OR Zealot vs MtnHardware Quark vs BMW Spinlite Poncho

Why go with a $200 poncho when you're not even sure you'll like using it?

You might want to try Campmor/Equinox's poncho/tarp. $39.99 and 7 ounces. At least you can afford to try it and not be out a heap if it doesn't work out for you.

As for your original question, I'm afraid I don't have any experience with any of those products so I can't help ya there. Sorry.

Tom

I always thought that hangers would remove the integrated tarp from their hammocks and use a poncho tarp – making it multi-use? If they don't. Why don't you be the first one?!
Check on the availability of tha BMW poncho/tarp. Last I checked (a while ago) it had been out of stock for quite some time.
As for my opinion, nothing beats the poncho/tarp!

Paclite is more breathable than what is used in the precip… but I doubt it will be sufficently breathable when backpacking. You really want pitzips with paclite.

I don’t know anything about the material in the quark.. but most of the “proprietary” PU materials aren’t that breathable so I would assume that it is approx the same breathability of the precip unless you had reports with hard data.

Poncho… don’t like them, some people do. If you haven’t used on, I would suggest trying one first before spending lots of money. You can pick up cheap vinyl ponchos from home depot.. around $3 that weight 8-9oz. Give it a try. If you like it, then think about something that is lighter like the bpl or mld ponchos, or multi use Sgt Rock’s a hammock sized tarp/poncho from moonbow.

For other thoughts, take a look at my recommended rain gear.

I agree with Mark regarding the Zealot, however, for me who rarely uses a poncho the OR Zealot allows me to carry a lightweight jacket along with my windshirt. Most of the time I wear the windshirt, but if the monsoon arrives, I have a waterproof coat. I would not like to wear the Zealot as an alternative to a windshirt.

The Rainshield jacket, $25.00, size XL, 5.5 ozs, and Tyvek hazmat pants $35.00 for box of 25 approximately 7 yrs ago (2.2 ozs per pair) are very breathable and have kept me dry in significant rain at various times over several years. See avatar.

John, where did you find the Tyvek hazmat pants?

Steve,

Here is a link to the Tyvek clothing: http://www.protective-clothing.net/

Just Google safety clothing and you will get a bunch of results. Also try your local Home Depot or Lowes.

I forgot to mention the DriDucks sold here for $15.00 which appears to be the almost the same as Rainshield and just about the same weight. I would go with DriDucks if I were looking for rain gear today with your specified criteria. Of course I wouldn't recommend it for expeditions in the middle of winter, especially if you are climbing.

I have had outstanding performance with the Rainshield jacket that I have been carrying for at least 5 years. In fact this past August and September we experienced several days of exceptionally hard rain while hiking the John Muir Trail and I stayed dry with my Rainshield while my son hiking in a super expensive North Face gore-tex jacket took a real drenching.

I picked up an OR Zealot jacket from Prolite on sale a few months ago. Comparing features only, this is definitely a featureless jacket. There's only one hood adjustment, and in a strong headwind, it's only somewhat effective at keeping the hood on your head. There aren't pit zips, but the front zipper is two way (you can open it up from the bottom to vent while the top is closed). From what I've been able to find out, it's about as light as it comes for Gore-tex, and also for fully waterproof jackets in general (Driducks is only about 0.9 ounces lighter, though it's also considerably cheaper). I wouldn't use this as a wind shirt while backpacking.

check out sierra trading post http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/,44950_Sierra-Designs-Elevation-Jacket-Waterproof-For-Men.html
This jacket is only 60$ on closeout, 10.5 oz for the XL. It has two big front pockets but I am going to cut them out for ventilation. It's claimed breathability is the same as eVent, but I haven't had it long enough to know how breathable it really is. I was also interested in the OR Zealot, but 200 $ is ridiculous. Also,the nice thing about sierra trading post is they will accept any return in any condition at anytime for any reason.

I don’t believe that DriZone is anywhere near as breathable as eVENT. I have no idea what testing methodology was used for the claimed 28k g/m^2/24h breathability on the
seirra designs materials page… but I am highly skeptical that this is some standardized test such as JIS L 1099. Why am I skeptical? On the same page they claim Torrent™ 2 Layer has a breathability of 39k g/m^2/24h which would make it significantly more breathable than eVENT.

What don't you like about the Precip- lack of breathability? In my experience, for warm months on the AT in the South, nothing breathes well enough to keep me happy.

As was said, the Zealot is featureless. If I were going to get a jacket with limited venting options, I'd likely go with Event (though I do own Patagonia's Specter pullover).

I used the OR Celestial (same material, more features) for a week in the Cascades and loved it. Like an idiot, I wore for self arrest practice and the thin fabric held up fine. The hood is wonderfully adjustable and the torso zips really work. Paclite is nice, but I think needs a bit of help with ventilation, so the Celestial's features make it much more usable over the Zealot. Oh, I paid $160- look for sales.
Speaking of sales- I was in Rock and Snow in New Paltz NY last week, they had soome ID Thru-Hiker jackets at %40 off if you want Event…maybe give them a call if you want the shell.

One other thing- if you will be below treeline, and just want good rain protection with ventilation, you might want to try a non-hooded jacket and a waterpoof hat like the OR sombreros… Prolite has the ID Event Pullover on sale for $125 right now. I've done this- my neck got a few sprinkles, but it beats any hood for ventilation.

Edit: My Large Celestial weighs 10.2 ounces, and the medium weighed 9.8- pretty good for a full featured shell.