North Face Rainwear

Leonidas has weird cuffs,and hood. It has an internal elastic cuffs in the wrist and hood. so you cant adjust it and it kind of seals the cuffs and reduces breath-ability.

Thanks for the input. I'm torn on what to get, after researching more for the last few days. I've stepped it up slightly and started looking at REI's Shuksan or the Westcomb Cruiser with eVent (using REI's current 20% coupon gets both jackets under the $300 mark). I figure I could use both of them in winter too as I do lots of winter hiking/camping.

There's too many choices!

Rick

Too many choices you say? Let me just leave this here, and you can do with it as you will.

Courtesy of Hendrick (Hiking in Finland blog):

Rab Demand Pull-On

I own Rab’s Momentum jacket (got it on a good sale) and love it.

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Have you looked at a Malpaís Trinity 3-Layer Liteshell Jacket. If you use the code DSW10 you can get a 40% discount. I just got one last week, but I haven't had a chance to use it yet. Worth taking a look at though.

eVent sounds nice (I haven't ever used an eVent jacket) but $300 for a jacket that you are going to use only occasionally seems steep. Any "waterproof" jacket is going to be overpowered by condensation if hiking for several hours, even eVent. You might be better off with a Driducks jacket for hard rain, which looks not-so-cool but is super-cheap. I did pick up a TNF Triumph this winter, but I haven't had a chance to use it. I think I'll take it on day hikes and in the few weeks in the PNW when you are looking at extended rain!

A nice traditional shell is the Patagonia Rain Shadow and it is $150 new (and I'm guessing you can find it on sale online and at REI with the 20% off). Mine weighs 13 oz, but I think they might be a little lighter now.

Speaking of winter- I get a lot more use out of my windshirt than I do my hardshell during the northern Minnesota winter.