waffling about rain jackets

A DriDucks jacket is a good compromise for a light (and cheap) just-in-case rain shell. I have settled on heavy and light options for rain gear, leaning on the heavy option for my city/daily rain gear and the lighter one for hiking and compact travel.

I take a poncho for day hike CYA rain gear and shelter. It's easy to sit out a heavy shower sitting under the trees with the poncho over all.

As far as REI and the lifetime warranty/guaranty, if they sold it to you with that stipulation, they have to live up to it. Satisfaction is a different issue that failure of materials and workmanship. With the change in policy, I wonder of REI is going to go by purchase date?

From the current REI web page:

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

We stand behind everything we sell. If you are not satisfied with your REI purchase, you can return it for a replacement or refund. Items must be returned within a year of purchase, except items purchased from REI-OUTLET which must be returned within 30 days of purchase.

REI’s guarantee doesn’t cover ordinary wear and tear or damage caused by improper use or accidents.

If your item has a manufacturing defect in its materials or workmanship, you can return it at any time. See our limited warranty.

Limited Warranty

If your item has a manufacturing defect in its materials or workmanship, you can return it at any time. Many of our items also have a separate warranty from the manufacturer, and you can also return any of those items that don’t meet the manufacturer's warranty.

This limited warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may have other rights which vary from state to state.

Someone asked REI and they said they would go over a year if it's a manufacturing defect.

+1 on DriDucks.

I wouldn't take DriDucks if rain was the expected daily weather, but as a precautionary piece of gear, they are great. Not very durable, but very cheap and light.

Dale, what kind of poncho do you use?

A GoLite for day hike, or a Gatewood Cape for ground camping.

I have a custom hoodless silnylon poncho that forms the undercover for my Hennessy Hammock. I also have one of the Hennessy Cat Cape poncho/hammock rainfly's. I've used it for a tarp but haven't pressed it into service as rain gear yet.

I think ponchos and capes are the ultimate weight savers when used as shelters and rain gear together. When people are bragging on 7oz rain jackets that barely breathe, I can have head to shin rain protection, pack cover and emergency shelter for the same weight and $60 retail. I think poncho requires a bivy to be considered an effective shelter. The Gatewood Cape is a single wall floorless tent at 11oz and $135— about the cost of a middle of the road rain shell.

Ponchos aren't pretty and that is the problem. With all the fuss about 9oz Cuben packs and Spartan sleeping pads, ponchos and capes should be a top choice in any SUL gear list.

I (and I know eric chan will back me up) swear by the OR Helium 2. 6oz. Fairly spartan w/ just a chest pocket and hood bungee.

Ive had mine… well let me just say that I live in the rainy area and it my coat of choice for backpacking.

You can put it the back pocket of our jeans when you stuff it into its little stuff-pocket.

Drop over 1/2 a pound over your Kitmah and still have a legit raincoat.

The Helium looks nice but I think I would only save a 3 ounces over my Golite Tumalo which is also Pertex Shield, and which I am going to keep for the cooler temps. It has a little more venting wight he mesh pockets and pit zips which does give it a wider range. I wish someone carried OR around here, but they don't, because I would like to see one in person.

I am already using a trash bag rain skirt so I figure I don't really need a long poncho/tarp because most of the are not long enough to cover my 6'5" frame. I ended up picking a Coleman poncho/tarp made out of vinyl at Wal-Mart last night for next to nothing to try some stuff out with. That paired with the rain skirt and the small trash bag I use inside my pack should give me adequate rain protection for cowboy camping under a tree. It weighs 6.2oz, cost $3 because someone had destroyed the packaging and lost the stud sack. It is not as large as the Golite being only 6'6" long and 4'1" wide but I think it will work for me pretty good for a try out piece. Gatewood is just too small for me. Still trying to figure out the bug protection but a 9' piece of noseeum might do it for me. and keep thing seas, simple and cheap.