So, I've been at this a while. I purchased some Dri Ducks, which I promptly destroyed and I need something more substantial. I have been looking for a while for a lightweight jacket to store in my pack for all possible rain events (including walking to and from work). I cannot get over the myriad different fabrics and features and reviews, so I figured I'd ask for help here.

These are the four I am looking at now. I have probably looked at everything on the market, but I am willing to go looking again if y'all think that it would be worthwhile.

Marmot Essence (6 oz)
OR Helium (6.8 oz)
GoLite Tumalo (10 oz)
ID Event Rain Jacket (9.5 oz)

I am having trouble figuring out how these might perform. As a note, I am a super-heavy sweater and can and will sweat out anything out there. It is important to me that my shell at least attempt to keep up with me.

The Essense and the Helium look like very similar jackets: simple, no frills. They use different fabrics, though. The Tumalo, to me, is just a Helium with pit zips (and some added weight). The ID has no pit zips, but it is event, which seems to be the holy grail. Is it? Will I vent better in the ID without pit zips than I would in the Tumalo? Is it worth the extra weight to chase the heavier of these two options? Will their performance be so much better that it will be worth the extra weight?

My guess is that I should go with one of the heavier two, but I do not know which one.

Thanks in advance for all your help.

Wayne

Golite has a 7oz 'Malpais' rain jacket if you haven't seen/heard about it. What you go w/ will depend on your needs and how you treat the item. I like a DWR wind shirt + umbrella b/c of the extra ventilation. Besides, getting rained on sucks. I don't think any WPB is a 'holy grail' of fabrics. They will all leak and will all trap body respiration heat and moisture so Id suggest a compromise between being lightweight and reasonably priced.

eVent is not magic

If it's raining, above about 40 F, exercise vigurously, I'll sweat

Sweat a little less in eVent than other WPB

Maybe the best thing about eVent is the DWR coating. Water continues to bead up after hours in the rain.

It's too bad there aren't specs for DWR coatings.

I've managed to have good success with REI's Airflyte eVent running jacket as my backpacking shell when it's cold and rainy enough to warrant it. It doesn't have a hood but I use a brimmed hat, and the stretch panels under the arm help the jacket breathe tremendously (though diminish the jackets quality as a complete waterproof shell, a trade off I've found helpful not hurtful).

http://www.rei.com/product/798999

What do you consider your maximum weight? Are there any features you must have?

I really like my Mont Bell Rain Trekker, but it's heavier than the other jackets you have listed.

Just throwing this out there as it seems currently one of the lightest with pit zips.

Marmot Super Mica Jacket $200 8.0

Not sure how that actually compares to a garment made of eVent without pit zips and I have not seen an eVent jacket with pit zips but I heard they are out there.

Depending on the weight of an eVent jacket with pit zips, I might consider waiting on some of the new air permeable technologies coming out like Neoshell and find the lightest with pit zips. Until then maybe use a poncho.

Jeff

My experience is that pit zips don't provide big enough opening to make very much difference.

If it's not rainy and windy too much, I'll unzip the front of the jacket - now that's big enough opening to make a difference, but I'll still sweat around my shoulders, upper back, head.

But everyone's in love with pit zips, that's okay

I guess I don't have a maximum weight, but I would (of course) like it to be as light as possible. That said, I consider this to be a emergency item for the most part, as it rarely comes out of my bag in the Sierras, so I am willing to go heavy if need be.

I was looking at the ones above basically because it seems that manufacturers make 2 varieties of lightweight rain jackets: either 6-8 oz. without pit zips and 9.5-12 oz. with pit zips.

My experience has always said that large pit zips were worth it, while small pit zips were no help at all. Of course, I haven't owned a "waterproof-breathable" fabric ever, I don't think, so I am just confused by all the terminology.

If I were to go the lighter route (since the jacket rarely leaves my pack anyway), how well will these things breathe?

If I go the heavier route, is eVent good enough to replace pit zips?

Should I scrap this whole search and go to the next weight class?

...or should I just buy and umbrella, a windshirt, and get a poncho-tarp for emergencies/shelter?

Too many options...almost no money. Man, these things are pricey.

Thanks for y'all's help. I am going to look into your recommendations later today.

Wayne

Wayne, you stated that you sweat a lot. I guess I am on the other end of the spectrum, and breathability in a rain jacket is not my priority at all. I have a convenient Anti-Gravity Gear hooded rain jacket shell that weighs in at 4.6 ounces and is made from sil-nylon. If I was concerned about venting it, I would add pit zips (maybe 1 ounce added). Instead, I just leave the bottom open as far as possible, and that works. If the weather is too cold to leave the bottom open, then I probably wouldn't be sweating anyhow.

--B.G.--

I know it's been mentioned before, but for the best of both worlds (with a weight penalty) consider The Packa in eVent. The pit zips are 10-12" long (huge) and the material is eVent.

