Lightweight rain jacket

[warnesy]

Hi

I'm just curious what people might recommend in the way of a lightweight jacket.

I want something that will keep me dry if unexpectedly caught out. I've got two gortex jackets, but at 893g I was hoping there might be something lighter for when rain looks unlikely.

Cheers
Andrew

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

I've had a Northface Resolve jacket for years. Lightweight and quite cheap.

Need to keep it clean with tech wash and DWR rinses to maintain performance.

Circa 450g.

[Gadgetgeek]

If you can pick up a marmot precip on sale they are pretty good. however most of their value is at the US price point, so less appealing here. I would also look into ponchos if you are just looking at a bit of backup gear.

[photohiker]

Upgrade from the Marmot Precip is the Marmot Super Mica Jacket.

Better material and more features for a higher (duh!) price.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/reviews/B005BXY188

[warnesy]

280g that marmont looks pretty nice.

[wayno]

marmots have one of the most breathable membranes on the market.
outdoor research have a couple of models, helium and helium hd with added pit zips and pockets, the north face have the venture and resolve jackets, montane has a couple of minimums models.
those are all very light around 2 to 300gm
most jackets now dont even go above 500gm so a lot of jackets on the market will still save you a fair bit of weight anyway. going to the lightest is going to cut durability and they wont stand up as well if you're doing any bush bashing.

[keithy]

At 800 grams, I'm guessing it would be an older style longer goretex jacket. I think my very first Goretex jacket from NZ was around about 600-700g.

But there are different types of Goretex fabric, with the more expensive ones being a bit lighter.

I picked up a Marmot Speed Light Goretex jacket this year (using Goretex Pro) which I quite like - it is just under 400g for the small, but also tried on the Marmot Minimalist jacket and the Outdoor Research Helium jacket. The OR Helium jacket was significantly lighter at around 200g, but I wasn't sure it would be as tough as the Marmot Goretex for my wear. Marmot's Super Mica ultra light weight jacket as mentioned above at around 250g but I didn't try that one on.

If you want to go even lighter, Zpacks has their cuban fiber Dyneema reinforced rain jacket http://www.zpacks.com/accessories/wpb_jacket.shtml

[wayno]

this guy had delamination issues with his zpacks rain jacket
http://maxneale.blogspot.fi/2015/11/zpa ... pants.html

[Giddy_up]

Zpacks, I have one and it's the long version. Best jacket I've owned. It's a lot tougher than the fabric looks too.


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[Chris-Toms Outdoors]

The Alpine Houdini from Patagonia is a great light weight jacket. Only 187grams, packs into it's pocket etc. To keep the weight down they have cut everything from the jacket i.e. only a single small chest pocket, no pit zips or any extra's. It's ripstop nylon so will handle a little abuse.

[MeanderingFlyFisher]

I know you have mixed feelings Warnsey about outdoor clothing/gear made by fishing companies but my simms goretex paclight(older model) weighs in at 330 gm and is very basic with only one pocket that it folds up in to.Not sure if you remember it as it is very pale green and you are most welcome to have a look at it.

[Mark F]

Warnsey - what are you doing? Walking on track, off track, fishing etc. If mainly walking on track or hunkering down during a thunderstorm a rain cape can be really useful. I often take my SMD Gatewood Cape (330 grams) on day walks if the forecast is reasonable but overnight or forecast suggests rain I will usually take my Zpacks jacket. The cape serves as rainwear if needed but also offers a great shelter when set up as a tarp for eating lunch or emergency overnight. The SMD Gatewood Cape is a shaped tarp but there are others which are flat - S2S have a range.

[warnesy]

Mark it is mainly walking on track and fishing, although there is the odd bit of off-road stuff as well. My current one gets so little use as generally if it is looking really lousy weather we will postpone as lots of rain is no good for the fishing. And if I was to go when I knew the weather was likely to be rubbish i'd take the heavy jacket.

So it is really an emergency for when there is a unexpected weather change while fishing or hiking into my fishing spot.

[Supertramp]

Z packs, no comparison.

[bluewombat]

Love my montane aero Event at 280gms, really comfortable, well thought out and storm proof...but....I have never given it a good thrashing through rough Tassie scrub so I cannot comment on the durability although the online comments suggest it is pretty tough
bw

[legend]

Another vote for the ZPacks long length jacket. Under 200g and pretty tough too.

[warnesy]

Thanks clearly the zpacks has a good following. Looks like I'll have to add it to my zpacks tab!!

[jjoz58]

+1 for the zpacks. 179 grams for the xlarge you can't go wrong. I found them a little on the small size. ZPacks is cruel I'm having to sell a lot of surplus gear to afford all the stuff I have bought or intend to buy.

[Camminata]

444g Northface point five jacket gore tex is another suggestion

[davidf]

I have 2 jackets. one is very waterproof.

The light jacket is made out of a pair of tyvek disposable overalls. Legs cut off. Where I cut through the zipper I glued a cutting from the legs to make it like an anorak. Top bit of the zip made a flap out of part of the leg and glued some velcro from the $2 shop. Light, cheap, shower proof. Use it alot on multiday packraft trips where its the wet coat for the boat and the other coat is kept dryish for camping.

[warnesy]

Any views on the marmot essence jacket? It is coming in pretty close weight wise to the ZPacks.

[jimjim]

The light jacket is made out of a pair of tyvek disposable overalls. Legs cut off. Where I cut through the zipper I glued a cutting from the legs to make it like an anorak. Top bit of the zip made a flap out of part of the leg and glued some velcro from the $2 shop. Light, cheap, shower proof. Use it alot on multiday packraft trips where its the wet coat for the boat and the other coat is kept dryish for camping.

That is brilliant. Great thinking.
(but does tyvek come in anything other than white??)

[davidf]

Jimjim yes you do look like someone from the Heros of Telemark or the planet Hoth. Suppose you could extra silicone proof it with some dye?

[Hiking Noob]

I had a cheap McKinley(T7 brand) light weight jacket and it like many others had a smooth almost rubbery feel inside and as soon as I got sweaty it started to cling to the skin. Wore it a couple of times trail building then gave it away, I won't buy another jacket without a textured inner which usually means I end up with a heavier jacket which is okay for me.

[davidf]

I agree a better meshed jacket is nice but a go everywhere coat is *&%$#! useful.

[davidf]

Ha ha got edited for bl o o d y