Cutting edge rain shells?

Lukes ultralight makes an 8 ounce event jacket. Not too expensive, no pockets or anything.

edit: just realized you already mentioned that jacket.

Justin, do you have experience with the LUL jacket?

I don't but I'm planning on getting him to make a custom long length (below crotch) jacket.

Either way it sounds perfect for your needs, relatively light, breathable, simple.

I am currently waiting on a LUL e-vent jacket. I had him lengthen it to just above my knees and add a #5 zipper. I'll report back when it arrives!

I'm still touting this VERY UNTESTED jacket at this point, because my initial impressions are pretty darned good. I'm about to take it to the CT for 35ish days so when I get back I'll have a better idea of how it handles more real-world backpacking conditions.

But I will say that walking my dog in super steamy Austin during a literal record-setting rainy few months has given me ridiculously high hopes for this guy.

I've been able to put wear it when it is so hot and steamy out that my glasses fog up yet remain perfectly dry inside – yes, COMPLETELY dry. meaning despite 85+ degree temps with a waterproof on I did not sweat inside.

It is touted to be a full 3-layer WPB and the L weighs 6.4 oz on my scale.

Sierra Trading Post has a Haglofs Gram Pullover made with GT Active Shell for 8oz. I have (and really like) the older model the Ozo.

Just another model to look at that can be found cheap with STP 40% off coupons.

My Montane Minimus Smock in size small weighs just 4.9oz. Super minimal and I just love wearing it. It's Pertex Shield Plus so it's not the most breathable or the most waterproof, I guess, but it fits incredible and the elastic hood, cuffs, and hem REALLY seal out the wind, cold and rain. I've had it in a down pour and stayed completely dry.

So while it doesn't fit all of your criteria, it fits a few.

Big bonus, GIANT kangaroo pocket!!!!

Often found on deep sale at the usual suspects. Worth considering.

I think this might be the lightest commercial eVENT piece I've seen to date, the Montane Spektr Smock- 8.9 oz, $117 w/ a 35% off coupon at STP- going to have to be a XL or 2XL though

Thanks for the reminder of the Montane Spektr Smock. It was on my list from a couple years ago, but not on this current list. I believe that Montane has ceased manufacturing it, though, so it will exist only on gear swap after the last of the old model year are gone. Its a shame because it was an innovative item.

I'd like one of the Luke's with zips all the way up to the armpit…. like the OR Revel. Then a skirt of some sort and I'd be set.

Kinda just went through the same thing with rain gear. I ended up with a warm weather and a colder weather set up. Warm weather is Patagonia Houdini, a .74 CF DIY cloud kilt and a umbrella. For cold weather not snow I ditch the umbrella and use a LUL silinylon rain jacket with the cloud kilt. So far, so good! I love the kilt and umbrella and I'm learning to love the Houdini and all its uses. LUL silinylon rain jacket is awesome but is not for the heat of summer. So basically I just switch jackets for the seasons. Good luck shopping let us know what you end up with.

Finally got the LUL E-Vent jacket today. I have only been able to take it out for a short hike in the rain so far but here are my initial impressions:

-Fit: Standard XL size. It is big enough to layer nicely under but not too billowy. for the record I am 6"1' 200 lbs. I had Luke make it long, down to my knees to replace a kilt. It is long, and my movement is not impeded when hiking for the most part. It was a little awkward on a steep uphill; I hiked it up to my waist and cinched it, solved the problem. My only complaint would be the hood. It is not so much a brim, just thicker fabric on the top portion of the hood. IDK how to explain it really. It is slightly uncomfortable and feels weird but kept the rain out OK. Maybe I'm just spoiled by the hood on my Squamish

-Breathability: Breathes noticeably better than my old Goretex jacket (only comparison I have). This is my first jacket with pit zips and I actually forgot to open them for the first hour or so. It was pretty hot out, 23 degrees, and I did eventually sweat and get wet on the inside, but it took at least twice as long as it normally does with my old jacket. It also felt less uncomfortable once wet inside than goretex.

All in all I am very pleased with this jacket and would not hesitate to recommend LUL to anyone. Bummer about the hood, but can't have perfection. C
an't wait to wear this thing in Killarney and Algonquin this summer!

My REI Kimtah eVent parks (ex. lg. to fit over puffy) weighs 15.5 oz. and the price was RIGHT on a 20% off sale.

Note: I may add waterproof pit zips and that would push it just over one pound.

BUT… were I to do it again I'd get a LUL parka -> Ex Large, adjustable cuffs, pit zips, WP pocket.

