I’m probably over thinking and researching but I’m in the market for a rain jacket for summer, spring, fall, etc. and I’ve been considering the columbia outdry featherweight since its the only rain jacket that I’ve found to supposedly not wet out, are their others that I’m not aware of that won’t out? I’m also curious if the columbia outdry featherweight would go well over my rab neutrino endurance or would I need more of a hardshell for that, and if so do you have any suggestions for a shell to go over the rab? I would appreciate any advice, thank you.
Thanks for the great write up! I’m looking to purchase the OR Realm jacket, but can’t find anything on sizing other than it’s a “trim fit.” I’m 6’ and 175lbs with a 40” chest, fairly broad shoulders and an athletic build. I’m hoping that you may have a suggestion on sizing, M or L?
It’s difficult to tell from the photo in your article how slim the jacket fits. Could you also provide the proportions of the young man wearing the Realm jacket? Lastly, have you noticed/experienced any problems thus far with the Realm?
The person wearing the jacket (size L) is ~6 feet tall, has a 40″ chest (slim build) and normally wears a size large (for arm and hem length). I recently wore this same jacket for two weeks of very wet weather in Patagonia and loved it. Days and days of rain. Wore it all day some days — up and down hill with no issues of discomfort or getting unreasonably sweaty. Very comfortable and durable jacket.
Apologies if this has already been answered. Do you have any experience with SilNylon or SilPoly rain jackets? They seem to exclusively be a cottage offering but make a lot of sense (at least on paper) for a backpacking rain jacket. Waterproof, light, reasonably durable, no maintenance. Non-breathable but in my opinion the typical WB/B shell is neither waterproof nor breathable, at least not for long.
Hi Alan, I am a taller guy and have a hard time finding gear that has the length I like. How are the lengths and fit of the Hyperlite “The Shell” vs the Zpacks “Vertice”.
My REI rain jacket delaminated after a few years with not even that much wear – an employee told me it happens just from temperature changes in the room, just one of the drawbacks of laminated fabrics, they don’t last forever. If I ever get another (yes, the ultralight ones are tempting me) I would store it in the refrigerator! Anyway, I ended up replacing it with an REI eVent jacket, a little heavier but far more durable and I’m happy with it so far. It’s supposed to be the equivalent to Gortex but way less expensive.
1) You wrote about the Montbell Storm Cruiser with 3 layer construction at 10 oz. and $289. Montbell has another shell, the Peak Shell, at 9.1 oz and only $199, which also has 3 layer construction and I think all of the same features including generous pit zips. Is there any reason why you wouldn’t recommend the Peak Shell which should be just as durable? I also notice that Montbell provided breathability and water-resistance stats for the Peak Shell (which may or may not be accurate) but not for the Storm Cruiser. I realize you can’t review every shell out there but hoped you had a chance to compare the Peak.
2) Which of the mainstream lighter shells – OR Helium II, Montbell Versalite, etc. do you find most water-resistant and durable? There is very little if any info out there comparing light shells to each other in terms of water resistance and durability. I’m mostly interested in a rain shell for waterproofing rather than breathabiltiy, typically relying on zippers for air flow, though it’s nice to have a fabric with a good feel.
3) Which of the heavier more durable jackets you tried have the longest coverage front and back?
4) Which of the lighter jackets have longest coverage front and back?
Hi Ethan, good Qs. First the Peak Shell is a great jacket and it would have been my first choice. Unfortunately it is in very low stock and will not be in next year’s lineup. As such I chose the Storm Cruiser as a close replacement. BTW the SC is an excellent jacket in its own right so no problems at all. The reason that there are no MVTR spec’s for the SC Jacket is that it is GoreTex and Gore does not report MVTR resorting to instead a “trust us it’s breathable enough” strategy for spec’ing their fabrics. That being said there is nothing wrong with the GoreTex fabric on the SC Jacket.
As to the lighter shells I find no discernible difference in water resistance in the field. They are all waterproof enough for my purposes. That is until they delaminate. And in the field given all the other ways you can get wet inside a shell, I find it hard to believe that people can point to the lack of waterproofness as a cause, unless it is from delamination. The OR Helium is a fairly snug and short fit, and if you want more length or room to layer you’d likely want to size up. One of my testers currently has the Versalite but I recall that it wasn’t quite as snug as the OR Helium.
The more durable shells are more similar in sizing than different. Per above, for the lighter shells size rec’s will remain the same for the more durable jackets. That is for a snugger fit choose your size. If you want more room to layer and a bit more length size up. But given that everybody’s body and sizing tastes are different, it’s only a rough starting point.
First off, I just want to say thanks. Thanks for this beyond amazing catalog of information, it is a godsend to have so much information in one place from someone who has lived it all. It has been especially incredibly helpful in understanding the new complexities of TdP and the fact that I won’t be able to multi-day trek there. Without you I’d probably still be chasing false leads and wasting a lot of time.
My question to you is: I am preparing to head down to Patagonia next month and I will buy a rain jacket for the trip. While my preferences are now ultralight where possible, I have been feeling that maybe Patagonia requires something more robust in this category, if not for rain then for wind. And yet, from your gear list it appears your outer shell was the OR Helium? Can you speak to it’s effectiveness in Patagonian conditions and whether or not you still recommend it or something more robust but heavier like the Realm?
Hi Andy, Good Q. Yes, you will likely wear your rain jacket more in TdP than other places on the planet. If you already own a Helium or other light jacket, I would just take it. The jacket will do fine. And if at some point the WPB liner delaminates you can always send it back to OR under warranty. Ditto if you want a buy light jacket for TdP. It will certainly be solid for the hike and you won’t be bushwhacking.
Thanks Alan…as another poster has just mentioned, Montbell offers an alternative 3L jacket (Peak Shell) with a slight weight penalty but nearly identical features to the Versite…which are actually my final two choices.
Ey Alan, you should try Paramo Directional Clothing.