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Another Rainwear thread
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- This topic has 64 replies, 22 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 7 months ago by Jeff.
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Aug 6, 2017 at 10:59 am #3483335
Yes I have read the old threads but products keep changing.
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:03 am #3483337You need to tell a little more about your needs in order to get the best suggestions.
For example rainwear needs for the sierra differ greatly from rainwear needs in Alaska.
What conditions do you plan on using the raingear in (I mean other than “rain” obviously). Will they sit in your pack most of the time and you need them for the occasional thunderstorm, or will you be wearing them for days on end?
What features are important? Weight? Pitzips? Pockets?
On trail or off? If off trail, what are your durability needs? Brush?
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:18 am #3483343For several years I’ve been using DriDucks suits. A jacket and pants set lasts me about 3-4 years. The first set held up but then suddenly at age 4 lost its waterproofness at a bad time in heavy all-day cold rain in the middle of a trip. Second set is shredded at age 3 after climbing over a bunch of blowdowns in the Weminuche, Rainbow Loop. I like that these are cheap, waterproof, baggy and breathable, and light. Everything fails eventually. But I think it might be better to have gradual failure so I can see it coming in time to replace, rather than catastrophic failure at a bad time.
Thinking about the episode in Disco’s “I Hike” about hypothermia on the PCT and heading out to Portland to shop for “real” rainwear. It could happen to any of us. Looking through old rainwear threads, looking up recommended products. Many are no longer offered. Some look pretty spiffy but turn out to be short running shells that appear (from reviews) to be inadequate for all-day or heavy rain. Pants options are limited. As are women’s sizes.
After much sifting, looking at a set of OR Helium II. Light. Women’s sizes. Expensive (but not so bad for me b/c I can pro-deal). No pit zips. But: Wondering if these would be any more durable than the DriDucks? Would they also start to wet out after 3-4 years?
I don’t do a lot of off-trail (yet) but even on-trail can get gnarly if there are blow-downs. My current kit is skirt instead of pants or shorts, leggings as needed for warmth, and the rain pants for wind and warmth as well as for rain. So it needs to be pants and jacket rather than a poncho or rain kilt.
Opinions?
Thanks!
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:19 am #3483344Sorry, I was typing my more extended question as a second post when you asked.
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:25 am #3483346Locations: I backpack in Texas (Big Bend area, Guadalupes, etc.), Pacific Northwest, Colorado, New Mexico, Arkansas, Sierra. Good rainwear could be needed anywhere. I’ve experienced all-day cold rain in all those places including (contrary to reputation) the Sierra. My husband is getting ready to retire so we might soon be exploring new locations and longer hikes soon.
Aug 6, 2017 at 11:23 pm #3483464Clearly I’ve given this thread an unattractive title. Still, would appreciate any information folks may have to offer.
For example, is my hope for a longer rainwear lifespan unrealistic?
Aug 7, 2017 at 4:55 am #3483475No, not unrealistic. Most regular raingear will last longer than driducks.
Aug 7, 2017 at 10:57 am #3483531I think there’s only three good options for all day rain. All others will fail eventually due to DWR failure causing the jacket to wet out.
- Poncho (best for warmer weather)
- Columbia OutDry Extreme jackets (durable for bushwacking, no DWR)
- GoreTex Active / PBS, e.g. TNF HyperAir (lighter than OutDry but less durable)
Aug 7, 2017 at 1:20 pm #3483576Thanks for the additional suggestions! I am not finding any weights listed (on Columbia or REI sites) for the OutDry Extreme jackets or pants. REI seems to be dropping them–jackets are on clearance, pants gone. Maybe there’s a new version coming in the spring? Or maybe they didn’t work out so well? The technology looks intriguing. Searching on GoreTex Active and HyperAir, finding jackets but not pants. Some mens bike pants but they seem to be a different fabric/product.
Maybe go with just wind pants? Might shed rain well enough while keeping core dry. Just that, for example, it is raining when time to make camp, I am no longer walking steadily–ie no longer drying the leggings as fast as they get wet–so might definitely need the pants to be more waterproof than wind pants.
Often, not always, I am acting as a trip leader for a bunch of teens so am not in the solo-thru-hiker situation of being able to immediately set up my tarp and pop right into my sleeping bag and stay there during supper preparation. Nor on those trips am I able to do supper on the trail an hour prior to camp arrival, with further opportunity to hike myself warm and dry again before camp.
Is it a consensus that the OR Helium isn’t a good choice? Durability? They are DWR so maybe that is the issue?
Aug 7, 2017 at 2:12 pm #3483589I like my helium jacket. Its not just a DWR, Its a membrane… Shield+.
No issues for me. I think its one of the jacket classes where it moves solid water, not vapor… meaning you may get wet, but it can dry out, just slowly.
Somebody correct me if I’m wrong, but that my take and experience with it.
Aug 7, 2017 at 4:26 pm #3483640Aug 7, 2017 at 4:45 pm #3483643I have a light Rab Pertex Shield + that I think is similar to the Helium. I went back to dri ducks for most trips. Its lighter, breathes better, and has no DWR wet out issues. 3-4 years is not too bad for replacement.
Aug 7, 2017 at 6:43 pm #3483655I am not sure that they will be worth anything, but Columbia has some new Outdry Extreme jackets coming out (in the spring?) that are 6oz and 8oz .
