Well vented rain shells

Can’t help with your query but in the market for a new rain jacket so will be interested in what folks suggest.

Are you after a non-breathable shell? If so, Lightheart gear sells a silnylon rain jacket with generous pit zips you could check out. FWIW, I have since abandoned my WPB shell in favor of two options: a frogg toggz poncho in warm weather, and a completely non-breathable cuben rain jacket with pit zips for cooler weather.

My LUL silnylon rainshell has adjustable wrists and waist in addition to long pit zips. I can get a fair amount of ventilation but not as much as my 20d Packa. The Packa works really well because it’s over the straps and pack. My Packa is 240g, which doesn’t seem like that much to me given it covers my pack as well. I usually carry my LUL because it doesn’t rain often where I hike.

Luke’s pit zips seem to be placed more on the arms which makes sense to me when backpacking because the lower part of my my shoulder straps gets in the way of the torso section of my pit zips on other jackets I’ve worn.

Thanks. I have emailed LUL but am still pretty wary (due to the thread down the page). Prior to his issues earlier this year people seemed very happy with his designs, though.

Hoosier: not necessarily, like most of us I’d prefer a fabric that breathes and and design that vents, but we all know the flaws of WPB materials. That said,I’m not thru hiking any time soon, and never *plan* to be in terrible weather. So maybe the potential comfort is worthwhile if there are some materials that last longer before wetting out (which to my understanding leaves rhem still waterproof but not breathable)..

About 5 years ago, I bought a jacket on clearance, and it had three holes at the back of the neck, with a little fabric sewn on the outside such that it acted like a covered vent. I had to return the jacket because the hood cinch was messed up (at the face hole), so I never really used it except to walk around the block when I first got it. It was winter, and my first impression was that the neck vent worked well, as my head and neck were cold, especially the back of the neck.

If memory serves, it was Marmot, 2.5 layer, in the 8 or 9-oz range. retail about $200 or $250. But I’ve checked and don’t see anything like that or the neck vent in their current lineup.

Anyway… If anyone knows of such a jacket… Give a shout, please.

On second reading, the Packa claims to be quite workable in the wind.. anyone have any experience with it in Alpine conditions?

Most people in the UK go with breathable shells.
They cope.

Myself and 2 companions did 10 days backoacking in Scottish hills this autumn. Rain and wind most days, often prolonged, especially high up. Temperatures from 14c down to 1c.

I wore a Rab Bergen – event jacket
Friends both wore Mountain Equipment jackets.Goretex Proshell
No pitzips

No problems really. A little surface dampness on midlayer and some heat buildup when working hard, but choice of base/mid layers mitigates.

But, our shell jackets each weighed over 500g. Though comfortably useable day after day.

In my experience, the very lightweight breathable shells are ok for showers but just don’t cut it in prolonged bad weather. They wet out and leak after a couple of hours. Then I get cold. Ok for showers or use in summer or for a high energy activity (runners/ fit young things).

I have a 20d Packa that is used almost exclusively in alpine conditions.  Once I removed the large shockcord and toggles, mine came in at a bit over 7.5oz IIRC.  Not bad for rain and pack coverage.  I am 5’9″ 170lbs and have the regular sized Packa which fits well with plenty of ventilation and coverage.  Mine covers my shorts and I can crouch down for complete coverage.  With my pack on it handles wind very well – particularly coming from a Golite Poncho for many years.  Worn without pack, it blows around a bit more but with the pack hump cinched down, it is fine and allows for great air movement under the shell while providing great coverage.

In steep Boulder hopping there have been times when my vision has been somewhat compromised looking down due to the torso billowing out, but I have a piece of shockcord that I can use to gather it tighter.  In addition to the generous size, there are huge pit zips for additional ventilation.  I use mine mostly in temps from the 20’s to the 50’s and over heating has not been an issue.  In fact, I have appreciated the additional warmth.  With out the pack it has proven to be a great personal shelter for sitting out the worst of several +12k elevation during storms in exposed areas.  I could nearly pull inside and eat and drink.

Overall, I have found it to be a great piece of kit that works so much better than everything else I have tried.  It really shines on days when the rain comes and goes.  When deployed as a pack cover you just slip your arms in the jacket or pull the hood over your head with no need to stop.  If you can get past your fashion sense, especially without your pack on, it’s about functionally perfect.   I can’t stand wearing a jacket that can’t work properly with shoulder straps and a waist belt, not to mention a soaked pack and straps.  Yes, I am a big fan.

Thanks Mole. From my understanding, NZ conditions aren’t too dissimilar from the UK. A 500g shell is just too much, however. I did try on a few event and pertex jackets in store the other day, and even without being active and it being a pretty mild (15 degrees?) day, i was building up a sweat. Of course the store was a relatively warm space, so it’s hard to say. Still, unless I’m planning or expecting a week of solid rain, I would find it hard to justify the weight when Frogg Toggs have served me well enough in past.

The lightweight technical shells are tempting, but from many reports never really seem to live up to the hype..

Hey Josh, thanks. That review answers a lot of hangups I have about the Packa. It sounds like our needs are quite similar (though it’s probably a little warmer on average here).

So you removed the shock chord, and bring a smaller/lighter piece instead?

When you say using it as a personal shelter, do you mean squatting/sitting down inside the jacket? Or is there a way to pitch it? (I wasn’t planning on doing the latter, just curious).