ID Event Thru Hiker Jacket

I have the Thru Hiker. It's going to get it's first use this weekend in the Adirondacks, but I can tell you one thing about the jacket:

If you're tall, you need this jacket and not the eVENT Rain Jacket. ID stuff seems to run a little small, especially in length from collar to hem (but not sleeve length). I'm 6'3" and the Thru Hiker (in a Large size) waist hem comes just about an inch below my belt. It fits just right, but I don't get the extra coverage that the photo of the ID website indicates. Instead it fits like a normal jackt, indicating that the ID Rain Jacket would have only come down to about my navel.

The jacket seems very well made. The sleeves are nice and long and don't come up my arms when I reach overhead. I can layer my base layer, windshirt, and Thermawrap under it with no problem. There's room for another fleece or vest too. The hood offers good coverage and the single chest pocket is easily accessable with a pack on.

I'm pleased with the Thru Hiker and I'm looking forward to putting it's breathabilty to the test this weekend.

I'll keep you posted if you want.

Dave

Hi Dave,

thanks for your comments. i am not as tall as you are (i am 5'10) but i think the thru hiker gives better coverage than the rain jacket.

I am medium sized so I think a medium should be right for me. It would be intereting to know if the thru hiker is sized right. Do you consider your size large the right size, i would guess somebody with your height to have an XL.

Please keep me posted on your experiences. I am pretty sure this is the right jacket for our purposes but it is quite expensive so i would like to be sure.

Thanks

>>Do you consider your size large the right size, i would guess somebody with your height to have an XL.

I'm not too sure about this. I typically wear a Large. I'm tall but pretty thin, and I normally don't have problems with jacket length. The XL would be one inch longer from neck to waist, but then the chest and sleeves would be pretty big.

ID stuff just fits weird I think. I recently ordered their Pertex Wind Shirt, but had to return it. I've never tried on anything in a Large that fit like that: short hem, short sleeves, but baggy in the chest.

I'm no expert though…just getting kitted out seriously for the first time, so I could have made a bad decision sticking with the Large Thru Hiker. I hope not though, 'cause it is an expensive jacket!

Dave

For a good fitting jacket you might want to try the Rab Drillium, in event. These fit much better than the ID jackets.

Kyle, I just checked out the Drillium. It's described as having a "short cut" which kind of worries me. I picked the Thru Hiker looking for a nice, long cut.

Rab, does have some nice looking eVENT pieces though. Thanks for pointing that out.

It's way too easy to agonize over gear selections.

Dave

I think that the RAB Bergen is the longer length one.

I have this jacket. It is cut like Arcteryx. Long in back and mid-hip length in front. It's not thigh length by any means. The sleeves are very long, so it's easy to bring your hands up into the sleeves if you're not using poles.

Hi there. I don't have experience with Thru Hiker but have been eyeing it as well. I don't want to offer un-solicited advice as I don't know what conditions you have hiked in but having hiked extensively in both NZ and Patagonia I can share what I have learned. I have used a Marmot Precip and the OR Zealot and wasn't impressed with the breathability of either so eVENT sounds like money well spent. I can defintitely say you are on the right track looking for a longer cut jacket. After a few days of heavy rain on rugged tracks doing the shuffle of trying to keep your jacket from riding up in the back and your rain pants from sagging and exposing your backside will get old real fast. Those goofy looking NZ trampers in their tall gaiters, shorts, and long jackets are on to something. Another thing to pay close attention to is hood adjustment and articulation. When that first big gust of patagonian wind fills your hood with air and rips it of your head you will appreciate being able to make all the adjustments you need to get it to stay on. Walking day after day while holding onto the bill of your hood is not fun and is impossible if you would like to use trekking poles. I like having a hood I can latch down in all directions and, when the winds aren't too bad, a quick drying baseball cap with a plastic bill for dealing with prolonged rain.

Hi Ryan,

your comments are spot on and much appriciated. I also hiked extensively in both NZ and Patagonia and learned the hard way what is important in a rain jacket.
You are right at pointing out the outfit of NZ trampers, functional and simple..the definitely have some kind of national tramping outfit.

