Anyone try any of the wind/rain hybrid jackets?

what exactly is a hybrid wind/rain jacket ?
which features of each category does it possess and lack ?

sounds a bit like a marketing gimmick to suck more money from our wallets.

my usual spiel – if the trip is longer than 3 hours, skip the wind shirt and just take a UL rain jacket.

p.s.
you could probably turn your wind shirt into a hybrid by just spraying some extra DWR on it.

"p.s. you could probably turn your wind shirt into a hybrid by just spraying some extra DWR on it"

I don't think so. A real rain jacket relies on both DWR to get water to slide off the surface — and a PU or similar coating / laminate on the underside to physically block water from seeping through. If your garment is not waterproof to begin with, no amount of DWR will make it so. Otherwise, all of us will already be hiking in the rain wearing 3oz windshirts made waterproof by spraying — which obviously isn't the case.

Ben I was talking about turning it into a hybrid not a full on rain jacket.
my assumption is that a hybrid (never heard of them) is not a full on water proof rain jacket.

I own that OR Helium Hybrid, and I've enjoyed it so far. I've even tested it walking around town during a downpour for an hour or so, and while my arms definitely got wet (because the arms are relatively unprotected), my torso was pretty dry.

I'm not sure if I'd take it exclusively if I was expecting torrential downpours in any season but high summer, but I'll gladly use it for both windshirt/rain duty when it's warmer.

Just my two cents.

PS, for those who are somewhat unaware, the Helium Hybrid is a jacket with pertex shoulders/hood and ripstop everywhere else. It's basically just a windshirt with a slightly prolonged period dryness during rain.

If the Helium Hybrid is meant, only the shoulders and the hood are waterproof. Which negates the use for me as when I need some decent protection because it rains hard, the body and sleeves need to be waterproof as well. If it still rains not too hard, my 100% windshell is waterresistant enough. So what purpose has such a hybrid then for me as it is not breathable enough in most cases and not waterproof enough when I really need something against the rain.

About the idea that if trips last at least 3 hours to only bring an UL rainjacket and ditch a windshirt, since all my trips last at least 3 hours, I guess it's clear for me what to do. :-)

^ thanks-that's the one I'm talking about :) pertex on the upper torso, uncoated lower torso/arms

would be used summer and possibly dead of winter when precip is "dry" snow

I might be wrong, but it seemed like someone in addition to OR made one as well ???

For hood, shoulders – the rain strikes at right angle so more pressure on the fabric – you need more water-proofness

On sides – the rain strikes at an angle so it doesn't need to be as waterproof

When I have a raincoat that isn't as water-proof, I've noticed my head and shoulders gets wet more, although breathability also factors in, because the fabric is against my body there so sweat tends to condense more. Other places the fabric is more loose so there's more air flow.

Ive used the Salomon S-Lab Hybrid Jacket for running.

The way I view hybrid jackets is that their usefulness entirely depends on how you think of them. If you think of a hybrid jacket as being the "best of both worlds" (i.e. a more breathable waterproof/more protective windshell) as opposed to the "worst of both worlds" (less protective waterproof/less breathable windshell).

"Ben I was talking about turning it into a hybrid not a full on rain jacket. My assumption is that a hybrid (never heard of them) is not a full on water proof rain jacket."

OK, I see.

I could see that jacket being a replacement for a windshirt, not a replacement for a rain jacket. The wateproof shoulders and hood would be nice for a light drizzle while preventing you from overheating. When it starts raining hard, then thrown on a rain jacket.

"I could see that jacket being a replacement for a windshirt, not a replacement for a rain jacket. The wateproof shoulders and hood would be nice for a light drizzle while preventing you from overheating. When it starts raining hard, then thrown on a rain jacket."

That's how I originally approached it. I found one at steep discount and was going to marry it to a poncho/tarp when I didn't want to go through the trouble of getting the poncho/tarp out. What I think I've more or less adopted it for is a very hot weather jacket for warmth (not dryness). I'm taking it on the C&O Towpath tomorrow for a week with no rain gear and I'm not really worried. Temps are only estimated to bottom out in the mid 70s, and daytime highs in the low 90s.

I'm not sure about other people, but for weather like that, while moving, I don't really need anything else. To be honest, I might not even need the jacket at all (or a sleeping bag, hah!), but that'd be more reckless than I'd rather be.

