Still think an oversized cagoule that covers your rucksac is the best bet, this gives a degree of venting as well. Please share your thoughts on any of them or recommend your favorite backcountry rain shell in the comments section at the bottom of this review; I try to respond to all comments. Overall, the Zeta SL displays the exceptional construction and design of Arcteryx apparel. Kids' Bottoms, All Sale, So I put this on over my rain jacket to protect my head and the top of my shoulders where I find the jacket tend to get soaked through first. If you get too hot, venting your rain jacket is going to cool and dry you off far more quickly than waiting for water vapor to move across a breathable membrane while your zipper is closed. $9,999,999.99. Decathlon uses breathable materials so you dont get uncomfortable while protecting yourself in the elements. Again, sir, I walkways consider the information on your site as true value added. Now the LHG jacket is used by legions, legions of hikers, on the AT especially, and for good reason. While I am a fan of my 3+ year old Helium (I think it was the Helium HD, with pit zips), it speaks volumes about the integrity of your lists. The Lightheart Gear version, for example, isnt often considered (I dont think) as a top contender. While Ive never tried any of these jackets, Ive had $300+ rain jackets from Patagonia and OR, and they never performed better than my cheaper Marmot rain jacket, thats over 15 years old at least while being in rain days on end. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. For 40 years, Decathlon has delivered the best value in the retail sports industry by offering high-quality, sustainable and cost-effective products. Avoid that jacket if you know whats good for you! Do any of these come in tall or run long? Stand Up Paddle (SUP), Women's Jackets, The North Face bills its Flight FutureLight Jacket as the brands most breathable shell, and it measures up to the hype. The second layer is Bike Helmets, Tents, Skateboarding, Basketball, If I go high, Id want more jacket. Triathlon, Roller Skating, Wetsuits, Masks, Think of a rain jacket as part of your larger layering system instead. Check the latest price at: Outdoor Research, Check the latest price at: REI | The North Face| Amazon, Check the latest price at: REI | Marmot | Amazon, Check the latest price at: Lightheart Gear, Check the latest price at: Walmart | Amazon, Check the latest price at: REI | Columbia Sportswear. After section hiking 1800 miles of the AT Ive given up the notion of staying dry with rain gear. stio? Bikinis, Boardshorts, Jackets, Climate Pledge Friendly uses sustainability certifications to highlight products that support our commitment to help preserve the natural world. My husband and I are going to hike the Grand Canyon Rim2Rim in mid September. The eVent is use year around from skiing to backpacking to city wear. E.E. Sale By Discount, City Biking, Weve also included waterproof/breathable rain jackets as well as ones made with non-breathable fabrics because youre going to perspire when youre wearing them in the rain, no matter how much they cost or what theyre made of. Membranes generally offer better weather protection, breathability, and durability than a coating. Pit zips and active venting trump breathability claims any day. And dont miss my picks for The Best Backpacking Gear of the year. Most of the manufacturers listed above dont publish the MVTRs for their jackets, because theyre not that competitive with more expensive garments. Ive learned how to distinguish the mediocre from the excellent. It can be a bit overwhelming on which way to go. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hi, Backpacking in the Wind River Range, the Zeta SL kept me dry through hours of rain, including hiking nine miles through a wind-driven tempest. Otherwise, youre wasting your money. If youre spending upwards of $250 or more, dont settle for anything less than a jacket with great fit and exactly the performance and features you want. Lights, Tires, Note: WP/BR stands for waterproof-breathable. The key to doing this involves venting excess warmth by removing or venting layers. I didnt have to wear many different rain jackets in a variety of weather conditionsincluding extreme, sustained downpours from New Zealand to the Pacific Northwest to Vermonts Long Trail and many more placesto realize there are big differences between rain jackets. https://sectionhiker.com/rei-rainer-rain-jacket-review/. FROGG TOGGS Ultra-Lite2 Waterproof Breathable Poncho, FROGG TOGGS Men's Ultra-Lite2 Waterproof Breathable Protective Rain Suit, Columbia Youth Boys' Watertight Jacket, Waterproof & Breathable, Columbia Girls' Toddler Switchback Ii Jacket, MOERDENG Women's Waterproof Rain Jacket Outdoor Lightweight Softshell Raincoat for Hiking Travel, Little Donkey Andy Women's Waterproof Breathable Hiking Travel Rain Jacket Lightweight Hooded Windbreaker Rain Shell Coat, FROGG TOGGS Men's Pro Lite Suit, Waterproof, Breathable, Dependable Wet Weather Protection, FROGG TOGGS Boys' Polly Woggs Waterproof Breathable Rain Suit, Women's Mountain Waterproof Ski Jacket Windproof Rain Windbreaker Winter Warm Hooded Snow Coat, Little Donkey Andy Women's Waterproof Hiking Skiing Jacket with Removable Hood, Fleece Lined Winter Warm Rain Coat, CAMEL CROWN Men's Rain Jacket with Hood Waterproof Windbreaker Raincoat Shell for Outdoor Hiking Climbing Traveling, Under Armour Girls' Longer Prime Jacket, Functional Front Pockets & Hooded Back, Waterproof, FROGG TOGGS Men's Standard Classic Pro Action Waterproof Breathable Rain Jacket, FROGG TOGGS Women's Ultra-Lite2 Waterproof Breathable Protective Rain Suit, MOERDENG Women's Waterproof Rain Jacket Lightweight Spring Fall Hooded Raincoat for Hiking Travel Outdoor, MOERDENG Women's