Need to buy a rain jacket for hiking/bike touring…educate me on the options

I'm not an expert- other users DEFINITELY have more to offer here, but here goes:

I would go with a reputably branded and high quality hardshell, and a rain shell is somewhere where you definitely want to go with quality if you're going to be standing outside for long periods of time. I call the rain shell the "Fortress of Solitude" because you need to be in it for a long time and you'll definitely notice if it's NOT protecting you.

No fabric is perfect, but your preferences match mine when it comes to warm rain, etc.

I would suggest a nice hard shell over a softshell, since the smooth surface and water-impermeable fabrics hold up better to extended stationary use. I almost consider bike touring a stationary activity, because you can put down serious miles without breaking a sweat since it's cooler when raining, and since a pace of 10-12mph won't exert you much.

The higher quality brands (Arc'teryx, Patagonia, etc.) really do translate to more minutes spent in the rain without the fabric soaking through. A fisherman-style jacket is overkill and will make you sweat, but a good active raincoat will do fine for 1-hour storms.

I personally use Paclite, a variation of 3-layer Goretex that has a 2.5 layer construction (2 layers with a coating) and it's been excellent. Mine is Patagonia Super-Cell. I used it cycling all winter and all this spring and haven't wet through in 30-45 minutes. I found it for $150, down from $250.

If you spend $500 on an Arcteryx jacket, though, you will likely be glad you spent it. Do your research on specific models and companies to make sure delamination of taped seams hasn't been a resounding issue, because that happens to a lot of hard shells (especially cheap ones).

Also, features I like:

-High pockets you can use while wearing a backpack w/ a hipbelt
-Drop tail for biking (or size up)
-Good hood construction. Companies vary, but the good ones cover up to your nose and stay off your brow.
-Pit zips. These are really good for venting heat. My Patagonia Super-Cell has HUGE pit zips and two zippers on each so I can customize the size and placement. Love it.

Good luck!

Softshells have have a water repellent coating (DWR). The hydrostatic head (a measure of how waterproof a fabric is) of softshells is basically zero. A softshell will not keep you dry in a hard rain or a long constant rain.

A hardshell also had a DWR coating but adds an extra barrier to prevent water from getting through. The hydrostatic had of commercial hardshells ranges from 10,000mm all the way up to 30,000. substantually higher than softshells.

Do not expect warm rains in the summer. I have spent most of my life in Washington, Oregon, and California and they rain was always cold. Also don't expect the rain to only last an hour or so. In some places rain that lasts days can occur. You need to stay dry. If you get wet Hypothermia is a possibility. Four your trips carry a rain jacket and rain pants.

Although you don't sweat in cold weather, what about on your bike. If your rain gear is not breathable you could get wet from your own sweat while you pedal through the storm. In terms of breathability of waterproof fabric NeoShell and Event fabrics are the most breathable, followed by Gore Tex, and then a host of breathable polyurethane coated fabrics. Polyurethane waterproof breathable fabrics are low cost but probably will not keep up with your sweat production but it is cheap and lightweight. NeoShell and Event may be able to keep up with your sweat production but they cost more and weigh more. You need to find a balance between weight, breathability, and cost that suits you.

What I did for rain during my summer 2012 bike tour (northeast)?

I wore all Merino Wool. Even when damp, I was still warm. For the entire month of august, I only used my rain jacket in camp.

Because of that, I got by with a very lightweight rain jacket (a Marmot Precip) and I never wet it out just by staying out of the rain. It didn't rain much during the day, only at night (lucky!).

Although it doesn't really seem like you're interested, I would strognly recommend avoiding any cycling-specific gear if you were considering it. In my experience (and I've owned a lot of crap), cycling-specific gear is usually a few steps behind, technologically speaking, while still being more expensive than a more technologically advanced non-cycling-specific piece of gear; and any cycling-specific piece of gear that is up with current technology will cost two-to-three times more than its non-cycling-specific counterpart, despite being, essentially, the same.

This is because, largely, cyclists are idiots and will spend ridiculous amounts of money on things that the companies [that makes the things] tells them they need.

I own a Marmot Super Mica. It's a really nice jacket and I find its cut lends itself nicely to cycling–I wear it all the time on and off the bike. I've been in rain storms for hours in Ireland and didn't really have any issues with it wetting out (except for the cuffs, which were absorbing water that was rolling off me). I wear it whenever weather looks less-than-favorable–it packs relatively small, has a nice hood (a helmet will fit under it), and it blocks wind when it's cold outside. The only time I'll wear a lighter windshirt is when I don't suspect there being any chance of rain.

For simplicity's sake, I'd recommend just getting a regular Mica (it doesn't have pit zips or the near-worthless laminate patches designed to protect the fabric from backpack rub). Aside from my praise of the jacket, many people here (myself included), have had warranty issues with the Super Mica. Luckily, Marmot has stood behind their warranty and replaced everything for me (even though it was a very slow process and I had to ask where my replacement was). Others haven't been as lucky with Marmot's warranty department.

