Am I crazy, or does Paclite not work?

In the UK folk call it Craplite.

Strange. I have an old OR Zealot and it is still waterproof. You do have to DWR it occasionally, but no issues here. Maybe you just got a dud.

If budget allows, get something with eVENT. Much, much more breathable.

My new Torrentshell jacket wetted out in the first 45 minutes of it being worn. Thanks Patagucci.

i don't have a dud. I returned the first super cell, and got another. Both don't work. I also have paclite pants that don't work. I'm really not concerned with breathability all that much. I just want a really waterproof jacket that weighs less than PVC. I choose to not own a car, so when I ride my bike, my rain jacket has to be really good. *end rant*

Maybe just a silnylon jacket fits your criteria? Very waterproof, breathability not a concern, very very light (and cheap!). antigravitygear.com sells one (no affiliation).

del

"My new Torrentshell jacket wetted out in the first 45 minutes of it being worn. Thanks Patagucci."

I think he is talking about leaking. Wetting out is solved by improving or reapplying the DWR.

I don't think the issue is Paclite but the design of the jacket.

My old torrentshell would slowly wet through after about an hour, but I never applied DWR (i'm only in the know now). I don't think my super cell is leaking, but it may be wetting through. What will happen is that water starts to cross the membrane from outside to inside. At first, it's nice because it keeps you cool, like sweat is supposed to do, but after a few more minutes, my arms are soaked. My theory is that gore designed this "feature" into paclite to make it more breathable. Like I said, I don't think any of my garments are defective, because all 3 paclite things i've had do the same thing.

"Strange. I have an old OR Zealot and it is still waterproof. You do have to DWR it occasionally, but no issues here. Maybe you just got a dud."

Same. My current rain jacket is a OR Zealot made with paclite Gortex that I bought in 2006. I've hiked 3500+miles with it. Used it on the PCT and a large part of the AT. I'm only now thinking of replacing it.

David, sounds like it is wetting out therefore rendering the fabric not breathable, and your sweat has no where to go but accumulate. I think. What about trying a spray on DWR treatment and testing it again? I had an Arcteryx Gortex jacket that did that very early on and applying DWR solved the issue. It was like it wasn't applied sufficiently from the factory.

del

I wouldn't expect even my eVENT Packa to vent enough perspiration to keep me dry in the summer while backpacking. There's just not much humidity differential for the vapor to go from the inside to the outside of the jacket.

Try a silnylon poncho. It has much more actual airflow, without relying on fabric membranes. If it's warm enough, you end up having to decide if you'd rather be soaked by rain or sweat. :)

paclite is "odd stuff", is it not.

my paclite parka has done some surprising things over the years. leaked, sweated, at one point accumulated thick ice Inside the hood. (yikes ! ). and, if i put it on, no matter the weather or climate, or even if i am inside the house, i immediately feel colder. so even given that it has saved my show a time or two, it's just too weird to trust.

i went to an e-vent parka, which while it did not last forever (about 5 seasons), it works in the field VASTLY better.

i can hike and cover ground wearing e-vent. things dry a great deal faster. i can wear the parka Before it's raining stupid hard, and everything will be ok.

paclite = i am not dead yet
e-vent = pretty darn Nice !
—-

long term, the e-vent has worn out entirely. dwr or whatever, it leaks in spades. water drains directly thru it in a few minutes. it's not sweat, it's water running down my body.
currently in the hunt for a proper replacement for my Integral Designs Thru Hiker parka. next offerings from Westcomb look to be the alpha option at this time. or something in pro-shell.

v.

I've been (heavily) using the same Packlite anorak (Haglofs Ozo) for the last 3 year with no complaints.

"currently in the hunt for a proper replacement for my Integral Designs Thru Hiker parka. "

I had a nearly identical path with my Thru Hiker. I have Paclite now, and it sucks.

Someone out there must make a eVent jacket for under $300, that lasts for more than 3 years. I Hope.

I've had my ArcTeryx Alpha SL Paclite jacket for a couple of years now, no issues or complaints.

Oh yeah, 'guaranteed to keep you dry' …

Cold rain wets surface of jacket and chills it.
Warm body inside sweats.
Sweat vapour inside jacket meets cold interior surface of fabric of jacket … and condenses, and chills.

Happens with every light waterproof jacket you can think of. Very little to do with the fabric (and nothing to do with the marketing spin). It's all due to the laws of physics. It's gunna happen.

Cheers

Odd. I have a Exte Ondo packlite jacket from about 2000. (Yes 2000!) Best Gore piece I have ever owned. Cycled in it commuting for years and it performed very well. As Roger poijts out, you are not going to beat the laws of physics, but my experience with the material is that it works well under most conditions. Works well for PNW conditions most of the time. NOTHING made by ANYONE will keep you dry in the rain when it is 65 – 70 degrees or more out though. You either get wet from the rain, or get wet from sweat.