Aug 7, 2017 at 7:29 pm #3483664I used to own Propore jackets, and swore by them. However, I found this, and made the switch: http://ultralightinsights.blogspot.com/2016/04/gear-review-berghaus-vapourlight-hyper.html. It is significantly lighter, and more durable. I haven’t used it that much, but I did use it in a downpour, and it performed well. I stayed dry, and it was fine as far as breathability. I probably hiked seven miles in it, when the weather turned from drizzle to hard rain, and it worked well for all of it.
Most of the time my rain jacket isn’t worn, but stays in the pack “just in case” and this jacket is great for that. I’m sure folks who hike the Washington Coast in November might be able to find a better jacket for them; but for me, I think it is the best one out there.
Aug 7, 2017 at 11:51 pm #3483709I’ve been really happy with my marmot essence rain jacket and pants. They stretch and breath quite well for a super light material, and the durability is decent. Some pin holes in the pants after wearing them for about a week strait, but no holes in the jacket after about 3 years. I owned an event shell prior to this and I would give the edge breathability wise to marmot’s nano pro membrain. Sierra trading post has them for half off right now. I just picked one up for a back up. Thats a high compliment coming from a habitual upgrader.
Aug 8, 2017 at 6:59 am #3483729I have a nice Mountain Hardware hardshell, but its heavy I like it best for cold weather. I tried the MB Versalite, but that was not breathable nor particularly waterproof an while it isn’t a bad jacket it pissed me off that it didn’t live up to it’s marketing and wasn’t returnable. Then I hopped on the LHG bandwagon for the PCT:
https://sectionhiker.com/lightheart-gear-rain-jacket-review/
There are things that I don’t love about my LHG jacket, but it is dependable, should last a long time, easily repairable, and comes at a good price point. Chasing the latest WP/B train seems like a good way to spend cash but not much else.
Just my 2 cents.
Aug 8, 2017 at 7:31 am #3483735My personal opinion is that the 3 puchases most influenced by personal preference/fit/hiking style are, in order, shoes, backpack and raingear. Looking at posts on this site will quickly reveal a plethora of opinions, solutions and systems for rainy weather.
While I long ago identified what I needed in footwear and backpacks, I’m still on the rainwear journey…I think because I get so little oportunity to try things out. As others have said, raingear stays mostly in the pack.
Currently: In warm weather with little risk of hypothermia, I just get wet…the rain feels good and I’m cleaner at the end of the day. In upper 50s to 60s my current kit includes a sil rain wrap and either a Packa or Zpacks cuben poncho. For sporadic cold rain I find the Versalite jacket to be sufficient, but for prolonged rain I go with a heavier Gortex jacket that I know will keep me dry for long periods of time. For all times when pants are appropriate I like the MB Versalite pants as breathability in rain pants is not so important (to me).
I dont expect my choices to work for many, but offer them up on the chance they do.
Aug 8, 2017 at 8:06 am #3483739I think the Packa is worth considering as well. It’s silnylon so it’s not going to wet out and has excellent mechanics ventilation because it’s placed over your backpack straps. It keeps your pack dry like a poncho but it doesn’t blow around as much as ponchos do. You can don/doff it while walking. It’s a pretty nice setup.
Aug 8, 2017 at 8:18 am #3483740I’m a big fan of Outdoor Research. I had a Helium HD where a hole had formed in the membrane and I inquired about the cost of repair. A friendly representative kindly offered to exchange the jacket at no cost to me.
As for the Helium II jacket itself, I have had a fair bit of experience with it too. After owning it, I decided that it was also worth owning the Helium pants for those fun shoulder season times where it can be nasty cold and wet all day.
However, as I pack for a weeklong trip in the Tetons I am thinking about taking a hardier rain shell. It is forecast to rain every afternoon and the Helium II, while keeping me mostly dry and warm, gets soggy easily. The fabric beads water for awhile, but in extended rains it gets waterlogged – more so than shells made of tougher, more textured fabric, even with fresh DWR proofing.
Aug 8, 2017 at 2:28 pm #3483811I guess I should add that While I love My Helium, I have moved on to a more substantial Beta LT for my beloved PNW shoulder seasons. The helium couldnt handle the whole “three day rain” thing
Aug 8, 2017 at 3:56 pm #3483839Big fan of Arc`teryx Beta SL. SuperLite might be an overstaement but in its respective class its extremely durable and functional for the weight. Lrg Jacket 12.0 oz, Med Pant 9.2 oz.
FWIW
Aug 8, 2017 at 4:37 pm #3483852The helium couldnt handle the whole “three day rain” thing
I think that is a statement that applies to the MB Versalite as well. In fact, No UL rain jacket I have ever owned can handle several days of rain. 3L Goretex is pretty much the gold standard in those conditions.
Aug 8, 2017 at 4:47 pm #3483856In fact, No UL rain jacket I have ever owned can handle several days of rain. 3L Goretex is pretty much the gold standard in those conditions.
Exactly. Hence my recommendations for non-DWR dependent gear. The 3L GoreTex will eventually wet out too, but you’ll likely have time to retreat between trips before they fail. A poncho will never fail, nor will the new non-DWR tech short of physical damage.
Aug 8, 2017 at 6:01 pm #3483864We use silnylon ponchos. There have been several trips in Europe where we have had a couple of WEEKS of rain before we got the sun. The silnylon ponchos worked fine.
Cheers
Aug 8, 2017 at 6:21 pm #3483871Yes. I like the Zpacks poncho except for the exposed arms. The Packa solves the sleeve problem :)
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