Rain Jackets – pit to hem zip

I bet Luke’s Ultralite would make one for you.  I think I remember seeing one they made on their Facebook page(that was a while ago, though).

I’ve never owned one but I think that is a great feature.   I’m battling overheating mostly when using a shell so for me that is a legit way to maximize ventilation.

What I’d really like is something like the SD that goes over the pack belt and runs slightly long. A portion on the back of the hood that attaches like a shingle to the pack cover, venting at the top of the back and a skirt rain piece the shingles to the top of my gaiters that can be easily put on and removed without the need to pull it over my boots.

Not really what you are asking but I find pit to hem zips to not be a good solution while wearing a backpack because the shoulder straps get in the way of any ventilation in that area. I’ve found two solutions that work better for me:

1) the Packa. This jacket goes over the backpack and allows much better ventilation with a deep pit to hem zip

2) Luke’s Ultralight places their zippers from pit to elbow, more or less. Shifting the ventilation this direction seems to result in a much better airflow when wearing a pack over the jacket.

+1 on the Packa and it has huge pit zips to boot!

Did Packa discontinue their 10D version?

10D doesn’t appear in the current line-up.

Thanks for the feedback. I was hoping for one jacket with venting to use with and without a pack. Looks like I might be looking at 2 different jackets. I’ve seen the packa before, so I may have to pick one of those up.

I have a Arcteryx Alpha SL that is like that. It has a pit zip that goes to the hem on the right side. Has a little button there to close at the hem if you open the zipper all the way down. The left side also has a very generous pit zip on one side (longer than any other pit zips I have yet seen).
GTX Paclite 332gr.

But, I think they are no longer made.
Salomon has one with exactly the same set up, but in GTX Pro. It was prohibitively expensive here in Japan though so I never bought it. You could check that out, not sure but it might have been in their S-Lab range.

I was really really in love with this system for a couple of years and do wish more brands would make this option.
Since I carry a running pack now mostly, with two ‘sternum’ straps over the front, one high, one lower, I carry a normal front zip jacket now (with good pit zips on both sides). I open my front zip for extra venting and the two frontal straps keep me protected enough in those cases. In heavy rain the normal pit zips are good enough on my jacket.

But check out Salomon.

Its mostly an OR thing …. That and the warranty

if it fits you i would just stick with OR

;)

I use an OR Mentor, but it is probably too heavy for this crowd.  Great zipper system and ventilates well.

I’ve got two OR Foray’s, my wife has one as well. Love the zip system.

The OR Horizon jacket has the Torsoflo vents too. Ive been using the Panorama model that is a typical 2.5 layer jacket. The great feature is that you can wear the front of your jacket over your pack hip belt, allowing airflow in the front that would normally be closed off by the belt. The upper end is like most pit zips. I like it.

The great feature is that you can wear the front of your jacket over your pack hip belt, allowing airflow in the front that would normally be closed off by the belt. The upper end is like most pit zips. I like it.

Indeed, that’s the beauty of the system. Makes the jacket almost “poncho like.”

I have an OR Rampart with the Torsoflo also but the fabric is 100% waterproof so I never have to worry about it wetting out or reapplying.  I have opened it fully before and put the front over the waist belt.  A bit heavy at 16oz for an XXL but with it being 70D I never have to worry about it anywhere, anytime.  And if it fails I get a new jacket from OR.  That is how I buy things.