eVent jackets (again)

Check out Mountain Hardwear's line of Dry Q Elite fabric jackets. It is the just rebranded event membrane from the same exact factory. STP has some excellent prices on MH jackets if you link to the site through one of their extra 35% off coupons. Just make sure to avoid Dry Q Core and all the other "Dry Q" fabrics that aren't labeled "elite".

edit: looks like REI is also having a clearance on numerous MH jackets made with Dry Q Elite and pit zips, lots of them 50% off.

Showers Pass has turned out some great eVent jackets with vents. I think the UL hiking community should look at cycling apparel on a regular basis to get outside the box.
http://www.showerspass.com/catalog/men/mens-jackets/elite-21-jacket

The REI/Novara Trenta jacket is another from the cycling world to look at. http://www.rei.com/product/852199/novara-trenta-event-bike-jacket-mens

>>> Check out Mountain Hardwear's line of Dry Q Elite fabric jackets. It is the just rebranded event membrane from the same exact factory.

Realllllllly…? There just happens to be a MHW Outlet nearby…

They are all rather short jackets, though, aren't they? They're for climbing. The only longer ones are distressingly heavy about-town jackets or snowboarding shells. And the Super Light Plasmic, in addition to looking short, has no pit zips.

EDIT– The only jackets REI.com has left in other than XXL and other such weirdness are the Plasmic (which has no pit zip and is only 50% off in the eye-searing Super Solarize color) and the Exposure II (which weighs 20oz).

Bummer.

>>> Showers Pass has turned out some great eVent jackets with vents. I think the UL hiking community should look at cycling apparel on a regular basis to get outside the box.

I did find them, and IIRC most are quite short and/or lack hoods, which I suppose makes sense for cycling. Also, though I had read that they make eVent jackets they must rebrand it or something because none of the descriptions say "eVent." Which ones are eVent? And how much do they weigh, because I can't find that either.

1. As the previous poster mentioned, Mountain Hardwear makes several Dry.Q Elite (eVent) jackets with pit zips, and Sierra Trading Post carries them.

2. Westcomb makes both eVent and NeoShell jackets with pit zips.

3. Eastern Mountain Sports' Helix jacket and anorak are constructed of NeoShell and both have pit zips.

I don't know if any of the above meet your length requirements though.

Be careful with the MHW Drq.Q Elite stuff. They don't call it eVent so they don't have to build the garment to eVent specifications. I have seen some poor design features on Dry.Q elite clothing that I would never consider using.

del

Inspired by the REI 50% sale I went to my local store and found an REI HavenPass eVent jacket also on sale 50% off. Full featured (more so than I really wanted, actually), and parka length (or at least longer than waist-length), at 18oz. No pit zips, but the larger lateral pockets function similarly when open. So I bought it. I mean, what the hell- I was looking at the Kimtah, right?

I have thought about it a bit more though and I have to admit that it's hard to be critical of a $70, 10oz eVent hooded jacket (MHW Plasmic on sale at REI) even if it is an eye-searing yellow color and lacks pit zips…

Sierra Trading Post has several colors of the Plasmic jacket for $97.50. Minus the 35% discount coupon from the e-mail list, that should bring them down to about $65.

On the other hand, buying from REI makes returns easy…

I took a look at the MH Plasmic (and the MH capacitor which is basically the same jacket); It doesn't seem like eVent DVL or eVent so I returned them.
I compared it to the Westcomb Focus LT which is made out of eVent DVL and my old Rab momentum.

I think you are right. The Plasmic is made with DryQ Evap, not DryQ Elite so I don't think it's the rebranded eVent.

Ryan

Dry Q Evap is rebranded Event DVL. Dry Q Core is the only WPB fabric used by MH that is totally proprietary, it used to be called their Conduit membrane.

I picked up this info from multiple sources on the web when researching a Xmas present for my dad. Unfortunately I did not bookmark any of the various blogs/forums, so as usual take my "expertise" as you would any other anonymous internet nut.

I'll admit that Dry Q and eVent DVl could be the same, at first glance the fabric looked really very similar but felt grippy like it had an extra coating compared to the westcomb focus LT. I don't know about the performance since I didnt test the Plasmic.

Either way I'm not quite satisfied with either product, nor with the westcomb specter LT so I'm sticking with my Rab momentum while a little over an oz heavier has the better hood and 2 napoleon pockets.

On sale I've found these event jackets to be quite affordable (rab $105 / Focus LT $135 and recently 190 / Specter LT 168 and recently 190 / Plasmic 70 / Capacitor $115 )

To add to your list of contenders , I've got a Wild Things Alpinist eVent shell. Nice jacket. Big pit zips. Made in USA. Not the lightest out there at around 16oz or so, but it feels a lot more durable than the lighter options.

I would vouch for gore active shell jackets too, though I can't point you to any specific ones that have put zips.