Waterproof Ski Jacket Warm Winter Snow Coat Mountain Windbreaker Hooded Raincoat Jacket, Marmot Men's Magus Lightweight Waterproof Rain Jacket, Men's Mountain Waterproof Ski Jacket Windproof Rain Windbreaker Winter Warm Hooded Snow Coat, FROGG TOGGS Women's Classic Pro Action Waterproof Rain Jacket, Little Donkey Andy Men's Waterproof Rain Jacket Outdoor Lightweight Hooded Raincoat for Hiking Golf Travel Fishing, Shop Columbia's Collection of Women's Hiking Boots, Waterproof Breathable Hiking Rain Jacket for Women. The Black Diamond Stormline Stretch Rain Shell. the LHG jacket isnt facory seam sealed, so yeah, some seam sealer does help. When it is rubbed off, you can reapply it and restore it. Tents (2-3 Person), All Camp Furniture, $30.00 For example, in winter, Id want a 3L (because it will be warmer, but heavier) Goretex Jacket with pit zips, hip compatible pockets, and a fully adjustable hoodin other words a jacket thats basically for mountaineering. TREAD LABS INSOLES: As good as custom orthotics at a fraction of the price. Think about how often youll actually wear that jacket. Theres no reason a three-season shell for the backcountry should weigh more than a pound, period. Paddles, Boards, So if I feel that its going to be a all day soaking rain Ill pack my hiking shirt and shorts in my dry bag and hike with my rain gear. Enlightened Equipment Visp and Zpacks Vertice would be my top two choices. Weight Benches, Ellipticals, The Outdoor Research Foray II is an updated version of ORs most popular waterproof/breathable Gore-tex rain jacket. Ive wore it trail running in rain showers and cool wind, backpacking through thunderstorms with strong gusts, and even backcountry skiing in variable spring weather, and despite some minor flaws, the Flight FutureLight demonstrates impressive breathability and a comfortable fit. Like cold sera d miserable. I agree with you that price does not always correlate with performance, but I definitely disagree with your premise that virtually any rain shell under $200 will measure up to high-end jackets like most of those covered in this review. Youre going to sweat. The pit zips on this are just fine. I still have a worn 90 REI 3 layer GTX parka that STILL doesnt leak, an early 2000s Cabelas PacLite GTX parka and my best one, an REI eVent parka. Shirts, Pants, All Rights Reserved. What does this mean? $59.99 With those criteria in mind, Ive put together this list of the five best jackets Ive tested and reviewed at this blog, arranged by weight. And I use the Visp when it really matters. No duplication of photos, maps, or text without permission. Chairs, Stools, Sleeping Bags, Fleece, Pants, Not to go too far down a rat-hole, or be preachy but, should hikers or anyone who loves the outdoors use a product, like Frogg Toggs, that will end up in a landfill much faster than higher quality products? Since 1976, we design, manufacture, and offer the best gear at the best prices for more than 80 sports. they seemed like the answer to the problem at least partially since they were supposed to be breathable without needing to reapply dwr. $60.00 Through a long day of rain, wet snow, and wind gusting over 40 mph in northern Spains Picos de Europa Mountains, and other days of mixed weather, I stayed dry and staved off hypothermia in BDs versatile Helio Active Shell (lead photo at top of story). Here are the 10 top (reasonably priced) rain jackets that we recommend for hikers and backpackers. Paddles, Surfboards, Did you think they are all too expensive? The side zips make it, not sure if anyone else has these. Im trying the AntiGravityGear rain jacket now that my LHG is starting to peel (need to reapply silicone Im guessing). Many of our down jackets feature water repellent technology to keep you on the move even in damp and drizzly weather. Columbia has quietly killed off Outdry. Its best use is to keep you warm when its raining or the wind is blowing hard, often in combination with a mid or base layer. We respectfully disagree. I guess that I dont care if Im wet, as long as Im warm and wet. I read the link and like to ask your advice. The Patagonia Torrentshell is a good not-to-expensive, but fully-featured choice that youll be able to use after your trip. Hiking Boots, Backpacks & Bags, Made with Gore-Tex Active three-layer membrane, the Helio breathed well enough to keep me from overheating even at times when we were protected from wind while hiking steeply uphill in the rain with temps in the 40s, while carrying a pack weighing 25 to 30 pounds. Men Sale, Tops, Kids' Sale, Tops, $12.99 Comment *document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "ad825292f7be5429ceac150d200e276e" );document.getElementById("je705695a8").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); BACKCOUNTRY.COM: Get 15% Off Your First Order. Credit ORs proprietary, three-layer, waterproof-breathable AscentShell fabric for how well it manages moisture. If youre looking for something a little cozier, we have a whole host of, ours rank amongst the best hiking jackets around. What should you look for in a rain jacket for hiking and backpacking? The shoulders stay waterproof if you wear backpack straps on them. Two-layer jackets are quiet and relatively I prefer the Montbell versalite over both of those. Regular price, Look no further. The REI XeroDry GTX Jacket is a good value, which is why I included it in this review; but you can see the difference in the face coverage provided by the hoods on these jackets just by looking at the photos in this story, and the ZeroDry doesnt measure up to the OR, BD, or Arcteryx models. Youve come to the right place! You cant have too many rain jacket pockets. thank you. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. Your email address will not be published. Wow. Jump Ropes, Leggings,