hiking while carrying a backpack uphill.
ventilation Pit zips as an option is a very nice feature. Combined with a full-length zipper, these two items are critical for a rain jacket designed to  be worn for several hours in an all-day rain. Waist hem and wrist cuffs can be fully relaxed. Hood volume is low, which limits ventilation around the head while wearing the hood.
usability I used all adjustment mechanisms and zippers with one hand, bare hands, and while wearing both gloves and mittens.

  • Small zipper pulls, no pull tabs, shock-cord and adjustment mechanisms are small
  • That, combined with the roomy cut of the jacket, means that it’s difficult to tighten drawcords or engage zippers while using one hand – but it is possible to loosen or disengage zippers with one hand.
  • Usability with two bare hands is high, with usability dropping as expected while using gloves and mittens respectively.
  • This is especially true with the side hood drawcords and mechanism, which are the smallest, most fiddly bits of the jacket.
fit and patterning Designed for layering, plenty of room in the shoulders and across the chest* for light high-loft insulating layers (e.g., less than 14 oz)

  • Raglan sleeve/shoulder junctions, articulated elbows, drop hem, and long sleeves offer good moisture protection and a full range of motion.
  • I can bend over, reach across my body, extend my hands over my head, without pinching, bunching, retracting wrist cuffs, or a riding waist hem.
  • With the hood up and tightened there is slight resistance when turning my head side-to-side, but nothing that prevents the motion from being completed.

*I tested a size medium jacket. I’m 5’6, 170 lbs with a somewhat broad and stocky athletic body-type.

quality of materials and construction My close inspection didn’t turn up anything unusual with regards to quality.

  • Fabric has no blemishes or defects.
  • Stitching is straight and tight, and wouldn’t loosen even after I pulled hard on it while wearing the jacket.
  • Bound and sewn edges are even.
  • Seam taping is evenly applied with no edges peeling up or loosening.
  • Zippers move freely and without binding.
durability To date, I’ve only used this jacket on well-cleared paths and didn’t subject it to any bushwhacking – and would be extremely cautious before doing so, the fabric is light!

  • Face fabric is (so far) not showing wear signs in pack strap contact areas.
  • Seam taping has remained intact.
  • Zippers have remained smooth.
  • No apparent short-term durability issues.

Commentary

What makes the Enlightened Equipment Visp Rain Jacket, Rain Pants, and Rain Mitts unique?

In a market crowded with dozens of competitors (i.e., “lightweight rain gear”), the Enlightened Equipment Visp Rain Jacket, Pants, and Mitts are somewhat unique for

  • a minimalist design,
  • a backpacker-oriented fit and patterning, and
  • their use of a high breathability spec fabric.

marshall visp 18 2

Minimalist Design

The Enlightened Equipment Visp Rain Jacket includes minimal features in its base model configuration (no pockets, and no pit zips). This design choice makes it squarely targeted to hikers who place simplicity and weight savings above all else, and makes the Visp Rain Jacket a more interesting choice for users who want a lightweight rain jacket “for incidental use” rather than a full-featured garment for sustained wear in heavy rain. Of note, the Visp Rain Jacket can be ordered with pit zips as an option (which is the model I’m reviewing here).

marshall visp 14

Pit zips are a new feature option in the 2020 Enlightened Equipment Visp Jacket.

In spite of the lack of pockets, which is the Visp’s most obvious nod to minimalism, the rest of the feature set isn’t exactly Spartan. The jacket includes:

  • dual drawcord (aperture and volume) adjustment for the hood;
  • waist hem drawcord
  • full-length zip
  • hook-and-loop wrist cuff closures
  • generous sizing

Its generous sizing and articulated fit are welcome in a market category where manufacturers love to save weight by reducing the amount of fabric used (and thus limiting its ability to layer over insulating clothing or provide decent articulation and mobility).

Rain Gear for Backpackers (Fit and Pattern)

Ultralight backpackers are often drawn to the lightest possible gear. Often, minimum weight comes with significant sacrifices in form and function. After looking at a photo of the Enlightened Equipment Visp Jacket, and noting its pocket-less design, you too may be balking at the apparent “over-simplification” of the jacket’s design.

marshall visp 15

The Visp Rain Jacket worn under a pack and layered with an active insulation layer (Arc’teryx Proton LT Hoody).

However, consider many features that backpackers value that are often sacrificed in ultralight rain jackets:

  • lack of layering volume underneath
  • Over-simplified pattern that limits range-of-motion
  • Short arms and waist hem
  • No or minimal means of adjusting fit in the hood, or at the wrists and hem
  • No or minimal means of adjusting ventilation through zips and other closures
  • poorly-breathable fabric (e.g., silnylon)
marshall visp 20 2

The design philosophy behind the Visp Rain Gear is to strike a balance between maximum functionality and minimalist aesthetic. It doesn’t fall prey to the “over-simplification” trap of much ultra-light gear. For example, the wrist cuffs offer full hook-and-loop adjustment closures instead of the non-adjustable bound elastic trim found on some ultralight jackets.

