Rain jackets for mountain minimalism

I’ll add the option I went with, a black diamond storyline stretch.  10oz in large.  Generous cut, pit zips, helmet ready hood, adjustable cuffs

I’m intrigued that Helly Hansen claims their Lifa Infinity Pro tech, available in their Odin 9 Worlds Infinity Shell jacket, does not require any rejuvenating of DWR on the face fabric.  They claim the face fabric is hydrophobic without needing a DWR chemical.

it sounds like that shell is seriously heavy duty (not light). And perhaps breathability suffers as well.

Is the Helly Hansen odin 9 worlds infinity worth if for $300?
byu/Dodoford inalpinism

I live in New Zealand,

Ultralight hiking gear isnt big here, the weather is one of the reasons.  when it rains it can rain in massive amounts, up to tens of inches in a rain sttorm is not uncommon and its always cold when it rains, hypothermia is common, and still happens in summer. thin raincoats all wet out and dont retain much heat, if light rain or showers is forecast and the weather isnt too cold , I will take an ultralight jacket, but if you dont need it on for  along time , venting doesnt matter as much… if its going to be raining for longer periods, i’ll switch to a vented heavier rainshell. i’ve never had an ultrallght shell with venting. they are hard to find in NZ and never felt the need to buy online from overseas yet..

In the PNW I have found Patagonia Torrentshell 3L jacket and pants are fantastic in winter, late fall, early spring. I have been just dumped on with cold windy rain-they really shined. Summer I use Lightheartgear silnylon jacket and pants. I have been toying with a poncho but just don’t think they will do well with high winds or if conditions really get bad in the higher elevations in summer.

Thank you Ryan. I was recently bicycling for several days in cold blowing rain and ended up putting a $10 super lite Frogg Toggs rain suit over my older Marmot gear and it made all the difference. Of course neither of those options can hold up to bushwacking. I have HH Impertech for that-but it is heavier as you know. Movement helps, but when cold rain or wet snow penetrates to the inside layers hypothermia is a real issue not to be ignored.