Hardshells, too many choices

You're probably looking for the Beta LT. It's lightweight, breathable and still uses the latest PU free Gore Tex Pro fabric. It's very durable too.

Thanks for the suggestion. What does PU stand for?

Poly urethane.

That is a common waterproof membrane for fabrics.

–B.G.–

"Hardshells, too many choices"…

And they all suck.

In all seriousness, you seem like you know the drill already. What you are really looking for is a relatively durable shell that keeps it DWR for a really long time. My old Arcteryx fit this bill until it got stolen. I haven't bothered to buy another very expensive shell ever since. I just feel like you can't really win with waterproof/"breathable" shells.

I prefer umbrellas now.

Good luck in your search.

And we could help narrow it down. For example, the M10 is really short and will delaminate sooner than other 3L shells. The Supercell is really long but the hood will not cinch snugly around your face without a helmet. Lots of variables and idiosyncrasies to discuss here. Now, as for pitzips, here is my experience:

A) you have a big zipper on the front of your jacket already
B) you can't open them while wearing the garment due to the stiffness of small waterproof zippers (and the fact that zipper has to slide, but the excess material in the armpit gusset means the force you apply just pulls the fabric outward)
C) if it's raining you're going to get wet anyway so there is no point
D) they make the garment heavier and less compressible
E) on and on :)

So, I would go for a shell without 'em and that will narrow down the search! Rab has a number of 3L shells that would fit the bill. Good luck

Thanks. It would be good to see some in person, I didn't notice the length difference reading about it online. I don't mountain climb or ice climb etc so I won't be using it for that. At work I do use a hardhat but it doesn't have to fit over that. I've also never used pit zips, so yeah it really doesn't need to have them and your reasoning has convinced me anyways. I'll check out some of those Rab shells then.

Also I just saw that Seattle Fabrics sell 3 ply. It might be out of my sewing skill right now to try to tackle a hardshell, the most complicated clothing I've made was the insulated vest kit from thru hiker, something else to look into though.

look at some of the eVENT offerings; while no waterproof/breathable shell is outstanding on the breathable part, eVENT in my experience is at least a little closer

I picked up a 3 layer eVENT shell from RAB on clearance, so far I'm very impressed w/ durability- while not super ul (my Pertex Helium II weighs 6.4 oz in Large), not bad at 12 oz

I'm not sure what your work entails but a lot of these membranes are succetible to things like gas, oil, grease, etc., so you might be better off with something cheaper. Having made my own silnylon shell for climbing I would say just buy one unless you want to pursue seeing as a hobby or already know what you're doing. I've had a number of fancy shells but still just wear a $30 coated nylon Helly Hansen thing if I'm working with mud, blood, or petroleum. It's lighter than the rubber stuff and lasts pretty long. It breathes just as well as gore-tex in those conditions (sweating and raining), which is to say not at all.

You can buy an additional piece for hiking that's lighter and nicer since it doesn't have to stand up to the rigors of trail work. Carrying buckets of rocks on your shoulders and getting sprayed with chain oil as you run the saw will wreck even a $600 or whatever hardshell. Doing similar work for the forest service this summer I was completely happy with my coated nylon raincoat.

Didn't read all the comments but the super cell is a really nice jacket. Check out the Pata Super Pluma for a bomb proof shell.

Edit: finally had time to go through them all. If you find a Super Pluma on sale plus your pro deal then I'd get it if you want something durable. I can easily tell the difference in vapor transfer between it and my super cell. The new gore tex pro is really nice stuff. But if you want a middle ground between durability and weight the super cell is a good choice. If you want absolute light weight check out the montane Minimus smock. I have all 3 (got as gifts or with gift cards and super sales) and each one has its place on the trail depending on expected conditions.

I got a Zeta Lt Hybrid just last year as an exchange for a much older jacket that was delaminating at the seams.

I liked it because in particular because:

It was "light enough"
Had pit zips (good ventilation beats any vpm any day)
Had a zip away hood (I'm usually wearing a broad hat)
It looks reasonably inconspicuous on the street

In other words, I wanted a jacket that I was going to use "all around", not just for my outdoor trips.

And, I fully trust Dead Bird's warranty.

I reccommend the re-designed REI Kimtah eVent parka at $249. (regular price).

I have the earlier version and the pants. Not UL (15 oz. for size XL) but quite durable. I got one size larger to fit over my light down jacket without binding or compressing the down.

I know Luke's Ultralight has a 3 layer eVent jacket at 8.5 ounces and $159. At least on paper, that seems like a bargain and pretty weigh-conscious. Compared to the REI Eric mentions, its $90 cheaper and 6.5 ounces lighter. I don't own one so I can't speak to the quality of this piece, but it seems like a deal.

Quite a few folks seem to like the eVent cuben Zpacks jacket, but testing has shown it not to be as breathable as straight eVent. It is light though.

I have a few eVent shells and a really light pertex shield one as well. When I want durability and waterproofness, I go straight to the Arcteryx goretex. Breathability is ok. It's less than a pound. I think it's what you want in this case.

Seconded.

I use my Theta SV for rain/snow/ski