I see them on people and read about how great they are, but don't get it. Are they waterproof? Breathable? As good/dry as a Patagonia Rainshadow or not as good/dry but lighter and acceptably good/dry?

thanks!

Lightweight, 12 oz. for top and bottom, as breathable as most things out there, all for about $19.00. Not bad!

You need to be careful with them, they love to bust at the seam on the butt and they tear if sitting on granite, but they do the trick. I hike mainly in the Sierras so they are more than adequate for the type of storms that typically roll through.

Imagine a woven screen, with threads running perpendicular to each other. When these magic threads get wet they swell to the point that they close up all the gaps in between.

You can see this swelling when you put a few drops of water in just one spot.



So when dry it is very breathable, and wet, it is for all intents and purposes, very water resistant.

In the "transition phase" it's moving across the spectrum. In a hiking or cycling situation where you are usually "cooking off" water vapor the transition is less of an issue than one might imagine. By the time the sun is out, and you're ready to take it off, you are dry.

Not a perfect piece of science like eVent, but better than most PU and 2nd generation Gortex - IMHO, and relatively inexpensive.

With DriDucks the ploymer layer is on a spunbonded fiber scrim that is not terribly durable. In many cycling jackets it is on a much more durable substrate.

Edited by greg23 on 04/07/2010 14:15:31 MDT.

Driducks are the lightest, darn inexpensive and also very breathable -- as Greg stated above. What's not to like?

1. dorky looking, hood has no brim at all.
2. not good with abrasion -- not an issue at all with normal wear but definitely not for bushwhacking. My Driducks jacket can last a long time, but not the pants.

Edited by ben2world on 04/07/2010 14:37:54 MDT.

I purchased a set just to see them. Having guessed" the size they were too big for me so gave them to a friend. He also purchased a set shortly after. Destroyed both the first or second time out.
Most of our trails are not wide enough to avoid branches and often have to climb over logs, they are not suitable for this.
I did try them out under pretty heavy rain, around my place, and yes they are very breathable and waterproof enough at least for a few hours. I don't know about all day.
Franco

They don't last. I had a set last 2 hours. They are not recyclable. The sizing is funky. I don't get it either. Oh yeah, no pocket in the jackets either.

Edited by kthompson on 04/07/2010 18:14:58 MDT.

"They don't last. I had a set last 2 hours. They are not recyclable. The sizing is funky. I don't get it either."

I've had mine for a few years now (jacket, not the pants). Sizing is indeed funky -- it's about two sizes bigger than convention.

I've used mine a LOT and they are fine (except the pants).

I am careful when I hike in them. If they tear, simple MASKING TAPE works PERFECTLY! Easy to repair!

They are the MOST breathable, perfectly waterproof, cheap, dorky, and there is nothing lighter!

I turned the pants into a skirt using scissors and contact cement, and this is a MUCH better!

Anything similar to Driducks worth trying? Being on the short end of the spectrum (5'5", 150 lbs) I can't really order two sizes down to get a good fit.

Jeffrey:

Methinks a size M Integral Design eVent rain jacket will fit you well -- they are cut quite a bit shorter than most. Yeah, it's also quite a bit more expensive but you do get a superior jacket in every way! And it should last a lot longer too. And no dork factor...

Has anyone seen these in stores so I can go have a look in person?

I can't even find the manufacturer's website, just tons of online retailers.

http://www.froggtoggs.com/
turn your sound on
Franco

Edited by Franco on 04/07/2010 20:23:32 MDT.

I sent you a PM

...I have a montbell peak jacket which I like. Not quite as nice as eVent, but nice. It comes in at like 10 oz. though. I was looking for a light pant/jacket combo that I could get down to 10 oz. for both, but I may just use my jacket and call it good.

Edited by catalyst81 on 04/08/2010 00:44:22 MDT.

Jeffrey:

If I were you, I would just use the jacket and call it good. With a 10oz. weight ceiling, that means you're looking at a max. weight allowance of only 4-5oz. for your pants. Anything that light will be pretty darn fragile! My experience with the relatively fragile Driducks is that I can keep the jacket in good shape for years by being careful -- but the pants last maybe one hike. Even if you make sure never to sit down, the bottom part of the pant legs will wear out quickly just from rocks and stuff kicked up by your footsteps.

Edited by ben2world on 04/08/2010 00:39:45 MDT.

These are certainly not commercial products, but I sewed my own hooded rain jacket (4 ounces) and my own rain chaps (2.5 ounces).

--B.G.--

If they are too long, just take some scissors and cut them shorter, we are talking about a <$10 pair of pants. I've had a pair of DriDucks for two years (going on third). I don't use them very often, but they still work fine. I brush branches all of the time with no rips.

Just wondering how driducks hold up to long term usage underneath a pack? I'm guessing those areas wear out faster?

Also, which particular driducks models do people use? Looking at the froggtoggs website there are a few options...:
http://www.froggtoggs.com/?outerwear/backpacking/DD1330
http://www.froggtoggs.com/?outerwear/backpacking/DD1232
http://www.froggtoggs.com/?outerwear/backpacking/DS1204

Cheers,

Adam

Walking out on a fairly well and wide maintained trail in May put an untimely (first time worn) end to my DD pants. The Tyvek pants I have used are more durable that Dri-Ducks. Slightest snag on what seemed to be the most flexible branch went completely through.

The jacket worn on the same hike made from Rainshield endured the the trail with no apparent damage. Rainshield is more expensive running approximately $50.00(corrected) for a complete suit vs. $15.00 for a suit of DD.

Edited by johnk on 07/05/2010 21:33:18 MDT.

I use the trail pac from your links. Jacket is working well but it is definitely not for bushwhacking.

I am 6 ft 165 and the small fits me perfectly including the pants.