The Enlightened Equipment Visp Rain Jacket doesn’t skimp on any of these important features for backpacking. In particular, when you consider that the jacket is targeted to the long-distance hiking community, it does these things very well:

  • provides a design that performs very well while wearing it in the rain (highly breathable fabric, good ventilation, well-considered cut)
  • saves as much weight as possible (light fabric, light zippers, and other notions, no pockets) so it doesn’t impact your pack weight much while it’s stowed
  • Still retains functionality (adjustable where it needs to be, pit zips optional).

Breathability: MVTR 75,000 Fabrics

High MVTR levels are a nice marketing feature that helps manufacturers sell jackets to users who don’t understand the relationships between breathability and ventilation, or how to manage ventilation effectively when hiking in a sustained rain.

Even at this level of breathability (MVTR of 75,000+), the Enlightened Equipment Visp Rain Jacket still won’t breathe well enough to keep you dry and cool when slogging uphill at a moderate pace (MET 6-8+) while wearing a pack.

At lower metabolic rates (e.g., MET 4-6) in cooler temperatures, the breathability of this fabric is quite sufficient for most users, especially if you compare this to a jacket made of fabrics with MVTR of less than 15,000 (assuming the same test).

And when comparing its breathability performance to jackets made of non-breathable fabrics, like silnylon, the differences are like night and day, even when performing light-duty chores around camp at low MET rates (2-4).

However, don’t expect this to provide a level of breathability that will allow it to replace your wind shirt, and don’t expect it to perform heat-and-moisture-shedding miracles at high MET rates without utilizing its generous ventilation features.

marshall visp 8

Highly breathable fabric helps keep you dry while exerting yourself, but mechanical ventilation (pit zips) are still a necessity when exerting yourself.

Compared To

Both the Enlightened Equipment Visp Rain Jacket and the ZPacks Vertice Rain Jacket are targeted to the long-distance backpacking community, are made with similar fabrics and offer similar feature sets.

Compare: Enlightened Equipment Visp Rain Jacket vs. Zpacks Vertice Rain Jacket

 commentsedge
weightsimilar weight (for pit zip models), but Vertice is available in a lighter option without pit zipsVisp
featuresVertice offers a stowable hood and pockets at a similar weightVertice
priceVisp is $70 cheaperVisp
layeringVisp offers a roomier cut at a similar weightVisp
mobilityVisp offers more sophisticated patterning and better articulation at a similar weightVisp
durabilityboth jackets use similar fabricstie

Strengths

  • Fit and Mobility
    • roomy fit without being baggy allows for layering over mid-layer insulation
    • sophisticated patterning and articulation, long hem, long sleeves
  • Ventilation and breathability
    • high-performance premium quality fabric
    • pit zips option
  • Value
    • lots of performance for a reasonable price

Limitations

  • No pockets
  • Fabric durability
    • may result in durability issues in response to long term use or abrasion/bushwhacking
    • C6 DWR is known to not be a very resilient treatment, so user refresh should be expected

Where to Buy

  • In stock versions of the Enlightened Equipment Visp:
    • Men’s
    • Women’s
  • Custom versions of the Enlightened Equipment Visp:
    • Men’s
    • Women’s

Related Content

Reviews:

  • Zpacks Vertice Rain Jacket Review
  • Arc’teryx Zeta FL Rain Jacket Review
  • Raidlight Hyperlight MP+ Rain Jacket Review

Forums:

  • Our Members are talking about the Enlightened Equipment Visp Rain Jacket

clothing systems, enlightened equipment, rain gear, zpacks

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Comments

About Andrew Marshall

Andrew Marshall is the Gear Editor and Producer for Backpacking Light Podcast. He lives in a tiny cabin high in the Eastern Sierras. AT SOBO 2012, CT SOBO 2015, Scotland Coast to Coast 2017.

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    Posts
  • Mar 6, 2020 at 10:07 am #3634499
    Andrew Marshall
    Moderator

    @andrewsmarshall

    Locale: Tahoe basin by way of the southern Appalachians

    Companion forum thread to: Enlightened Equipment Visp Rain Jacket Review

    The Enlightened Equipment Visp Rain Jacket (4.93 oz/140 g, $190) is minimally-featured, made with 75k MVTR fabric, and is reasonably-priced.

    Mar 7, 2020 at 1:07 pm #3634672
    Eric Blumensaadt
    BPL Member

    @danepacker

    Locale: Mojave Desert

    Other than looking like Barney the purple animated dinosaur we all love this looks like a nicely made rain parka, especially with the pit zips.