Hi there, Great thread Btw, I know you said "Not interested in a heavier helmet compatible climbing shell". And I also know my that suggestions are exactly that….. nevertheless, you might not have considered the following: Disclaimer I'm an Anorak lover. Jottnar Hymir http://www.jottnar.com/hymir-digital-blue-m I have one of these as my current go to jacket… Its one of the best shells I've ever owned. I got it on sale for 100 pounds. Klattermusen Fjorgyn Anorak http://www.scandinavianoutdoorgroup.com/klattermusen-fjorgyn-anorak-jacket/ I have a few pieces from Klattermusen and the build quality is outstanding plus their designs are a little different. Due out September 2015. Crux Torq Smock http://www.crux.uk.com/en/shell-clothing.php?range=8&product=12 Super burly (I love burly) but only comes in Red…. Top shelf eVent. Berghaus Vapourlight Hyper Smock 2 http://int.berghaus.com/mens-vapourlight-hyper-smock-2.0/421595.html Not sure if anybody has mentioned this one…. Sounds like it would fit your requirements perfectly. Good luck.

Sorry I forgot this in my last post: PHD Alpamayo Waterproof Smock http://www.phdesigns.co.uk/alpamayo-waterproof-smock PHD are the British equivalent of Western Mountaineering or Feathered Friends. They make world class (seriously) down clothing and sleeping bags. Almost anything can be customized including the Alpamayo. You wont be disappointed here. Hope it helps, Lawrie

Lawrie, Thank you. These are great additions that I were not on my list. Even one new company I was not even aware of.

I came away from my very, very rainy Colorado Trail thru hike with very good impressions of this 6.4 oz 3 layer gem. It rained 30 out of 37 days and I was very happy with how much the jacket breathed, as well as the fact that it never, not one time, wet out. I stayed completely dry inside – and during big rains I was even able to dry off inside the jacket (when I delayed putting it on…). Highly recommend it. And apparently they are changing up the fabric a bit for next year, so you can probably pick one up relatively cheap at this point.

"I was very happy with how much the jacket breathed, as well as the fact that it never, not one time, wet out. I stayed completely dry…" Jen, maybe you can expand on the general temperature during your trip. Many, many people report that shells 'always wet out' and are next to useless. My experience has been otherwise. My event shell has saved me more than once in cold rain and sleet–and it hasn't wet out (from condensation) either. Maybe the temp needs to be cold/cool for these shells to work best? Or is this new material a step up from the Rab event shells?

Wetting out has to do with the shell's DWR and how good it is rather than what fabric the shell is made out of. I have had eVent wet out quickly on certain garments and then work great with others (and from other brands). Same with Gortex. Sounds like the Rab has a nice, long lasting DWR. I will have to check that one out.

Jen, maybe you can expand on the general temperature during your trip. And perhaps also the relative humidity… it's all about the humidity differential.

Bob, I was going to mention the RH, but Jen said it was raining almost the whole time, so I thought…but humidity differential is interesting. Wearing a shell in the rain in Florida is way different from wearing one at altitude in cold rain in Colorado, but I don't know how to express that. Maybe you can enlarge on humidity differential and how it works.

Skurka has a nice presentation here. In FL (and East Coast in general) the relative humidity is usually going to be a lot higher than CO (and desert and mountain West in general), so less humidity differential and more moisture/clamminess inside the shell. As an East Coaster, I’ve observed that all my clothing (shells and insulation) and sleeping gear perform starkly better in CO, UT, ID and AZ. One rain phenomenon you see a lot more out West is virga, which occurs when the relative humidity is so low that rain falling from clouds evaporates before it reaches the ground.

well…I usually have terribly cracked hands and dry, chapped lips when I go out west, but it never happened on this trip (I carried that little bottle of eucerin for nothing!) There were several days when the humidity was well over 90% (per my iPhone), and the temps during the day were generally pretty high – several rainy days in the 80s actually. Of course there were also plenty of days when it dropped into the 40s and poured, but there were days when I waited quite a while before putting my jacket on because the rain actually felt good. One day in particular that really impressed me was a warmer day when I waited quite a while before I put my jacket on…my shirt was quite wet and I started to get chilled in the wind. I put the jacket on top of my wet shirt and felt better…and the shirt actually dried inside. That day was probably in the low 70s???? I wish I had more specifics on the humidity – just that I did not at all notice the dryness that I usually notice when I hike out west, but my tent and quilt were able to dry out during the day when we stopped for lunch and spread out in the sunshine (when we had some!) I hope that's at all helpful….

There's been a lot of monsoonal humidity and rain in Ca. this year–possibly all through the west? My pet theory is that El Nino is allowing tropical storms to drift further north. Jen, I hope that there wasn't too much lightning on your trip. In any case, that's an impressive jacket! As you know I'm a Rab fan, so this is on my radar.