Choice Jacket/Anorak for (non-sustained) Wet, Warm Weather?

If you want a cheap, light, just-in-case option there is always Frogg Toggs (DriDucks). These jackets have NO features such as pockets, hem cinch, pit zips, etc, but there is a hood cinch.

My size medium weighs 160.3g (5.66oz) and is huge on me (5″9″ 170#), so the rumors about them running large are true.

The longest I have hiked in this was 2 hours in a light rain over moderately up and down terrain. As with anything else, I got some moisture inside but remained quite comfortable. The “hand” of the inside fuzzy lining is nice and soft. But this jacket definitely would not stand up to very much bushwhacking. Easily repairable with duct tape, however.

If I were expecting sustained rain, I’d take along my recently-acquired Packa, of which I chose the version made with eVent. I took it out on a very cold and wet trip for a test-drive and was very impressed. It’s comparatively heavy at 488.5g (17.23 oz), but it is unsurpassed for breathability and coverage. The eVent version is no longer available in red (Thankfully!), so mine is the olive drab version which is a real olive drab color like something you’d get at an Army-Navy surplus store. I like it. Now that I’ve decided to keep it, I’m going to replace the super-heavy shock cords with something lighter, maybe shave off 30-50g or so.

My mistake for not being more specific, but I was looking for something with more durability that the Toggs stuff (which I've always wanted to try), and significantly lighter/more packable than the Packa.

actually – the Toggs might be your best bet anyway. When it's really warm out, I prefer to just get wet to be honest. You may have the best luck with ponchos, or the Toggs (because they are so loose and flappy – very breathable.

You may also want to look into Sierra Designs new offering the Cagoule – designed to just let a lot of air through.

The problem with any jacket in warm rain is that you'll be wet inside anyway from humidity and sweat – there just isn't a very good breathable membrane that will help here. What you want is air flow – so anything to maximize air flow is what you're looking for.

But that's my 2 cents.

Something along the lines of the Sierra Designs Solar Wind Hoodie (not yet out) is pretty much what I'm looking for. Packable, woven, highly breathable, some rain resistance, nice and light.

I'm not exactly up-to-date on the breathability of the Frogg Toggs stuff, but I can't imagine any WP/B membrane breathing as well as something like Pertex Equilibrium. Also, in addition to hiking, I'd like to be able to use the garment for active stuff like mountain biking, so the Cagoule doesn't fit the bill.

i guess my point about the equilibrium is that it's not at all going to keep you dry. I have the Westcomb Crest hoody (love it!) but it soaks through pretty quickly in rain.

So what is the point of the jacket?? I guess you need to clarify what you want from this garment…in warm wet rain you are either going to be drenched from the rain, or drenched from sweat inside a jacket.

Many years ago I was hiking in Hawaii. It started to rain and I put my raincoat on out of habit. But then I realized that getting wet didn't matter to me as long as I was warm….which I was in that climate.

Might this apply to your planned warm weather use?

I actually am interested in something more substantial than just the baselayer I will be wearing (probably light merino).

I guess something towards the extreme breathable/lightweight end of the "windshirt" spectrum (which the unreleased Sierra Designs garment I mentioned seems to fit in).

Below is the Sierra Designs product description from another BPL thread. That meets my needs exactly, except it's not on the market yet. So for now I'm just in the market for a lightweight, super-breathable "windshirt."

Second item: Solar Wind Hoodie

PROBLEM: "Mountain" wind layers have low CFM to block the wind, but the lower CFM does not allow quick moisture evaporation under heavy exection in less-severe conditions, and are too hot to wear for sun and bug protection in warmer weather.

SOLUTION: 50CFM Stretch Woven Hoodie

SD is launching a new "wind shirt" (actually called the Solar Wind Hoodie) for Spring 15. It is made of a SOFT, stretchy, non-membrance STRETCH WOVEN that is as light as we could make it (2.5oz per yard; 7.5 oz for mens large; includes hood and pockets as shown below).

Okay, I found this term in another thread "softshell windshirt." That's what I'm interested in, a highly-breathable, lightweight, softshell windshirt. Any good rec's?

Wow, no offense, but you're all over the place about what you want.

Just weigh the info on the other thread, take your best guess and go with it.

Please take another look at my posts. To help describe what I am looking for I've consistently mentioned Pertex Equilibrium (which as far as I can tell, is an excellent fabric to use in a softshell windshirt). I've also consistently mentioned the Sierra Designs Solar Wind Hoodie, which is a perfect example of a softshell windshirt.

So it is Spring of '15. Why not wait a bit more for the SD offering?

I have a couple of trips coming up. Plus, I'm interested if there are other comparable options out there.

BTW if you click on the left icon above your post you will automatically fill in the subject line. Way more helpful than nn or other such thing.

Well if all you want is a breathable wind shirt, then go with the equilibrium (it's a great fabric…love it) or even Luke's UL argon wind shirt – one of the most breathable out there.

but you said you wanted rain protection, so that's what has me confused – equilibrium is NOT going to protect you from any outside moisture – it WILL wet through in very little rain.

My Crest Hoody does a pretty good job of blocking the rain for awhile and has a CFM of 20 and is made out of Equilibrium. I just never use it that much. Most of the time I am using my R2 or a cheap poncho/tarp.

Hope this helps….

Richard Nisley Data

One good thing about this thread is that it prompted me to search again for a backup for my single most-used piece of clothing, the Montbell Dynamo hooded wind jacket. Got lucky and found one at backcountrygear.com 2014 apparently is the last year for the model and I think I just ordered the last one in existence.

Combined with anything from a polyester T-shirt or or long-sleeved zip T and microfleece or fleece or MB ex-lite down jacket, that thing is useful from 75°F to 25°F, from heavy wind to light rain.