Rain gear or windbreaker?

"anorak – no full front zipper for ventilation so not as flexible"

Very deep chest zip works very well for me. If I need more, I can roll the anorak up from the waist, but haven't had to so far.

UL rain jackets WITH LARGE PIT ZIPS can make good substitutes for a windshirt, at least in my Alpine experience. I had great success with the Montbell Versalite while the OR Helium sucked. I actually gave my Helium away to a friend wanting to lighten up.

I happen to have a Montane Minimis too and it's ok as a rainlayer but that is everything I would use it for: a rainlayer to have with me in case it rains hard enough and only in that case..

One way I've found to be able to use my rain shell as a wind shell comfortably is to put it on backwards. As in, while I'm walking, rather than taking my pack off and putting the jacket on the normal way, I leave my pack on and pull it over my arms backwards. That way it blocks wind from the front, my pack blocks wind from the back, but my body is able to breathe around the perimeter. Then once the wind dies down I just slide it off my arms and stuff it. Never need to stop, never need to remove my pack, and have never over heated while using the rain shell as wind shell. Works wonderfully. Great way to block the wind without overheating.

But, I usually just pack the Houdini and the Minimus Mock. Combined weight of ~8.5 oz. But, I also layer the for warmth. Can't use the Smock for the technique above though. Need a full zip for ease.

Anyway, just thought this may interest some of you as an alternate. Try it out. Saves time on the trail, especially if you need to constantly adjust layers do to peaking ridges and then dropping back down out of the wind all day.