Need advice on a rain jacket that will fit my needs for an AT thru hike.

Marmot Precip for fairly tough and full featured as well as cheap < $100 and light (~11 oz). If you can almost always find these new online for ~ $70. Less important, but also tons of color options.

Super Mica for somewhat tough(ish), somewhat full featured (~ 9 oz).

Essence (and some others) for UL more packable, few features (~ 6 oz).

I'd go with the Precip! If I expect to ever have a full day or more of rain then that I what I usually take – the UL stuff like the essence is for when I expect to not have to use it for more than a few hours at a time. I have had the same Precip for about 10 years, though I take pretty good care of it. Zero to complain about IMHO beyond the extra 6 oz from the UL solutions, though a tiny bit less breathable than some much more expensive options. However with the full length pit zips and hand pockets (these high enough to get at stuff with a pack on) that also are vents you can fine tune venting to your hearts content. The 2 pocket and vents are fully flapped so unless there is a gale you can open these without too much moisture getting in. In my experience the open vents configuration in the only one that is reliably comfortable when generation a lot of internal heat and internal moisture from hard hiking.

Thanks for the reply.

Looking hard at that Precip now. Also looking at the Patagonia Rain Shadow, which seems to be Patagonia's answer to it.

I'm 6'5" too. While I've never been accused of being skinny, I have been challenged to find a decent rain jacket. I finally found one and suspect it would work for you too – http://lukesultralite.com. He'll customize it if you want. Durable, fair price, lightweight, well made and can be customized – there is a lot to like. I wrote some comments about it on my blog:

http://jolly-green-giant.blogspot.com/2013/09/lukes-ultralight-gore-tex-limited.html

Good luck.

I used a Rab Kinetic on a more rain than average CDT thru this year (of course not nearly as much rain as the AT).

I'm 6'3 and real skinny and a large fits me quite well. However, the pertex shield + becomes totally useless and begins to delaminate after a short time with a lot of use – I'm on my third warrantied one I think. Whatever the marmot mica/super mica is made out does the same. If you want one jacket and for it to stay waterproof the entire trail – I would say definitely go with an eVent or goretex one..

+1 to Will's post. Anything with a PU layer like the Marmot's, Pertex Shield, etc has a great chance of delaminating. I've seen a few of them that people left in the shelters along the way. Go with eVent if you can afford it. If not, there are some Goretex jackets out there that will be in the 13-16oz range for the XL size.

Maybe this one. Supposedly 12oz(assume for a medium) so should be close to 14oz for an XL: http://tinyurl.com/ltkjuhc

Ryan

"I have had the same Precip for about 10 years…"

That version is a good rain jacket.

The current version, not so good. My wife is on her 3rd over about 4 years.

I would recommend the Stoic Vaporshell to you for several reasons. The fit is unusual in that it fits a tall skinny person with long arms well (I am about your size). Breathability is very good. You'll find it much more comfortable to wear in warmer weather than a pre-cip or the like. It feels very durable and mine has shown no wear. You can almost always find a good price on them. $77.40 on Backcountry.com right now. The downside is that it weighs 14 ounces.

Here it is:

http://www.backcountry.com/stoic-vaporshell-jacket-mens

What about a Packa? I love mine. doubles as a pack cover and the ventilation is hard to beat.

I used a frogg togg suit my entire AT hike and loved it. It doesn't have many features but the brushed layer on the outside dried way faster and didn't wet out as much. It also easily lasted the whole way. I saw a lot of jackets getting left behind or not used because they delamimated including the precip. Also, cleaning things is a challenge on the trail and renewing your DWR is not going to happen because the frogg toggs didn't need a DWR, I found them to be more breathable than anything else after the first few weeks.

Can Frogg Toggs be washed in a washing machine, with reasonable care? Do they need any waterproofing additive?

Yes, you can wash Frogg toggs in a washer. They are fairly durable.

I would recommend against using a center agitator machine though. I have a 1" long tear in a pair of pants where it wrapped under the agitator somehow.

A front loader would be better choice.

No DWR needed. They are all polypropylene I recall.

Definitely, no dryer.

Not interested in a poncho. I am using a windrider, so I won't need a pack cover anyway.

The frogg toggs sound like of interesting, but I can't find much info about them. That website kind of blows.

Right now, the Nano for less than 10 oz and less than $200 for a Gore-Tex jacket sounds pretty good.

+1 on Jolly's post. Luke's products have a great reputation around here, and for the price (99$) you can't beat his goretex jacket. I know he can customize it based on your own measurements and specifications too, although I'm not sure what the fee for that would be. While I don't have that particular jacket, I know you can add pit zips for 10$. Nice weight at just 7.2 oz.

Customizable, very reasonable price for the quality, and great customer service. Hard to beat.

http://lukesultralite.com/content/gore-tex-limited-edition-shells

EDIT: Not sure if that jacket has pockets, although that may be something else you can talk to Luke about if you decide to go that route.

+1 on the Precip. I have a very expensive rain jacket but reach for the Precip still most of the time. Just like it. Paints are great too. Could justify the weight of the pants early in the hike when the weather and rain are cold and then send home when it warms up and use again when hit the north in early fall.

I didn't know Luke's was sewing Goretex jackets now. Cool. Nice to be able to customize. Once you add adjustable cuffs, taped seams, pockets, etc. the weight will add up to over 10oz and +$150 I guess, but that is still a good weight. Maybe he will start using the eVent from Quest soon also.

Ryan

I absolutely love my rain shadow!

Some F.T.'s are more durable than others. The dri ducks stuff is the really thin, smooth material. If babied, and not subjected to abrasion from branches, thorns, etc. it will last longer–tyvek tape is really good for it for when it does get holes. The thicker, more fuzzy stuff is a little more durable in general.

MOst of the F.T.'s is all or mostly polypropylene and like MB said, doesn't need any DWR, because polypropylene is so innately hydrophobic. I have noticed that PP does absorb oils easily, so keep it away from oily stuff. A front load washer, on delicate with gentle cleansers like atsko, then hung dry is best.

There is a relatively new kind of Frogg Toggs out there called the Toadz line. It has an outer layer of densely woven polyester.

It's much tougher and more durable than the other stuff, but also noticeably heavier. It may require a DWR, but i'm not sure about that. I'm not sure how the breathability compares to the more classic forms.

It would be really interesting if a company decided to combine the cheaper, common, very light, ultra hydrophobic, but less durable PP materials with UHMWPE fiber materials which are very strong, durable, and also quite hydrophobic and pretty light (dyneema, spectra, etc).

I found on my 2013 AT thru that my Stoic vaporshell worked well in the colder months and cheap dri ducks for the rest of the warmer months. Have something adequate for Feb/March/April/Sep/Oct

I've used the same Gortex Paclite jacket for backpacking since 2006 which includes a PCT thru-hike and a 2 month section hike on the northern part of the AT So I think that Luke's Ultralite jacket referenced above would work well for you. I know I've been eyeing it as a replacement since mine is finally giving out.