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My husband and I are in the market for new backpacking rain jacket our last ones from Eastern Mountain Sports seems to be leaking where the pack straps rest. Anyone have suggestions for lightweight, preferably waterproof jacket with tips? I'm trying to avoid spending an arm and a leg for the one brand that is probably the best but not very lightweight.? We go back and forth between buying an expensive one and just continue to be willing to buy cheaper ones that will only last for a few seasons. Yes, it rains often will we back pack:-)
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I like my Enlightened Equipment VISP.? ?
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From: [email protected] < [email protected]> On Behalf Of K Goppert Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2022 1:58 PM To: [email protected]Subject: [JMT-groups.io] Backpacking rain jackets ? My husband and I are in the market for new backpacking rain jacket our last ones from Eastern Mountain Sports seems to be leaking where the pack straps rest. Anyone have suggestions for lightweight, preferably waterproof jacket with tips? I'm trying to avoid spending an arm and a leg for the one brand that is probably the best but not very lightweight.? We go back and forth between buying an expensive one and just continue to be willing to buy cheaper ones that will only last for a few seasons. Yes, it rains often will we back pack:-)
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I've alternated between Outdoor Research Helium and Frogs Toggs rain suits over the years. The original OR Helium jacked eventually wore out and wetted out quickly even after I tried unsuccessfully to apply a new DWR coating. The company replaced it under warranty and I still have the replacement and it performs reasonably well but still wets out if there's strong and steady rain for a long time. The Frog Toggs, in contrast, do not seem to lose their effectiveness but part of the reason is that they fail in other ways before the coating degrades. They are very fragile and the looks and feel is poor. But they cost $20-25, so they are effectively disposable rainwear. ?Although disposable, they can last a full thru hike. I took Frogg Toggs on the Colorado Trail in 2014 and although both the pants and the jacket had a lot of duct tape by the end of the four week hike, they were still usable when I threw them away, and it rained almost every day on that trip.
If I was in the market for a new jacket today, I'd seriously consider the zPacks Vertice rain jacket. I have the zPacks rain pants and they are super lightweight and I like the feel of it and how it fits. But the zPacks Vertice rain jacket is not cheap at $299. That's like ten+ Frogg Toggs Rain suits!
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My go-to suit is an EMS packable combination I boought over 10 years ago.? For a local leak like that, I just hit it with a good seam sealer.? I have treated the entire suit a couple of time, probably more than necessary. ?? I use TexSport polyurethane waterproofing and seam sealer for a lot of applications like this.?
? Gorilla makes a similar product, but I have not tried it.
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I've never found a rain jacket that doesn't wet out.? I stick with cheaper rain jackets of no particular brand and use an umbrella.? It's been a game changer?for me. Phil
My husband and I are in the market for new backpacking rain jacket our last ones from Eastern Mountain Sports seems to be leaking where the pack straps rest. Anyone have suggestions for lightweight, preferably waterproof jacket with tips? I'm trying to avoid spending an arm and a leg for the one brand that is probably the best but not very lightweight.? We go back and forth between buying an expensive one and just continue to be willing to buy cheaper ones that will only last for a few seasons. Yes, it rains often will we back pack:-)
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The best jacket I've used is Zpacks' rain jacket.? $300.? 5.4 oz. Everything else I've used is heavy and I end up wet.??
I save mine for exclusive use backpacking and it's going strong after several years.
The rain pants are excellent too.? And they can act as an additional leg layer.? $150? 3 oz.
?
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Byron Nevins
Lead Moderator of JMT at groups.io
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In a similar vein, the best jacket I¡¯ve found is Enlightened Equipment¡¯s Visp rain jacket. The size-based weights are comparable to those of the Zpacks¡¯ Vertice rain jacket and I just looked and the price is now $220. And like you, Byron, everything else I¡¯ve used I¡¯ve wetted out in. This doubles as my wind shirt and it fits over my puffy, too, when necessary. I have their $45 rain wrap for easy on, easy off use and as an extra dry seat or tarp, and they make Visp rain pants, too, for $160.
Women¡¯s jacket??and Men¡¯s jacket? Women¡¯s pants (currently none in-stock) and Men¡¯s pants? Rain wrap?
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The best jacket I've used is Zpacks' rain jacket.? $300.? 5.4 oz. Everything else I've used is heavy and I end up wet.??
