Help me choose an eVent jacket

Not sure if it'll release in time for your hike, and even less sure what US retailers will carry it, but the 2010 Rab Demand Pull On will be a strong contender against the ID thru hiker. You lose the full zip, but you get a better hood. That and its slightly lighter, and better looking IMO

http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/news/article/mps/uan/6705

cedar tree now sells event packas, a poncho that has a slot of a pack in the back to keep it dry. check it out.

Westcomb makes great eVENT jackets, including the Vapor FX that has the latest and greatest eVENT fabric. Not the lightest weight but outstanding quality. Pricy, though.

REI also sells an eVENT jacket at a much lower price.

You might consider Gore-Tex Pro as well; lighter in weight and I've found it to be as effective as eVENT.

Thanks for the info everyone! Isaac, do you have an eVent Packa now? How has it been working out for you? I went back on forth on it for a while. I like the better coverage and ventilation you get with it, but I'm not sure they outweigh the drawbacks vis-a-vis a jacket. Thoughts?

I went out to the "The Packa" web site and they have a statement that "The Packa Vents" which might have confused the other poster into thinking he read The Packa Event". There is no mention of eVent fabric at that web site.

http://www.thepacka.com/

They're not on the site, but he did get an order of them. He only has smalls and mediums left. Email Eddie direct if you're interested.

I do own an eVent Packa, though I've only had it for two weeks. Limited use so far, but the initial impressions are good. In the few short hikes I've used it for so far, I'm quite happy with the breathability; I've had neither condensation nor frost buildup inside while using it in some pretty nasty storm conditions. The pitzips are HUGE, long enough that I can easily pass my arms out and wear it like a vest. With the two-way front zipper, I can wear it like a cape with my arms inside and get really good coverage if it's not windy. The length is nice, coming to below mid-thigh on me in a medium, and there's a flap on the back hem that extends coverage in the back.

When I've had a chance to really test it out, I'll post a review.

Wow! Can you post the weight of the eVent Packa, the cost, and a photo? Cool. Thanks.

Hi Roleigh, the weight is 17 oz. The cost was $185 plus $10 for shipping. The only color available is red. Don't have any photos yet, but I'll see if I can't get some up in a couple days. It really needs to be seen while being worn over a pack. I'll drag the neighbor out to photo me in the yard on monday.

REI has 2 eVent parkas. From what I can tell one of them is only 1 or 2 ounces lighter than the original, (Shuskan).

I've heard the ID Thru Hiker parka is noisy and crinkly. That I don't like.

There is a nice Canadian eVent parka (not Arc Teryx) but I can't remember the name. Maybe someone who doesn't have CRS can remember.

Eric

Integral Designs and Westcomb Make eVent jackets. The ID fabric gets quieter over time. Westcomb is just Arcteryx made in event at the same price(one of the original guys who started Arcteryx) ID stuff is awesome at the price under $300 for all the jackets and its made in Calgary.

Also GTX is not as breathable as Event and for light weight models with pit zips around 13-15oz are around $500(arcteryx Alpha LT and Beta LT)

Slight correction… the main body of the eVENT version of the Packa's is red. The pack cover section is light gray and is made from sil-nylon.

–Mark

If you like the ID stuff, get it soon. Rab has purchased ID to be finalized sometime in 2011. Not sure what this will mean to the current line-up.

Eric, I own an ID Thru Hiker and never noticed any noise issue and find it the most enjoyable rain jacket I've ever owned/used. And at 13 oz, it's more than a Rainshield jacket, I found it so much more comfortable to wear that I don't feel bothered by the weight loss, I would not trade the less comfortness for the weight savings.

What or who is "Rab".

Rab is an english mountain climbing gear/clothing company that makes top-notch stuff.

Their eVent jackets are the Drillium and the Momentum. Both are light and seem to offer more features than the ID jackets, but I dont have any experience with either.

Roleigh,

That's good to hear that the Thru Hiker is not noisy. I like that parka for its length. "Butt coverage" is important, especially if you are wearing rain chaps.

http://www.rab.uk.com/clothing/shell/

Re Rab

All their waterproofs are in event and the latest and lightest offering is the demand pull-on, beginning to hit the shops now.