As people have said, the options are pretty much innumerable as there so many products out there.

Weight, price, durability, packability, and waterproofness are all considerations you'll have to make. Know that you will have to make a compromise somewhere–I don't think you'll find anything that will meet all of your criteria.

I think the Zpacks rain jackets look really nice. If I didn't own the Super Mica when Joe came out with his rain jacket, I'd probably own one of those.

That Super Mica looks pretty nice for the weight and price especially. Only problem with these 2/2.5 layer jackets is long-term durability (inside, not outside where the reinforcement is) under pack straps.

Going for a single jacket for cycling and hiking, one that works for the latter will work for the former generally, but not vice versa. I would recommend looking for a light 3-layer eVent or similar jacket like the Rab Momentum. If that's beyond your price range then yeah, a higher-end 2-layer like the Super Mica will be waterproof and very light but not as durable.

EDIT: The Mica looks nice too. Might consider that for my SUL waterproof. Similar to a Rab Kinetic but potentially nicer fabric and better fit? Won't expect it to last too long though.

I had the same experience with my Marmot Crystalline, the women's version of the Mica. I thought it would be the perfect jacket for me, used it for some day hikes and bike commuting, then took it out on the trail, and it wet through the first time I was out in an all-day rain. I returned it under warranty and it took 5 MONTHS to receive a replacement–and that was with numerous calls/emails to the warranty department. I would not recommend Marmot gear to anyone planning a long trip. Or at least purchase from REI or Backcountry or someone else with a no-questions-asked returns policy.

The life expectancy on a UL rain jacket is considerably shorter than on a heavier one (at least in my experience). Prior to my Marmot experience, I used the same 12 oz Goretex Paclite Jacket from Outdoor Research for 4 years–and they honoured their lifetime guarantee and gave me a new one when it started to delaminate.

EVent and NeoShell are great fabrics with some really impressive technology at work, but keep in mind that for the breathability to really shine you need to wash the jacket more regularly than you're probably used to with rain gear. Also, as mentioned above, using a baselayer with excellent moisture transfer such as merino wool or a wool blend (or a lightweight grid fleece like R1 in colder weather) will help a lot in reducing clamminess. I've been wearing a NeoShell jacket this season, and it works so much better with wool underneath than with synthetic t-shirts. Watch your clothing expenditures skyrocket if you go down this path! :o

On the cheaper end, some people like Tyvek rainwear such as these: http://www.lesliejordan.com/store/index.php?route=product/category&path=35

or these: http://www.froggtoggs.com/store/outerwear-rainwear/collection/driducks.html

(sorry, I'm too lazy to link using BPL's format)

Breathability is excellent, but durability on Tyvek shells is pretty low, so be prepared to replace it on a longer trip.

Hi Julian,

First I would say that If you are cycle touring and backpacking in cold and heavy torrential rain you absolutely need a proper rain shell of some description. I would not advise that you even consider using a softshell as your sole rain protection in these conditions. In cool weather it would not offer enough protection in heavy rain and considering one of your insulation pieces is a down jacket (loses all insulation when wet), this sounds like a recipe for a cold, wet and unpleasant trip ;). In hot weather you would just boil in the summer sun wearing a softshell so it also has no function here either.

So I think it's safe to say that you need a rain shell. Next thing is perhaps you could tell us how much you are looking to spend on this jacket? There are lots of suitable options out there for all different budgets so that would help narrow your options down.

From my bike touring experience I would highly recommend getting a lightweight rain shell (5-9oz) AND a lightweight windshirt (3-5oz). The two can be as light as a heavier eVent shell, but are much more versatile and afford you a much higher level of comfort than a rain shell on its own. My windshirt almost never leaves my back while I am cycling except for in heavy rain when the rain shell comes out.

My budget is pretty flexible, though I'd hate to spend more than $200 considering I'll have some other purchases to make for my upcoming travels, that will also be eating into my budget…but I'm also OK paying for quality, if I can get a piece of gear that I can rely on to last me for a long time.

I do also have a light jacket (REI Fleet) which might be the same as a "windshirt" though I hadn't heard the term before – just a very light, barely water-resistant layer to block the wind. It does a pretty good job. Would that be something I'd wear just under a rain jacket for a bit of extra warmth?

Anyway, good to hear the advice that seems to point to hardshells. People's reviews of jackets they've used are also helpful. Any further pointers on the pluses and minuses of particular materials or particular jackets would be as well…

Exactly. That is a windshirt/jacket and should be ideal. The idea is that your windshirt goes on the outside most of the time. You can then add and remove insulation on top or below as needed. If it begins to rain lightly, the windshell will most often be enough to keep you perfectly dry. It is only when it starts to rain heavily that your rain shell comes out. The bonus to this system is that by adding a relatively cheap windshirt to your kit list, you greatly reduce the wear that your expensive rain shell will go through thus making it last longer. The consequence of this is that you can safely buy a lightweight rain shell and be confident that it will last you plenty long enough.