I save mine for exclusive use backpacking and it's going strong after several years.
The rain pants are excellent too.? And they can act as an additional leg layer.? $150? 3 oz.
?
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Byron Nevins
Lead Moderator of JMT at
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I¡¯ve found that my best performing rain jacket has been the basic $24.00 version of Frog Toggs ultra light jacket. ?The Frog Toggs jacket easily out performs my OR Helium or Patagonia light weight rain jackets from a wetting out perspective even though the OR and Patagonia each cost significantly more. ?The Frog Toggs are not as durable and won¡¯t last very long if like to do a lot of bushwhacking, but for the JMT I think they are an ideal rain jacket. ?They are also very roomy, so they will easily fit over any insulation layers you might end up wearing.
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Just checked for that and it is out of stock.
Two Dogs
On 3/17/2022 13:19, Peter Hirst wrote:
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[Edited Message Follows]
My go-to suit is an EMS packable combination I boought over 10
years ago.? For a local leak like that, I just hit it with a good
seam sealer.? I have treated the entire suit a couple of time,
probably more than necessary. ?? I use TexSport polyurethane
waterproofing and seam sealer for a lot of applications like
this.?
? Gorilla makes a similar product, but I have not tried it.
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I agree with Ravi. On a shorter trip where there is a more reliable rain prediction and no rain in forecast I will bring the incredibly cheap though not very durable Frogg Toggs. Where the weather is iffy or the trip too long for reliable forecasts I bring an Arc'teryx rain jacket made with Gore-Tex Pro (expensive) and the Frogg Toggs pants. If something like graupel (snow-rain mix) is in the forecast or for a trip that will end after about September 15 I will wear Arc'teryx Gore-Tex Pro pants (I can squeeze into an odd size - small long so I was able to buy them at a reasonable price well marked down). The Arc'teryx I will eventually give to my prospective son in law if they fit him. Too expensive to hang in my basement for years. I would loan out the rain pants to anyone who could fit them as they are quite durable.
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John Curran Ladd
1616 Castro Street
San Francisco, CA? 94114-3707
415-648-9279
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I guess to be a Frog Toggs aficionado you have to be okay with the "disposable" nature of the product, from a sustainability perspective. I've hiked with plenty of cheap plastic ponchos in the past, but these days I try to reduce my contributions to landfill (especially plastic waste) and that includes trying to avoid "one season" outdoor gear purchases. That said, I'm still sending at least two pairs of running shoes to landfill per year, and plenty of ziplocks on each pack trip.?
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I have found the Columbia OutDry jackets never wet out.? Never.? They have the waterproof membrane on the outside so no need for a DWR finish.? I have two different versions.? My complaint is that they aren't the most refined with tailoring.? They also can be heavier, but I have found them very durable.? The jacket I use for backpacking is the Sitka Vapor.? It utilizes Gore-tex ShakeDry.? It's super lightweight (7oz for XL). Seems a little fragile to do too much hiking with pack on though.? The hood is disappointing though as it's just elastic and doesn't have a brim.? I love the jacket otherwise.? It doesn't ever wet out either.??
Quinton
I've never found a rain jacket that doesn't wet out.? I stick with cheaper rain jackets of no particular brand and use an umbrella.? It's been a game changer?for me. Phil
My husband and I are in the market for new backpacking rain jacket our last ones from Eastern Mountain Sports seems to be leaking where the pack straps rest. Anyone have suggestions for lightweight, preferably waterproof jacket with tips? I'm trying to avoid spending an arm and a leg for the one brand that is probably the best but not very lightweight.? We go back and forth between buying an expensive one and just continue to be willing to buy cheaper ones that will only last for a few seasons. Yes, it rains often will we back pack:-)
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I switched from jacket to poncho a few years ago. ?Specifically the packs groundsheet poncho. ?Triple purpose - groundsheet for tarp, ?no need for backpack cover nor rain jacket. ?And don't have to take pack off to put it on. ?And you don't get so hot as it is well ventilated.?
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Thank you so much to everyone who responded about suggestions for rain jackets. It's really hard to lay out the big bucks Arcteryx.??