    My question is (with the “e”PTFE) does the “e” stand for something like the “e” in eVent? I have an REI eVent Kimtah parka and pants that are sometimes a bit too breathable, as when I’m skiing fast down a run in 10 F. temps.

    I certainly like the low weight of this parka considering my eVent parka (size XL) is 16 oz. (as are the pants).

    Mar 7, 2020 at 1:28 pm #3634678
    JCH
    BPL Member

    @pastyj-2-2

    I did a quick “spec for spec” comparison of the new Visp (with pit zips) and the new Montbell Versalite.  I’m having a very hard time not coming down on the side of the Versalite. 16″ vs 12″ pit zips, pockets, very interesting “K-Mono Cut” pattern that minimizes seams, roll-up hood, for only 0.45oz more (both quoted for Men’s size M) and priced identically.

    Gore-tex doesn’t claim total waterproofness for the Infinium Windstopper fabric used in the Versalite, but Montbell is claiming waterproof to 30,000 mm and MVTR of 43,000.  Visp claims are 20,000 and 75,000 respectively. This appears to show the Versalite is more waterproof albeit less breathable.  I do however know the danger when one assumes…

    I have 2 EE quilts, love them both and would gladly replace with same.  I also have a lot MB gear and love every single piece.  Until I see a head-to-head comparison, I have to go with Montbell.

    Mar 29, 2020 at 2:22 pm #3638520
    Ryan P. Murphy
    BPL Member

    @rmurphy

    Locale: Virginia

    Eric, ePTFE just means expanded polytetrafluoroethylene. This is what gore tex is and also what eVent uses. It’s a standard way of making a waterproof breathable membrane. Just like “polyester” or “nylon” don’t tell you much about the fabric or its performance beyond the basic material, “ePTFE” doesn’t necessarily tell you much about the membrane performance, just what it is made out of.

    Mar 31, 2020 at 5:36 pm #3638967
    Stephen Seeber
    BPL Member

    @crashedagain

    If Andrew would like to send me his VISP rain jacket for a few days, I will measure the MVTR, HH and air permeability (which I presume is less than 1 CFM/Ft2).    I can then compare it directly with the MB Versalite (I own the current version) or lots of others WPB jackets. By the way, the HH for the Versalite is as claimed by MB.    Please PM me if you would like to proceed with this.

    May 15, 2020 at 2:56 pm #3647436
    Eric Blumensaadt
    BPL Member

    @danepacker

    Locale: Mojave Desert

    Ryan M.,

    So the WPB membrane in the Visp is really GTX “Windstopper”?? That is definitely NOT a waterproof membrane and was never meant to be so this otherwise nice parka is out for me.

    Too bad the MontBell Versalite UL rain parka also uses this same laminate.

    May 15, 2020 at 8:25 pm #3647502
    Stephen Seeber
    BPL Member

    @crashedagain

    Hi Eric:

    Considering Windstopper as a water proof membrane:  As I recall, for years, Gore did not permit seam taping on Windstopper products.  For this reason, it was not waterproof, rather water resistant.  The Montbell Versalite is seam taped and I measured its HH at >30000.  So, I don’t see why it would not be considered waterproof.

    The VISP is also seam sealed, so I would expect it to perform well as Versalite.  The 20k rating may simply mean that their HH test could only go to 20k, which will be adequate for most activities.

    It is interesting that the VISP has a higher MVTR than the Versalite.  Perhaps the face fabric weights and fiber characteristics explain the difference.  We don’t know which MVTR test was conducted for the VISP (it is specified for the Versalite).  However, if it is actually so much higher in the VISP, the VISP may be a superior choice for that reason.  However, it may be a more vulnerable to abuse than the Versalite due to the lighter fabric.

    I have found Versalite to be an excellent wind shirt replacement and, if Versalite really has substantially better MVTR, it may well be superior in performance to Versalite as a windshirt replacement.

    Until I can get one sent to me for testing, it is all speculation, but it sounds like a strong contender.

     

    Jul 9, 2020 at 7:02 pm #3657270
    Philip Werner
    BPL Member

    @earlylite

    Locale: White Mountain National Forest

    There are affiliate links in this review. Aren’t you legally obligated to disclose that to your readers? I couldn’t but help notice.

    Jul 13, 2020 at 5:00 am #3657922
    JCH
    BPL Member

    @pastyj-2-2

    Very thorough review over at Section Hiker, after a reported 6 months of use (vs 10 days for the BPL review).  Some conclusions mirror those of the BPL review, others do not.  Of particular personal interest were the comments comparing the Visp to the Montbell Versalite, and Phillip’s suggestion that a difference in target audience may suggest they are not entirely comparable.

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