Enlightened Equipment Visp Rain Jacket Review

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.

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

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.

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.

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).

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.

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)

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.

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

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

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