My husband and I are in the market for new backpacking rain jacket our last ones from Eastern Mountain Sports seems to be leaking where the pack straps rest. Anyone have suggestions for lightweight, preferably waterproof jacket with tips? I'm trying to avoid spending an arm and a leg for the one brand that is probably the best but not very lightweight.? We go back and forth between buying an expensive one and just continue to be willing to buy cheaper ones that will only last for a few seasons. Yes, it rains often will we back pack:-)
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keep in mind that Arcteryx has different models and people tend to think the most expensive one is the best, and it is if you are mountaineering but if you are hiking you need the lighter, often cheaper models (if they actually have any that year). I got my Beta SL on 50% off and it¡¯s a pretty amazing jacket. Having said that, I still would only take it when the weather is very likely to be nasty/fringe and I¡¯ll take my lighter, easier to pack, Marmot Precip or Frogg Toggs when problem weather isn¡¯t as likely. I almost always carry my Patagonia Wind Jacket these days too as it works in alot of conditions/situations. One of my favourite pieces of gear.
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I used to use ponchos in years past and just found they turned into a sail if there was any wind (which there usually is when a storm rolls in), and somehow water always seemed to find a way in. Also, if you use your poncho as a groundsheet, doesn't it end up muddy or dusty or covered in pine needles and pitch?
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Agree poncho is not ideal in the wind, but the zpacks does better then most I think. ?I usually do JMT in Aug/Sept so not that cold. ?So if I get a bit wet in a storm I can deal with it. ?If I¡¯m headed somewhere wetter and colder I¡¯ll bring poncho (I always have it anyway as groundsheet) and Helium jacket. ?As to poncho getting dirty. ?Lately the JMT and sierras have been so dry that it¡¯s rarely an issue. ?But that has never really been a problem as the ground side is the outside of the poncho. ?
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Since I'm in California it's never that big of an issue, esp. for JMT but I'm more satisfied with a less expensive (e.g., REI) jacket knowing that after a certain amount of wear with the backpack/straps etc. it is just going to get trashed anyway.? So, enough to keep me dry in heavy downpour, plus I use my rain jacket as one of my layers in my overall system.? Seen others mention ponchos etc. to keep ventilated and I always get jackets with pit zips so I can pull my arms out of the jacket and unzip the front to regulate.? Look a bit like a spider while doing so but find that works best for me.
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On Thu, Mar 24, 2022 at 06:20 AM, cjoslyn99 wrote:
Since I'm in California it's never that big of an issue, esp. for JMT...
It's funny how many people I ran into in the summer of 2014 who said "it has never rained like that in the Sierra before". They had stories of people who had tents flood. Lots of leaky jackets. Cold and wet. Some people were heading out. One guy I camped near had a home made tarp. He asked me if I thought the ranger would let him sleep in his cabin. LOL. Of course it rains like that in Sierra. The monsoon sometimes hits harder than usual. It doesn't happen all that often but when it does it's worth having decent gear. My old jacket leaked on that trip and I remember being envious of the super heavyweight jacket that the ranger I chatted with was wearing. It's still the Sierra, not one of the big ranges, but you can get into trouble. Now I test my jacket and replace it a bit more often than I used to. Especially nowadays that jackets are marketed by how lightweight they are. They're practically designed to fail after a relatively short period of time.
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Strongly recommend Lightheart. East coast company, knows rain gear, very reasonable price for the quality. I buy a couple sizes larger for going over layers.
On Thursday, March 24, 2022, 06:35:38 PM PDT, fredxz via groups.io <fredxz@...> wrote:
On Thu, Mar 24, 2022 at 06:20 AM, cjoslyn99 wrote:
Since I'm in California it's never that big of an issue, esp. for JMT...
It's funny how many people I ran into in the summer of 2014 who said "it has never rained like that in the Sierra before". They had stories of people who had tents flood. Lots of leaky jackets. Cold and wet. Some people were heading out. One guy I camped near had a home made tarp. He asked me if I thought the ranger would let him sleep in his cabin. LOL. Of course it rains like that in Sierra. The monsoon sometimes hits harder than usual. It doesn't happen all that often but when it does it's worth having decent gear. My old jacket leaked on that trip and I remember being envious of the super heavyweight jacket that the ranger I chatted with was wearing. It's still the Sierra, not one of the big ranges, but you can get into trouble. Now I test my jacket and replace it a bit more often than I used to. Especially nowadays that jackets are marketed by how lightweight they are. They're practically designed to fail after a relatively short period of time.
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Andrew Paisley
ravi_jmt2013
Derek Koonce
John Ladd
Lange Jorstad