New rain gear

[levibarry]

Has anyone seen, hands on, the new Lightheart
Hoodie Pack Cover.

http://lightheartgear.com/index.php/rain-gear

Thinking it is an interesting but wonder if it could
take the place of real rain gear. Maybe to be used in conjunction
with a other rain gear.

Any thoughts?

levibarry

[ChuckT]

Hmm, a shorty Packa?
It would save some weight especially if you can successfully hike in light rain and "walk it dry".

[HeartFire]

I know my opinion here is very biased since I designed and make them, but I have to say, they few times I"ve used it in pouring rain, I loved it.
It is not a "shorty Packa" Cedar Tree has a patent on his Packa and I did talk to him about this. It is just a pack cover with a hood and short shoulder cape.
I used it once in the Smokies - very hot day, but cool rain, it was wonderful, the rain on my arms cooled me off, and no water down my back. and I used it the Whites above treeline, thunder lightening, hail and rain, I did add my rain jacket as it was VERY cold, but again , nothing down the back of my neck and climbing Mt Killington in a tremendous rain storm recently, going up hill I just had the hoodie pack cover and rain wrap - it was cold, but the hood and cape kept in enough warmth, and walking up hill kept me warm, when I got to the top, I did change shirts as my shirt was soaking wet, and added my rain jacket for the hike down the mountain, but that was almost too hot. again, contents of my pack were bone dry and no rain down the back of my neck.

Full disclosure, I'm not really crazy about the design as it is, and will eventually re structure the cape part to give more freedom of movement, but it's really a minor thing and I have to sell the ones I have made before I can re-design it. They weight about 6 oz each. I've sold quite a few and all the feedback is very positive unless you have REALLY broad shoulders.

[daddytwosticks]

Looks like it would work really well with a lightweight hoodless wind jacket. :)

[Mr. Toad]

Looks like a solution for rain on a warm or hot day.

[Twogears]

Appears to me that the Hoodie pack cover doesn't really replace any gear but is only a heavier pack cover (i.e. you still need a rain jacket). I like the concept of the Packa, but have always found the price a bit prohibitive. I really like the rain kilts and have switched to one myself. What I mostly like about them is the fact that they can be donned (and taken off) so quickly. I rarely would change into my rain pants as it was a pain to put them on and take off during those days with intermittent rain.

Simply my opinion for what works for my hiking style. YMMV.

[10-K]

It always comes back to the truism that very little gear is perfect for every single condition and what's best for one hike may suck for a different hike.

This looks like a great idea for warm months.

[ChuckT]

Looking at the pixs only I wonder about the sleeves.
When I tried a poncho I found that walking with a staff or trekking pole (s) the rain would run down my arms. Since this hasn't any sleeves to speak of wouldn't the same thing occur?

[garyp]

what about the nimbus from alps mountainering

[hikeandbike5]

what about the nimbus from alps mountainering
What relevancy does this have in a thread about rain gear?

[July]

What relevancy does this have in a thread about rain gear?

Hey, you could always blow it up and carry it over your head...:-?