I have no experience of this particular item but have never seen bad rab rain-wear and this one is getting excellent early comments and reviews. A hooded rain smock in event with a wired hood, engineered to withstand UK rain at 10oz has got to be worth a look.

I don't think Rab would be too happy at being called English! :)

Jim,

I think your 10 oz eVent Rab jacket link is here:
http://us.rab.uk.com/clothing/shell/demand_pull-on—261/

My 13 oz ID Thru Hiker is a size XL, I think the weights are typically for the medium size jacket. My guess is that the two jackets are about identical weight in size medium, but if the Rab is lighter it is probably only 1.9 oz lighter but for that less weight, the jacket is a pull-over rather than a full zip, if I read the description right. I prefer a full zip as it provides more ventilation if one does not need the jacket zipped up.

The ID eVent Rain Jacket, size medium, is 10.9 oz and it is a full zip jacket too. I bet the Rap jacket features is more akin to the ID eVent Rain Jacket and thus by .1 oz, the ID jacket is lighter.

The ID medium Thru Hiker is 11.9 oz

I posted about the Rab on-demand pullover, as the 2nd post in this thread, but again a good write up of the on-demand pull over can be found here
http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/news/article/mps/uan/6205

Its 9.87 oz, in what i presume is size medium. So you get a lighter version of the ID thru-hiker, at the cost of half a zipper. (it looks like a very deep zipper though) However, you get a better hood than the ID, which for some, will offset the cost of only having a half zipper. That and the lighter weight will make it a win-all for those same individuals who don't mind the pullover/anorak style. I should also note that the Rab lacks the velcro adjustable cuffs found on the ID thru-hiker, and has instead taken the elastic cuff route, ie Marmot Ion, or 09' Marmot Essence
As for comparison to the ID Rain Jacket (the other option that ID offers), well the Rab is heavier but offers an actual real hood. The hood on the ID rain jacket IMO is a joke (albeit, i have not tested one, just based on my observations regarding the design of it).

Rab is a great company, based outta the UK. Like Brandon mentioned, their event jackets include the drillium, momentum. Their mountaineering jackets and pants, gloves and gaiters also use event (ie. latok, latok alpine, Bergen). They are also one of the first to adopt the newer waterproof pertex fabric (same stuff as Golite's Tumalo Line). That being said, their production is still overseas, in China.

I personally own a Rab drillium, and have written about it in the past. Its a company that I would buy from again, w/o hesitation

Also, i clicked on Roleigh's link to Rab's official website, and description of the on-demand pullover and saw this, under the description
"Popper at top of collar allows for venting options"
What is a "popper" and how does it work?

Also, OMM is coming out with some even lighter eVent jackets. Check out this thread
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=28254&disable_pagination=1

More at http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/news/article/mps/uan/6636

At 8.46 oz, and what I consider to be a better cuff system, this is a winner over the On-demand pullover. But considering that I'm never going to get my hands on one here in the US, it is nothing more than a dream :/

Do you have a link to RAB's distributor here in the USA?

Im sure their UK website will have a full list of distributers, but i know prolitegear, campsaver, mammoth mountaineering, and jackson sports, and Pineneedle Mountaineering are all US retailers, with online shops, that stock Rab

I actually scored my Rab drillium off ebay.co.uk Even after shipping it across the ocean, it was cheaper than everywhere else online. That, and no one in the US had my size at the time. People sometimes forget to try an overseas ebay, but its proved to be a good resource for me

I have no complaints with the ID Thru Hiker hood, but I did find it 1000 percent more comfortable wearing my baseball cap beneath it. I have a REI baseball cap with a clip-on removeable sahara cape/flap – but REI no longer sells it. Closest I can find is here: http://www.amazon.com/Fishing-Removable-Sunshield-Dorfman-Pacific/dp/B000PVU59K/ref=pd_sim_a_1 I would remove the flap when wearing the hood. With the baseball cap on, the thru hiker jacket hood was fantastic.

Another option is the Sunshine Shade for Baseball Caps at GoFastAndLight – http://tinyurl.com/ykyd6qg.