Rain Gear that does not soak through

David,
I have done several long days with both an Event top and bottom on with out getting a drop wet, (even in heavy down-pours).

You may sweat a little around the arm pits with heavy exertion, but if there is a little bit of a breeze, it will breath enough to keep you dry.

..is made of something they call Hyvent. Mine has replaced all my other rain jackets. I wear a M; and I have an 'L' I bought before I realized it was too big. For sale for $110 plus shipping. Sorry to jump to the for sale issue, but another poster just spent $139 elsewhere for a L, and he also could have just bought mine. Its like new, green.

<– oh, Im wearing it in my avatar pic..

Ill be putting it up on the Gear Swap forum soon.

Brett,

All the on-line sites I looked at ask $199.00 for the Diad. Your price is great.

To other readers: I just bought a MB Thermawrap Jacket from Brett. He's a straight shooter.

Me in my new Thermawrap (4 days from Japan)

I know its crazy, but Im going to take the $110 and put it towards another M DIAD as a backup since I believe they are going out of production. Nothing else has this combination of waterproofness, breathability, and lightness, in my experience; including eVENT (heavier).

Hi Brett.
This may or may not be off topic here, but do you know how hyvent (diad) compares with precip plus (essence)?

I just looked on the Campmor site. They have just a few in stock at $129. No L or XL.

I've had a Hyvent DT jacket from The North Face, and I just bought an Integral Designs eVent Rain Jacket. The DIAD is a different construction (fewer layers, I think), but mine was not breathable (although somewhat light and flexible) and after 2 years I can't seem to revive the DWR coating despite multiple attempts and different brands of revival spray/goop/stuff. Wets out after 45 minutes at this point.

The eVent jacket's been utterly, utterly rainproof since I've owned it (<1 year) with amazing breathability (ID will make one with pit zips if you require more venting options). Much happier with this purchase…but, of course, that's just my opinion/experience.

Nathan, I read with envy your report on the ID eVENT jacket. Eventually I want the pit-zip version; Its around $300, so Ive got a few more old items to sell before I can buy one. In the mean time my DIAD is working well. My ultimate goal is to only have "one of everything"; so the ID eVENT should replace my goretex, Teva eVENT (21 oz!), and maybe even my beloved DIAD.
Ive bought Hyvent jackets as recommended items for friends here in Japan (where they are 3x as much$$).

Sorry, I have not owned the second item; maybe someone else will be able to make a comparison.

I just got a Cabela's PacLite parka. Best DWR treatment I've ever seen and the PacLite Gore-Tex is more breathable than my old REI Gore-Tex jacket.
It was in the 40s and raining hard today here in Southern Nevada. I had to go out in that stuff & the Cabela's parka was very comfortable for 30 minutes of work I had to do.

And I love it's $89. price tag.

Eric

Hi Eric,

I saw the Cabela's Rainy River Parka as well and wondered about its weight and in particular length. Hope you can offer some more info on it. I would not call myself an UL backpacker but a lightweight backpacker. I like to save weight if possible on a rain jacket for the simple reason that I don't need it often, but never leave it behind. I was trying to decide between this and the OR Celestial Parka which I was able to pick up for $125 (sells for $250) and which weighs about 10 ounces. I haven't received the Celestial yet, but at that price I could resell it easily. Of course I like the price of the Cabela's even more : )

I'm only concerned about 1) how heavy the Rainy River Parka is 2) how long it is – I like rain jackets with more coverage – enough to shield your crotch and butt – because I often don't wear rain pants unless it's really bad or I'm very cold.

Also, do you have any idea how heavy the pants are?

Looking forward to your and anyone else's thoughts.

The Rainy River Parka in size Large, Tall is 32" from the neck/hood seam (near my C-7 vertibrae) to the bottom hem. The weight for this size is 15.8 oz. I'm 5' 10" and 180 lbs. but I got the Tall for the added length.

See my reader's review of it for more details. Cabela's has far more sizes for this parka than any other brand name PacLite parka manufacturer.

I know you'll like it.

Eric

Hi Eric,

Thanks for the weight on the jacket. I just called Cabela's, it's always impossible to get weight from them because all of their weights include the packaging and are rounded up – so they had the M's jackets listed at 2 lbs and the women's listed at 1 lb, which makes no sense. I know they are lighter than that. Thank you very much – my wife and I may pick these up.

Anyone have any idea how much the pants weigh? Also couldn't get an accurate number from them on these. Also, anyone know if the leg zip is knee height or full length (forgot to ask them)? Hard to tell from the picture. I'm similar sizing to you, 6 ft 185 lbs, and my wife is a size 8 5 ft 6-7.

Also, does anyone know the actual weight (not manufacturer's claimed weight) of Marmot Precip pants, men's medium and women's medium?

Your might look at the Patagonia Rain Shadow on sale at altrec.com., and at Patagonia. They are having a sale. Even in summer storms rain gear can provide needed warmth. By that I mean that not all summer storms are warm, without rain gear one can be cold even when hiking.

Frank, do you have a Rainshadow Jacket? I have been looking at one and have one on hold at my local outfitter. Does anyone have any experience with this jacket. I guess I still have it in my head that it has be Gore-Tex to be good.

Yup – I like mine. It's not love, but it works. Good blend of light weight, well placed vents, and reasonable cost. It keeps the rain off. I have to admit that I find the "breathability" claim a bit optimistic in any raingear that I've tried so far – with the possible exception of event. The pit zips help. It's going strong after a couple of years use.

This is the first shell I've owned with a waterproof front zipper – you loose the ability to vent by snapping or velcroing the front shut and leaving the zip open. That has less to do with the design of this particular shell than a downside of waterproof zippers.