Luke's Ultralite Sil-Poly Rain jacket

[Andrew C]

http://lukesultralite.com/content/silnylon-rain-shell

Picked this up in my ongoing quest to lighten my load.  Coming from a 16oz Cabela’s jacket that is great for camping here in the PNW, but not so much for backpacking.  I decided to try this due to the combination of price, weight and features; as much the lack of features as those present, and the ability to choose what I wanted.

I kept mine dead simple, only adding adjustable cuffs.  Skipped the pit zips and any pockets.  It comes with an adjustable waist, and the hood is adjustable in two locations.  Chest pocket and hand pockets are available.  The material is exceedingly lightweight.  I wouldn’t recommend bushwacking in this, which is not something I often do anyway.  It seems like this would work well as a wind shirt also.

Any testing will have to wait, as today was in the 90’s.  Luke’s doesn’t list a waterproof rating on the site, only that he has gone to sil-poly for a higher HH rating than the sil-nylon used before.  I’ll get around to emailing for that info at some point.

Here’s some pics and details:

Support your cottage makers!  This little touch was awesome to see, especially during what has to be a busy time, and for a relatively small order

[IMG]http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s556/andrewlcraft/IMG_20160728_193500_zpswfa5w5oa.jpg[/IMG]

Comes in a stuff sack of the same material, weighs .2oz

[IMG]http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s556/andrewlcraft/IMG_20160728_191439594_zpsd7tghwvh.jpg[/IMG]

Waterproof YKK zipper

[IMG]http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s556/andrewlcraft/IMG_20160728_191639086_zpsyavee5wf.jpg[/IMG]

Hood adjustments, you can see the cord for adjusting the hood down in the back around your neck

[IMG]http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s556/andrewlcraft/IMG_20160728_191535407_zpsamaas90z.jpg[/IMG]

Reinforced hood brim

[IMG]http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s556/andrewlcraft/IMG_20160728_193640_zpsy5k9kvap.jpg[/IMG]

Cuff adjustment, waist adjustment uses the same

[IMG]http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s556/andrewlcraft/IMG_20160728_191903132_zpsejy50kql.jpg[/IMG]

On the body.  The sleeves are great, I have relatively long arms, and fully extended they don’t ride up past my wrists

[IMG]http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s556/andrewlcraft/IMG_20160728_193845_zpsujyidymz.jpg[/IMG]

In a cuben stuff sack with my ZPacks rain kilt.  The jacket accounts for 3.39oz of that 5.4oz

[IMG]http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s556/andrewlcraft/IMG_20160728_192549147_zpsth8d5ae5.jpg[/IMG]

Looking forward to trying it out!

[Andrew C]

…..and pics didn’t work, let me fix that

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Matthew / BPL]

Very nice. That is a lot of weather protection for 5.4 ounces.

I’ve been thinking about picking one of these up for a while. I really like my 20D Packa when I know it is going to really rain but this jacket seems like a nice option when I am not expecting rain but want to be sure I have a way to keep dry. The Packa is a pretty large bundle in my pack…

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