Best Light Waterproof Shells under $2505

If you're looking at Gore-Tex PacLite shells look at Cabela's Rainy River stuff.

When they first came out over a year ago I got a parka (large, Tall) for $89. and the Medium pants for $79. But our falling dollar and rising petroleum prices have now put each item at a bit over $100. Still, these are the best bargain and the features and quality are top notch.

Eric

I second the Cabela's Rainy River. For me, I looked high and low for an eVENT option…and it would still be my first choice. Simply put though, I couldn't find anything that would fit my large body. So, my next option was to find a Pac-lite, hopefully something inexpensive enough to give me some more cash down the line when an eVENT jacket became available.

I ended up with the Rainy River because it came in an XXLT, had plenty of options, was lighter than most, and was definitely cheaper than anything out there. I wore it today in the hurricane that just passed through Virginia and it worked great. It is not UL, but then again, few options are in something to fit me. It is lighter than other Pac-lite jackets though, and everything considered, I'd easily buy it again.

Yea, I saw that. I appreciate the advice, but I'm looking more along the lines of a traditional backpacking jacket with traditional looks such as the one's mentioned. Any other recommendations, as well as, advice on the one's above would be welcomed.

The NF DIAD at $150 is a good deal. It's 8 ounces and has pit zips.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp;jsessionid=L4U4AAMPPPQFXLAQBBICCOVMCAEFCIWE?id=0043692922895a&type=product&cmCat=froogle&cm_ven=data_feed&cm_cat=froogle&cm_pla=0140304&cm_ite=0043692922895a&_requestid=88310

The integral designs thru hiker is probably the nicest jacket I have seen for that price range, the jacket is even a little cheaper but for the coverage the integral designs is hard to beat and an event option is the way to go.

when I first started looking at rain jackets I ended up buying a golite gamut; which is a pretty good jacket. Then I realized I was only using my rain jacket when it rained which wasn't very often so I started looking for something lighter in my pack. I ran across a driducks suit at bass pro for like 10 bucks and bought it. The jacket is only 5.25 oz size "S" and fits large with a lot of coverage. It's not the toughest material so if you do a lot of bushwacking it's not recommended. But for something that's light and replaceable due to price it's hard to beat. It's also absolutely waterproof and breathable as any waterproof fabric could be. On the more expensive end of things a mountain hardwear quark might be worth looking at. Rab makes some nice e-vent stuff. And montbell makes some nice shells as well.

I have a Mountain Hardwear Epic jacket and the cut is very boxy. There might be a lot of air in your jacket, depending on your body shape :-)

From what I know, the DIAD is Entrant DT. If you don’t want to pay the TNF bonus and a little bit more weight is ok, there’s always the Montane Atomic DT Jacket.

I have two words to say concerning rain jackets. "PIT ZIPS" None of these so-called miracle fabrics breathe to the point that you can discern any difference between them when hiking. (Yes, maybe if you are sitting on a park bench, generating minimum moisture).

So, forget the material, get the lightest jacket with lots of zippers to open up ventilation holes. I recently purchased a North Face Diad that fits this criteria. My review is here ….

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/reviews/display_reviews.html?forum_thread_id=15415

I've been looking at rain shells online and while the Diad does have some attractive specs, I can't bring myself to wear the TNF logo/billboard. I'm still weighing other options.

nm

Are you going to be off trail or on trail? If you are staying on trail that I would generally recommend going with DriDucks which are less than 10% of your budget… I have seen them as cheap as $12.95 for pants and jacket. While not quite as good as eVENT, they are bloody cheap and get the job done.

If you are going off trail you would want something more durable. If the off-trail was going to be in the USA, I would recommend: $220 Showers Pass Elite 2 jacket made from eVENT (13 oz, pitzips, hoodless), $198 Montbell Peak made with BreezeTec which is better than PacLite but not as good as eVENT (12oz, pitzips, good hood), or the $240 ID eVENT Rain Jacket.

As others have noted (with a disagreement with Michael) eVENT is noticeably better than GoreTex and the PU materials used by TNF, MH, and Marmot. I would agree with Michael that even with the breathability of eVENT, I would like pitzips because no fabric is sufficiently breathable in all conditions.