I knew someone else made one- thanks :)

my thought is it would replace a rain jacket (AND windshirt) for certain occasions and certain trips, no different than when I bring my 3 layer eVENT jacket over my very light 2.5 Pertex rain jacket when I'm confident I'll encounter rain- this would be at the other end of the scale- confident I'm not going to see rain, but I've spent enough time in the mountains to realize the difference between confidence and certainty :)

I stay amazed at how almost normal it is having multiple items for the same purpose. Maybe it is mostly the difference between my country on my side of the ocean and (a) country(ies) on the opposite side, but having multiple backpacking related items for one thing is here not the habit.

sounds like you should consider a move here where the streets are paved with gold and we wash in crude oil

I was looking at the same OR jacket, and the Salomon jacket.
Not for replacing my hard shell. But for when it is cold and raining and I know my wind shirt is going to be too wet but my hardshell too hot when moving hard. I didn't buy it in the end. But assuming hard sustained rain I think hybrids can be great for running and you want more protection, but not for when you are forced to slow down due to technical terrain or injury.

This may sound crazy but I have a very (very) breathable super thin soft-shell type wind shirt that breathes super well.
If looks like it will rain hard I put my Tachyon over that (less breathable and better DWR, and UL) and it keeps me going to temps where I really would need a hard shell.

Oh, from Ian Corless' review of a Salomon hybrid rain jacket:
(http://iancorless.org/2015/02/15/salomon-s-lab-hybrid-jacket-m-and-hybrid-pants-m-review/)

"So, should bad weather come in and lets say a worse case scenario of torrential rain, snow, blizzards and zero temperatures I personally don’t feel that the HYBRID would provide me (or maybe similar runners) with enough protection. This is not questioning its waterproofing, the jacket is waterproof BUT only in key places.

So you see the dilemma. If you are moving quick and retaining core temperature, the HYBRID Jacket M will be ideal allowing adequate protection in a lightweight, breathable and seriously functional product. But if your pace drops, you have extended walking and your core temperature starts to drop, this jacket may well not be the best for you… something a little heavier, a little more robust and 100% waterproof may well be the better product."

(if you don't know Ian Corless, check out his podcasts, loads of good interviews with mountain running athletes).

clearly not a substitute for a full on hardshell in hard, sustained (cold) rains, but maybe a substitute for a windshirt AND a hardshell in "bluebird" weather that usually lives up to it's name (but not always) and if it doesn't it's typically a fast moving/short lived afternoon squall

I'll check out his podcasts :)

I had to google bluebird weather, nice.
I understand what you're going for. My problem would be you wouldn't know if weather changes for the worse, but I understand what you mean. Especially for the shorter scenarios you suggest.

I can imagine a system where you pair the hybrid with something like a Lifesystems thermal jacket (space blanket material jacket, waterproof, weighs 51grams/1,8oz, packs up as small as a space blanket). Personally I would feel better with at least a little back up there.

e.g.
http://www.snowandrock.com/lifesystems%20thermal%20jacket/lifesystems-accessory/ski-snowboard-outdoor-sports/fcp-product/18557

I haven't seen that product before- I typically carry a 2 ounce AMK heatsheet which could be fashioned into some kind of garment, but like the idea it's already ready to go :)

There are a lot of other factors that would make such a move not really my best idea. :-)

I typically carried a SOL space bivy. Not sure if that thermal jacket is a European thing or harder to get in the USA.
If so I have seen but no experience with AMK / SOL Poncho of the same material, but bright orange on the outside.
I already had the jacket and like that I can close it and it doesn't suffer from wind blowing in, but I can imagine the poncho being more breathable and that it could be useful for tucking your legs under when not moving.

http://www.adventuremedicalkits.com/survive-outdoors-longer-survival-poncho.html

I'm not seeing available here stateside; I like the idea of the built in hood, they should do that for all their blankets

Looks like LifeSystems may have discontinued that jacket; it's not on their own web site any longer.

There is someone reselling on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/LifeSystem-Thermal-Survival-Jacket-Silver/dp/B004QBMS1I) but the markup is absurd – $45.

Surviva (http://www.survivawear.com/) appears to be making some similar products. Of course they are ALSO a UK company…you can buy a ten-pack through Amazon for $185 if you have nine friends, I guess. http://www.amazon.com/Surviva-Reflective-First-Survival-Jacket/dp/B00FFBD3F8

I've got several 1 & 2 person AMK heatsheets, might make a worthy diy project :)