Before I started using a windshirt a few years ago, I seemed to be constantly having to add and remove insulation in order to keep my temperature regulated while hiking or cycling. It would go something like this: start with baselayer on its own until there was some wind making me cold, add a fleece. I would then soon after get too hot, remove fleece, get cold, add it again. Then it would start to lightly rain, so add rainshell, get too hot, remove fleece, stop raining, remove rainshell, get too cold, add fleece and so on. A freaking nightmare. The windshirt makes practically all of these wardrobe changes unnecessary. Additionally, like you said, you can wear both your windshirt and rainshell which will provide you with a bit more insulation than a heavy rainshell alone.

Anyways now for some suggestions. I want to be say quickly though that a 'lightweight rain shell" does not mean that it will be any less waterproof than a heavyweight eVent shell or goretex pro shell. The options I'm suggesting will protect you just as well from rain, and have comparable levels of breathability but will be less durable. This is because they are 2.5 layer as opposed to 3 layer jackets. The part which will likely wear out soonest is the breathable membrane part on the interior of a 2.5 layer jacket. In my experience this almost always comes under the manufacturers warranty when it wears out.

My top picks would be:

RAB Spark – This is the rain shell I use all the time. Uses pertex shield+ 2.5l. Two large chest pockets big enough for maps and gloves etc. Very good helmet compatible hood (useful for cycling). Is plenty durable. Uses 30d fabric. Weighs 9oz.

Montane air – A light, 3 layer eVent jacket. Uses 15d fabric. Really excellent helmet compatible hood. 10.9oz

Outdoor Research Helium II – Ultralight pertex shield+ 2.5l jacket. A great option, but bear in mind the hood is not that great as when fully tightened, it leaves a bit of the side of your face exposed (the reason I did not buy one). OR has one of the best warranties in the world. They will replace it for pretty much any reason. This means even if your dog chews it up, they will give you a new one. Uses 30d fabric. 6.4oz or probably less

Cheaper options are the Patagonia torrentshell which can be as low as $75 or the Marmot precip which can be $40.

Now to your question about fabrics. Just to put things into perspective, I have a goretex proshell jacket and a very good eVent jacket. I always leave them at home in favour of the much lighter spark. I would only ever take the others if I plan to be doing some serious climbing and constantly scratching up agains rocks etc. If I was going bike touring there is 0% chance I would take the much heavier gore and event options. If I had to put the heavy fabrics in order though I would say from best to worst for breathability and comfort (they are all as waterproof as they come) – eVent, polartec neoshell, goretex pro.

Hope this helps make your decision a bit easier.

I use this jacket biking in the rain.
http://o2rainwear.com/2011/03/original-hooded-jacket/

And I do use/take it a lot backpacking if I know I’ll be in a long wet walk.
It is the most breathable yet waterproof fabric I have ever seen. HINT: It doesn’t need pit zips.
It breathes better than Frog Toggs/Dri-Ducks and the Event jacket’s I’ve tried.
For breathability it’s like the opposite of a wind jacket; i.e., the wind goes right through me. But it keeps me dry.

However, it won’t last as long as Event. But I do like its price.

Good luck in rainwear
-Barry
-The mountains were made for Tevas

Being from the PNW, I've been out in my fair share of sustained downpours. I've currently got two jackets in my quiver for backpacking and general out-n-about (or watching sporting events in the rain):

Backpacking:
http://www.outdoorresearch.com/en/mens-revel-jacket.html

Out-n-about:
http://www.outdoorresearch.com/en/mens-mithril-jacket.html

These Outdoor Research jackets fit me well (5'11", 165 lb. mesomorph) and have the features I prefer, like pit zips. Neither one sounds like a space blanket when I move and both can be found online at a reasonable price.

Also, I'm a fan of the jackets Golite has available and they're on sale:

http://www.golite.com/mens/rainwear

Good luck in your search!

I find my 9 oz. GoLite Tumalo jacket to breath, keep me dry, and not wet out. I didn't seek it out, but if was cheaper than others and light enough for you, it does what it's supposed to just fine for me.

The Marmot Mica and OR Helium II are both on backcountry.com for $120 – I assume that's a decent deal on either?

Try basegear.com for the helium II

As for the Marmot mica – look on moontrail.com, o2gearshop.com, and gearcoop.com as they are all selling it cheaper

I’ve heard that people have had durability issues with the mica and super mica jackets with the inner membrane peeling off really quickly. I believe the fabric used in the mica is also less breathable than pertex shield+ regardless of what Marmot’s quoted figures may say, but someone may correct me on this.

Others to consider are the rab pulse (6oz), Montane minimus (7.6oz), minimus mountain (8.2oz) and minimus smock (5oz).

Also check this article out: Part 1 and Part 2