Rab Pulse Jacket (7oz/200g) – Men’s M/L, Apple color only – $97.98 w/ free shipping in the CONUS @ campsaver.com

Thanks for the heads up. On campsaver it lists the weight as 8oz/255g, but I noticed BPL's 2012 state of the market report (http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/ul_wpb_jackets_sotmr_part2#.UWNZBKsjq-8) also lists the Pulse at 7oz. Do you think it could be a different year or somethin? thanks

woah, I was waiting for the westcomb focus lt to drop in price, but this looks interesting- anyone know what the WP/B ratings are? I'm assuming this is a fully waterproof jacket, but I don't know much about Pertex Shield- is it more comparable to HyVent or MemBrain than to Goretex or eVent?

I don't know about any of the technical details, but I have a Montane Minimus which uses pertex shield and it has seemed comparable to other WPB jackets I have owned. The one thing you will notice is that it clings to your skin – it is quite thin. I used it on a boat caught in a squall and it didnt offer any protection from the stinging caused by sideways rain – but as a lightweight option it is fine.

Also, the Westcomb focus isnt all it was cracked up to be weight-wise: http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/westcomb-focus-lt-hoody-review.html#.UWNm70r072I

Yeah, I had heard the Focus LT was a bit heavier than advertised- still, it seems pretty light, and 2.5 layer eVent sounds interesting to try out.

Still, for <$100, I may jump on this. I just wish I knew for sure this was Pertex Shield +, not just regular Pertex Shield (different sites have different specs for the jacket). There's a big breathability difference between the 2 fabrics.

Well I decided to jump on it and order one. FYI campsavers return policy is 60 days no questions asked, 180 days "unused," and has a "fit guarantee." Thanks to the OP.

well you beat me to it while I was hemming and hawing, medium is sold out now.

Some info: the Pulse was new to the market last year, and it's only ever been offered with the Pertex Shield+ fabric – the clearance selection currently on sale is almost certainly from the same stock as the initial release last spring. I'm also quite certain Campsaver has the weight spec listed incorrectly – Rab's own website and all the reviews I've ever seen for the Pulse have put it at closer to 7oz/200-210g. My Rab Kinetic jacket is practically the same jacket with a few extras (more/larger pockets, velcro cuffs, etc.), is a men's size medium and weighs 231g. Take out the extra features and a final weight of 200g-210g for the Pulse sounds perfectly reasonable to me.

As for the fabric – Pertex Shield+ is definitely more comfortable feeling on the skin versus the original Pertex Shield (the original stuff felt a bit like a plastic bag, the new stuff is slightly textured and feels like actual fabric – it's reminiscent of tissue paper, to be honest).

Rated at 20K/20K, the fabric is pretty much as waterproof as you're going to get, and breathability really isn't that far behind goretex/event.