trippclark
05-14-2007, 16:04
I am looking for recommendations for a shell jacket. First a little background . . .
My primary rain protection/solution when hiking is an umbrella. Since discovering how wonderfully this works for me (YMMV) some 5 or 6 years ago I have only once had the need for a rain jacket while hiking and that was when I pulled a bone-headed move and allowed my umbrella to get broken. On that occassion, I turned to my 3 OZ. GoLite Wisp windshirt, but it was soaked through in under an hour.
Since this episode, I decided that I needed to invest in a jacket to replace the Wisp windshirt in my pack . . . something a bit more waterproof (and hopefully breathable) that will serve for backup raingear to the umbrella for when hiking, and primary raingear when in camp and doing chores that require both hands. It will also serve as an outer layer for wind/warmth as needed. I am not anxious to add weight to my pack, so of course I'd like the selected jacket to be as close to the 3 oz it will be replacing as possible.
The rain jacket that I was using before I adopted the umbrella is 12 oz, and I could go back to that, but I am hoping to find somthing a bit lighter.
Some ideas I am considering . . .
Frogg Toggs jacket - I don't find a weight and I think that you have to buy a whole set not just the jacket
O2 Rainshield Jacket (style 1001) - 5.6 oz. - have never actually seen this jacket but weight is favorable - this is picky, perhaps, but the color (bright yellow) is not exactly LNT friendly - at $30 it is priced nicely
Golite Virga - 8 oz - $80
My primary rain protection/solution when hiking is an umbrella. Since discovering how wonderfully this works for me (YMMV) some 5 or 6 years ago I have only once had the need for a rain jacket while hiking and that was when I pulled a bone-headed move and allowed my umbrella to get broken. On that occassion, I turned to my 3 OZ. GoLite Wisp windshirt, but it was soaked through in under an hour.
Since this episode, I decided that I needed to invest in a jacket to replace the Wisp windshirt in my pack . . . something a bit more waterproof (and hopefully breathable) that will serve for backup raingear to the umbrella for when hiking, and primary raingear when in camp and doing chores that require both hands. It will also serve as an outer layer for wind/warmth as needed. I am not anxious to add weight to my pack, so of course I'd like the selected jacket to be as close to the 3 oz it will be replacing as possible.
The rain jacket that I was using before I adopted the umbrella is 12 oz, and I could go back to that, but I am hoping to find somthing a bit lighter.
Some ideas I am considering . . .
Frogg Toggs jacket - I don't find a weight and I think that you have to buy a whole set not just the jacket
O2 Rainshield Jacket (style 1001) - 5.6 oz. - have never actually seen this jacket but weight is favorable - this is picky, perhaps, but the color (bright yellow) is not exactly LNT friendly - at $30 it is priced nicely
Golite Virga - 8 oz - $80