Goretex Pro jacket and pants, doesn’t have to be SUL

If you can find it, it might be worth looking at the Gore H5 Shakedry jacket.  It’s been discontinued but is a thicker shakedry and is the only shakedry shell rated for use with a backpack.  Shakedry won’t wet out so that makes it more durable in some ways then a DWR dependent shell.  Read Skurka’s review on his site for sizing info.

For traditional shells I really like my Montane Spine jacket, a 3-layer Gore Tex Active shell with a 30d shell and pit zips.  It’s still only about 10oz so it’s pretty light for what you get.  I also like my Mountain Equipment Firelite? pants, also 3L Gore Tex Active with a 30d shell for durability.

Another good looking (traditional DWR) jacket is the Mont-bell Storm Cruiser.

@mocs123

Thank you Brad!  It looks like they have a new Goretex Active shakedry, the C7.  Pretty sure it’s the same fabric.

What’s your opinion of Columbia Out Dry?

The “C” series jackets are designed for cycling so I’m not sure if it’s the same more durable Shakedry – I think it’s more like the shakedry used in the running shells like the Arctryx Norvan SL, but also likely has a cycling cut such as a really short front, long tail and arms, and likely no hood.

Gore is not making any “H” – Hiking clothing for 2021.  Mont-Bell has the Peak Shell Shakedry jacket, but I’m not sure if it’s the heavier duty Shakedry or not.

Columbia Outdry is another DWR-less tech and seems durable, but doesn’t breathe quite as well.   The two lightweight options the Colorado and the Featherweight have also been discontinued, so I think everything they have now are heavier shells, but should work fine if you don’t mind a little extra weight.

Another good looking (traditional DWR) jacket is the Mont-bell Storm Cruiser.

That’s my next gear purchase…

The H5 Shakedry jacket I’ve been using finally failed under pack straps. It didn’t take long, maybe 40 hours of use. Sigh. Looking at it under my microscope, looks like abrasion of the wp membrane caused big shear holes in the membrane.

Same story for the past two decades, different fabric marketing. Oh well.

FWIW, my MB Storm Cruiser and other PL3 jackets I’ve used have fared quite a bit better. There’s something about the Shakedry construction that really needs further investigation, but I’m not sure what’s going on.

Back to searching for the holy grail.

I hate to hear that as Shakedry really seems like the future (and has really revolutionized cycling rain shells).  Perhaps another layer or PU strips or dots in the high abrasion areas from backpacks?

Thanks for the info on the H5, Ryan. While I’m bummed about the outcome, it’s a relief to have better info on it, especially since it’s so hard to find Shakedry “Trail” on the market.

I have a Norvan SL that I’ve been running with for a few years, and have used it in light duty situations on the trail a couple times (even wearing it under my windbreaker.) It doesn’t sound like the H5 (or R7 Trail) might make too much of a difference. But it makes me wonder if Shakedry might be used in combination with a more durable membrane someday?

(Back in the mid 80’s I was working at an outdoor shop when Marmot came out with their “Alpinist” parka, which I understood to be the first Gore-Tex jacket at that time that combined both 2 layer and 3 layer Gore-Tex in a single garment, thus the reason for the multi-colored jackets back then.)

@ryan @mocs123 I may be in a unique position to use the H5 shakedry as I use an Aarn pack and my shoulder straps apply no weight to the jacket at all, at best they would occasionally rub up against but again zero weight(just the weight of the strap itself) as all the weight is on the hip belt. The straps can even be adjusted to float slightly above the shoulder, applying no downward weight at all.  This has me even more interested in the H5, bummer I can’t find one anywhere.  I would assume the damage comes from friction under load, so I should be good.

If you dont need the extra abrasion resistance (and weight) of goretex pro and you still want a 3 layer goretex then get goretex c-knit. Much lighter nylon shell fabric, same breathability (35000g/m^2/24hr), nice soft tricot (7d mesh) and more comfy, especially in a jacket.