Light - Ultralight Rain Jacket Help?

[JackJack96]

Looking at getting a new rain jacket before a section hike. Any ideas?

[q-tip]

I have been through lots of jackets through the years. First, I found no one of them keep me dry, I wet out all of my jackets including my Arc Teryx mountaineering hard shell (rain). the best solution have found is for summer-the Marmot Mica (7 oz.); three season Golite Tumalo (12 oz) and I use the Marmot Stride vest to layer. The vest is one of the best pieces of clothing I own.....http://www.golite.com/Ms-Tumalo-Rain-Jacket-P46941.aspx http://marmot.com/products/mica_jacket?p=216,303 http://marmot.com/products/stride_vest?p=136

[topshelf]

theres not really a need to get a new one just for a section hike. if you wear it while hiking youll soak yourself in sweat. if the jacket you have can keep you dry around camp, just keep it

BUT

if youre looking for a new jacket anyway. I just got a new Patagonia Rain Shadow at Trail Days, I love it. I really like the hood, for me it's the perfect size.

[HeartFire]

http://www.antigravitygear.com/antig...in-jacket.html

[Turk6177]

I just switched to DriDucks-Frogg Toggs. They are super light weight. I have yet to test the durability, but they seem to be the way to go, since you are going to soak from sweat anyway. The best thing of all is they cost around $20. http://www.froggtoggsraingear.com/DriDucks.shtm

[Turk6177]

You could try this too, but honestly, the price is quite more than I would want to spend. http://www.zpacks.com/accessories/wpb_jacket.shtml

[hikerboy57]

another vote for the marmot mica.it gets my MVG award(most valuable gear)

[JackJack96]

I did just get a pair of Marmot Precip full zip pants at Mojos at the after winter sale for $40. I may stick with my rain jacket or continue looking for another deal like that.

[kidchill]

I used The North Face Triumph Anorak on my thru. One of the seams blew-out just North of Damascus (I was SOBO), but the guy at the outfitters there seam-sealed it back together and it worked fine until Springer Mountain. Hell, I still have it and would still use it. The weight for a large (what I have listed from my gear spreadsheet) is 6oz. You may be able to find something lighter, but if I chose this it was probably the lightest I could find at the time. It's just a basic pullover with hood, but keeps out the wind and rain. I only brought 2 jackets on my thru. This, and that super-light montbell down jacket that kinda looks like a weird trash-bag. Both held up extremely well. You more or less gotta figure out if you want a throw away setup (poncho/frogg toggs), or something that will last. I can definitely say the triumph will hold up for a thru (with some minor repairs).

[wamodr01]

Could a hard shell rain jacket, like the frogg togs, be replaced with a UL wind jacket? The wind jacket offers reduced rain protection, but if you are going to get drenched no matter what rain gear you use, you might as well save weight right? Also for the Super-Duper UL'rs out there you can ditch the rain pants for the summer months.

[gbolt]

Could a hard shell rain jacket, like the frogg togs, be replaced with a UL wind jacket? The wind jacket offers reduced rain protection, but if you are going to get drenched no matter what rain gear you use, you might as well save weight right?

To answer your question, yes the UL wind jacket coult replace the hard shell rain jacket but only during the late sping - summer - early fall seasons.

The problem is that in the other seaons, the UL jacket drops to a Mid layer jacket because it is not a material that will keep out the cold wet versus the summmer warm wet. Most hikers use their rain shell as their outer hard shell whether raining, snowing, or just cold. Even when using a UL Down Jacket most will cover with the Rain Shell and or well not hike in the UL Down, while they will hike in the Rain Shell.

Others can probably say it better, but for me, I will alway's have my hard shell Marmot Precip. I also now always carry a UL wind jacket. But i work them together and seperately based on insulation/moisture conditions.

You are also correct that you can ditch the rain pants as a personal matter of choice. I am still carrying these in the Winter and will probably use them on a thru, at least as laudry day cloths.

[Just Bill]

http://www.patagonia.com/us/product/...cket?p=84171-0

I got one during the last sale(under $200)- pretty decent so far but pricier than many shells. I'd echo others though- I really only use this when it's forty and under or during colder spring trips when the rain will be heavy. Otherwise I just use a windshell.

Woman's sizes are still somewhat on sale. http://www.patagonia.com/us/product/...cket?p=84176-1

[bemental]

I went with an LL Bean NeoShell jacket; found it at our local Beans outlet here in town:

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/82377...bounder-jacket

They're selling the bright lime green color for $40 off right now.

[MuddyWaters]

Could a hard shell rain jacket, like the frogg togs, be replaced with a UL wind jacket? The wind jacket offers reduced rain protection, but if you are going to get drenched no matter what rain gear you use, you might as well save weight right? Also for the Super-Duper UL'rs out there you can ditch the rain pants for the summer months.

With a real rain jacket, you are wet from sweat beneath it, but warm due to air trapped

With a wind jacket, you are wet and much colder , because it wets out and clings to your skin when wet.

A wind jacket is not a replacement for some kind of rain gear.

[Tap]

I am new to backpacking, and I don't have much gear for my section hike in May. I was going to bring a disposable tyvac suit I use at work.it worked well standing knee deep in a sewage pit. I am concerned that it has no ventilation , ( I'm not reusing the same suit)

[Bluegrass]

I have been keeping my eye on the Sierra Designs Elite Cagoule - http://www.sierradesigns.com/product/elite-cagoule

Sierra Designs has decided that ventilation is key to staying dry. I like that it accommodates a hip belt, meaning even more comfort and ventilation. I keep waiting for an informed review of it.

[Rex Clifton]

I use a Helium II and am happy with it. Light weight and great hood design.

[Mr Liberty]

I like my Rab Pulse pullover. It's 180g last I weighed it, and packs into it's own pocket (with room to stuff your rain wrap in, too). It breathes pretty well (WPB never really breathes enough but it's better than most I'd say) and it keeps me dry. You might have to be a little gentle with it since it's such thin 2.5L fabric, but that's the case with really any UL rain gear.

[billnchristy]

We use the Frogg Toggs dri ducks and left the pants at home. The jackets work well and after the storm we used them to sit on logs.

[Bluegrass]

While waiting for the Elite Cagoule review, I picked up a Sierra Designs Stow Windshirt (2014) that I found on sale really cheap. So far I have only taken it on one trip but it performed well.

Conditions: Mid-60's during the day, low 40's at night. A few inches of snow remaining on the ground. Brief hail/sleet storm during the first day, lasting about 20 minutes. Stow windshirt kept me dry and warm in the precipitation. The precipitation did not last long enough to really test breathability and saturation.

I think for most three-season wear, a well-ventilated wind shirt is probably the best solution.

Andrew Surka has a good wrap-up of the various issues surrounding rain gear: http://andrewskurka.com/2015/backpac...et-rain-pants/