What i like in the ID jacket opposed to the RAB or Montane are that the ID Jackets are super simple and light where the RAB and Montane are heavier and in my opinion more complicated.

So far the ID Event Thru Hiker is the favorite.

Another vote for the thru-hiker; I bought the basic ID event jacket but had to sell it for being too small. When I can justify it; Ill replace my TNF Diad with the Thru-hiker. Good luck on your hike!

Hi Brett,

from other forum post i know you really value your TNF Diad jacket so that is an encouraging vote for the Thru Hiker.

Thanks. Now i have to find one for a reasonable price.

Jeroen

If I can work how to do it, I'll post some photos of me in the jacket tonight so that you can see how it fits someone taller. Will that be useful to anyone here? It might be useful to me given that you guys with more experience in this can tell me if I should return it and find something more appropriate. The thought of getting to some exotic hiking locale only to find that I've spent $250 on a jacket that's not sized or fit to perform properly makes me really paranoid!

I'm a Kiwi (south islander) who bought the Thru-hiker because I thought (from the photo) that it was a long cut. I'm extremely disappointed that this is not the case, and I find the jacket too short for me in torso length, although the arms are ridiculously long. Another couple of inches off the sleeves and onto the torso would make this a world class rain jacket IMHO.

I'm back to my modified Frogg Toggs now, although these are probably not durable enough for a long trip like you're planning.

Hi David,

please do post a picture. I would love to see how it fits especially reading other comments about the fit of ID Event jackets.

Hi Allison,

just wonder, did you buy the jacket true to your size?

I am getting a little bit confused about hte sizing of the ID Event jacket especially as i have no opportunity to try one on.

I bought the jacket based on their stated chest measurements. Since I'm between a 40" and 41" chest I got the size large. I'm 5'5" tall BTW. The chest sizing seems spot on, and the sleeves are plenty long. I'ts just shorter than I envisaged.

thanks everyone for your comments, yesterday night i bought the ID Event Thru Hiker on line on

http://www.ccoutdoorstore.com/integral-desings-event-thru-hiker-jacket.html

They have them on sale for $224,- and the give an extra 5% off so that make $212.- which i think is a pretty good deal. It's cheaper than the standard ID Event Rain Jacket.

Now I hope it will fit!

We hiked in 2005 with ID eVent jackets. After about 8oo miles they started weeping through out the jacket, but especially at the neck and the arms. It was not a seam issue, but seemed like the eVent just gave up its waterproofness.

It was interesting in that it happened almost at the same time for both my jacket and my wife's. But it was also the first stretch of multiday rain we had in a while.

We called eVent, they sent us new out new jackets, we mailed ours back. By Maine they were both leaking again… I still have that jacket.

I have not heard of other people that have used the eVents on 6 month trips in wetter climates that require often daily use. I'd be interested to hear if others had this issue. It sounds like the old problem with skin oils stopping the waterproofness.

The 2nd set we were really careful with and tried to wash them per the directions. The 1st set we probably didn't wash as much as we should have. Either way, same issue.

Personally, I would go with the XCR. We have given up on other WB fabrics.

Gravity (and Danger) GAME2005

Sounds like you already made your choice Jerome, but I thought I would share my experience as I am 5'10" and purchased the medium Thru-hiker several months ago after trying both the medium and large. First of all, I don't know what jacket that model is wearing in the ID photo, but it is not the Thru-hiker jacket they ship out. The medium felt uncomfortably short, the large awkwardly bulky, and neither had the proportions suggested by that photo.

If you can get past this sizing thing, it is a superior jacket–the fabric has not leaked (so far), and the hood is the best part, a great design. It has held up just like new after months of regular use.

Sorry to be dense, but can someone tell me how to post photos? I've got a few of the Thru Hiker and I'd like to post them like I said earlier.

Dave

Anybody? A little help…

How do I post a picture?

Hey David,

When you're writing your post, use the 'Insert Image at Cursor' button and choose the image from your hard drive.

Right, here we are. I'm a skinny 6'3" and this is an ID Thru Hiker in size Large.

More coming…they're loading reaaallly sowly.