Roger and some of my friends have reported off trail in NZ / AU can be pretty rough… so if you are doing off trail you might want to focus on more durability, even if it is at the expense of some breathability. I had suggested Gore-Tex Pro because I had heard they have ramped up the durability… but Roger’s later comment makes me wonder what would be good option. One thing that comes to mind is Frogg Toggs because they are cheap so when you trash they you don’t cry, a ore durable than DriDucks, and easy to repair with duct tape… but lets seem what the folks down under suggest.

More info on the recommended raingear page.

> Roger and some of my friends have reported off trail in NZ / AU can be pretty rough.
Right.
The trouble is that the PTFE and PU layers in GoreTex are extremely susceptible to spikes from thorny scrub (we have lots of that), and the holes made tend to grow. I trashed a VERY expensive Goretex jacket that way: the shoulders leaked like a sieve!

Cheers

Does the same apply to Paclite and GoreTex Pro?

More suggestions, please! Remember, I am looking for a jacket that IS a JACKET! Not a poncho or fishing cover. Please offer some more suggestions as well as recommendations within the three brands that I mentioned above, Marmot, Mountain Hardwear, and Arc'Teryx

Why those brands? Obviously people seem to think there are better options from other brands…

No, don't want anymore fishing jackets that don't have the look that I want and the three jackets mentioned in the first line are the ones that I have tried on. Geez, didn't mean to offend any trendsetters.

> Does the same apply to Paclite and GoreTex Pro?
Yep. Both are based on the Goretex membrane; just the surface fabric changes. (OK, some slight variations, but negligable).

Cheers

The Cabela Rainy River Jacket is not just a "fishing jacket" – from what I can see it has "traditional looks".
"

The Montbell Peak Shell (w/ Breeze Dry-Tech which is more breathable than GoreText Paclite) seems like a great option b/c of the breathable fabric, pit zips, reasonable price, and reasonable weight (11 oz). It is also a fairly attractive jacket since that seems to be what you are looking for.

Sorry I have no experience w/ the 3 jackets listed. Are you dead set on those 3 jackets or are you open to other suggestions at this point? Also, to help us help you, why did you choose those three jackets? Was it styling, fit, breathability, durability, weight, ventilation, etc.?

I live in a rain forest and have had a number of "rain jackets" ranging from Marmot to Patagonia to Helly Hansen. None have stood the test the test of the Tongass. So, in this discussion what really works? How about 3 layer gore tex?

Joseph,
Just curious, where are the jackets leaking? Zippers, seams, or just wetting out?

Short of commercial fisherman's gear 3 layer Gore-Tex sounds like it may not work either.

I was asking about where the leaks are because most of the Event jackets seem to lack pit zips, one less point of failure.

In a brutal multi hour rainstorm close to Mount Sneffels in Colorado I stayed dry in my Arcteryx Beta AR jacket while I watched my brother's Marmot Precip wet out. Horrible for him but kind of interesting to watch the process of failure. You could see the moisture spreading from the zipper flaps, then where the shoulder staps run it soaked thru, then the entire jacket looked like a wet t-shirt.

They wet out at the shoulders. Today it was a Patagonia Rainshadow while fishing in a steady rain for three hours. I can't attribute it to condensation since I was standing still for most of that time.

I've been guiding in Denali NP all summer. The rain here is, of course, nothing compared to SE; however, it did rain almost every day for all of July and the first week of August this year, and I was out in it all day, every day.

My MontBell Peak Shell jacket has performed exceptionally well. It's light at ~11oz. The fabric breathes very well–it's no eVent, but it's the closest I've found. The features are very good: high hand-warmer pockets, long pit zips, stretch velcro cuffs, a drawstring hem, and a full-featured hood. The water resistance is very good; I haven't wet it out yet. I've also been surprised at the durability; regular bushwhacking through nice'n'thick alders and willows hasn't made a dent. The fit is good for me–I'm long-limbed but short-waisted. Lastly, the price is reasonable at $200 MSRP, significantly less if you catch a sale.

Highly recommended. 5 out of 5.

> They wet out at the shoulders. Today it was a Patagonia Rainshadow while fishing in a steady rain for three hours. I can't attribute it to condensation since I was standing still for most of that time.

That jacket is meant to be waterproof. The coldest part of the outside of your body in pouring rain may well be the shoulders, while any warm moist air inside the jacket will of course rise to the shoulders.
I would not discount condensation, caused by the cold rain hitting your shoulders and chilling the inside surface.

Cheers