I have an XL that weighs a whopping 17.3 ounces - making it the heaviest single item in my Summer pack. I'm a big guy and I tend to perspire a lot - I need everything I can get to keep from getting soaked inside and out.

A side benefit of The Packa is that it's also an effectivepack cover. People don't like pack covers because they leak anyway (water running down your back and into the pack cover can pool and make it seem like your pack was sitting in a puddle for hours). I say it's "effective" because it's integrated into the jacket so there's no chance for water to run between your back and your pack. Your pack stays as dry as possible. In an attempt to cut some weight, Eddie makes the pack cover portion in Sil-Nylon (eVent would be wasted there).

I only pack it if rain is likely. With only a chance of rain I'll use my Golite Ether windshirt and my raingear and deal with the consequences.

Other than the weight one downside of The Packa is that it's dedicated for backpacking - because of the pack cover portion you're not going to grab this jacket for a run to the mall like you might with a Marmot or other rain shell.

It's nice to see another thread addressing this same topic out there right now.

1) The Packa - This looks great, but considering how seldom I end up in rainstorms in California, I would prefer something smaller. At this point, I protect my clothes and sleeping bag with trash compactor bags and am willing to have my other stuff get wet in rain. If I were thinking rain were a larger possibility, I can imagine buying a Packa.

2) Malpais - Where did this come from? I must've missed it. There are no reviews out there, but this looks no different than the Helium, really. Another lightweight, wpb jacket with no zips.

3) Marmot Super Mica - This one is all over the place. It is funny looking and expensve, but 8 oz with zips is intriguing.

4) REI Airflyte - How heavy is this? What are the underarm areas made of? Are they wpb or just mesh or what? How much do they compromise the waterproofness of the jacket. This might be a winner, methinks, if I can combine it with the right hat or umbrella. It's at least a contender if the underarm areas are okay.

5) Is there a reason to wait on this purchase? I think something in one of these threads alluded to something coming up. Is there about to be a huge unveiling of new gear soon? Does this mean a)tons of new gear will be available and b) tons of old gear will be going on sale?

Oh, and the AGG one looks great too...but sweaty. Will they custom some zips or is this a difficult mod for me to do?

Thanks-
Wayne

Wayne, about AGG, I don't know for sure. Ask them.

A year ago, I was shopping for a hooded rain jacket like that, but I didn't like the color that they showed. I contacted AGG and asked about the same thing in black color. We had a slight bit of discussion about size. When I received it one week later, it was just a half-size larger than what I was seeking. But then, larger just meant that there is slightly more air space underneath it.

--B.G.--

how about westcomb cruiser lt? it is one of the lightest event jacket with huge pit zip out there, although for 465gr we can't consider it ultralight... however it is an excellent all-rounder. the arms and shoulder are reinforced, minimal seam outside, high collar, excellent hood adjustment, long back hem, not to mention stylish too.

This is a good looking jacket despite its weight. It gets ugly when I think about shelling out that kind of cash. One of these days...

how about montbell rain trekker? it is highy rated here. It uses air-permeable Breeze Drytec fabric, hence highly breathable. pit zips too. Mark V. even claims that with pit zips open it is more comfortable than eVent with no pit-zips. 12oz. and only about $100?

Wayne,

I have a Cabela's Rainy River PacLite rain parka. It's well made with lots of good features and now sells for $99. Soon, with oil prices skyrocketing, it will likely get more 'spensive. I have the entire suit and it has been very durable. No pit zips but for that price you can easilly afford to have them sewn in by a tailor. Buy W/P zippers from Seattle Fabrics. The front chest slash pockets have mesh interiors and they vent quite well on their own.

My ideal rain parka, from long experience in rainy Pennsylvania, is a Packa eVent parka W/WP pack cover sewn to it. BUT... the Packa eVent comes ONLY in red. I think the pack cover part is green. Kinda "Christmasy". The owner/inventor of Packa said that's the only eVent color he can get from the company that makes it for him. :-(
His regular W/P Packas are much less 'spensive and in a few color choices. They all have gigundous pit zips.

Edited by Danepacker on 03/02/2011 14:34:49 MST.

The packa is a good option for down the road, but I need something I can use around town as well. I am almost curious enough to buy it.

The Cabela's parka looks good. It is a definite contender, especially at that price.

Out of curiousity (and as an added angle to confuse me even more), are there any hoodless options out there? If I were to go with a rain hat and hoodless rain jacket, it seems that might be a good venting option...but it seems that no one makes rain gear without hoods, unless I am missing them. Maybe I need to check rain gear for runners like the REI jacket above?

integral designs had an event pullover with no hood. about 9oz.

on sale at backcountrygear.com for 132 in large

Edited by rcowman on 03/02/2011 02:47:39 MST.

I dont' have any specifics to offer, but there's a lot of hoodless rain jackets for bicyclists. I believe there's even a few eVent options.

Hopefully one of BPL's more seasoned posters can give you some specifics...