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The zipper pinching-induced pain only compounds itself the longer the trip, so if you're planning on using your rain jacket for activities like day hiking, backpacking, or mountaineering, steer clear of models with low front handwarmer pockets. The Helium is a true ultralight shell at a very reasonable price (most of the UL competition is at least $100 more expensive). I really like the fit of the latest Helium: Im 59 and 155 pounds and the medium has a nice, trim cut. After almost a decade of hands-on testing, we offer you unbiased and honest recommendations to help you get the best possible option for your needs. This allows it to offer truly excellent weatherproofing and breathability at a crazy low weight. We measured how much each one pulled back from our wrists and if the hem of the jacket pulled up around our waists. This Patagonia Torrentshell jacket withstood quite a bit of bushwhacking use and abuse, particularly considering its weight and price. Bottom row: Torrentshell, Venture, PreCip, Watertight. Low pockets are slightly more comfortable for keeping your hands warm while cruising the farmer's market on a drizzly day for less technical applications. I do know of people that can wear the Helium for stretches of time while trail running in bad weather, but it runs far too hot for me. This shell also uses 2.5-layer Pertex for its waterproofing, but the minimalist build manages to trim weight down to an even 6 ounces while retaining features like hand pockets and an adjustable hood. Set yourself up for success and wear the minimum layers you can get away with to minimize overheating unnecessarily. While you can buy a nicer, lighter, or more stormworthy rain shell, it will be tough to buy one for less money. Lastly, after years of experience, we have come to find that jackets with fewer seams in the shoulders hold up better, especially if you plan to carry a pack regularly. the.

For users who run warmer in lighter drizzle or in the time between cloudbursts when you want to continue wearing your jacket for wind protection, or as you suspect the next storm is just minutes away, then venting your jacket can prove incredibly useful. Quite close in weight is the The North Face Flight Lightriser at seven ounces which while around half an ounce heavier is more breathable and stretchier while providing very comparable weather protection. A rain jacket needs to stand up to the demands its user places on it. In the backcountry; a hood that rolls away and stows can be appreciated but is generally a lot less of a big deal. Depending on the seller, most products ship free in the United States on orders of $50 or more. These two fabrics were a cut above the rest when we were out on a rainy winter hike, where they were able to pass an impressive amount of moisture at an astounding rate. We also considered the ease of use of each feature, comparing cinch cords for the hood and how easy to access and adjust they were. In the end, we think its worth getting the latest model, but you may be able to find the II at a good discount. Finally, the jacket is an impressive wind blocker Ive used it and the prior generation Helium II on cold days while mountain biking to take the sting out on a frigid descent and provide some heat-trapping warmth. Hood offers great coverage both at the sides of the head and the face. Compared to the Helium, the Norvan is a far better performer when active, but its not a jacket we would recommend throwing in a bag for hiking or even climbing. A number of high-end materials like Gore-Tex Paclite, normal Gore-Tex, or eVent all have a fluctuating level of breathability. Graham Zimmerman wearing the lightest and most compressible jacket in our review, the Outdoor Research Helium Rain. The most durable models in our review are the Marmot Minimalist, The North Face Apex, Arc'teryx Zeta SL, and Outdoor Research Foray. This does mean that air-permeable jackets, on a micro-level, aren't technically windproof. Most of the models in our review are already on the lighter end of the weight spectrum, particularly when compared to beefier 3-layer models. Outdoor Research has updated its long-standing and very popular ultralight rain shell for 2020. For many, light is right, and weight is a crucial factor for any piece of gear used on human-powered adventures. Our team focuses on each product's face fabric when assessing its overall durability, as this is the layer that has the most impact on a given product's tear and abrasion resistance, as well as how well its DWR might hold up.

As we mentioned all models we reviewed here allow moisture to pass through them; however, none allow an infinite amount of moisture to pass, and even the most breathable models have their limitations. Here, wet skinning with intermediate sun-breaks and heavy snow flurries up the Southwest Face of Lichtenberg Mountain near Stevens Pass, WA. These models all do an excellent job of sealing out precipitation in all of its forms and have well-designed wrist cuffs and hoods that can be cinched down to help seal out the elements, keeping us dry. This amounts to a 0.1-ounce drop from the prior model while retaining important features like an adjustable hood, hem, and chest pocket. For example, having lower handwarmer pockets is great for around town but can be a nuisance and rendered nearly or completely unusable while wearing a harness or heavy pack. We prefer models with higher handwarmer pockets, or at least lower-profile zippers to minimize pinching. What is an air-permeable fabric or jacket? For whatever activities you have planned, you'll want a jacket that moves comfortably with you and doesn't inhibit your movement. Most of these models breathe quite well. Approximately half of these models stuff into one of their own pockets and others can be rolled and stuffed into their hoods. This isn't a big deal; however, for those who run hot or are commonly hiking in warmer rain (where this model's breathability will be reduced), something with pit zips might be better. However, whether crawling over a downed tree, setting up a tarp at camp, or climbing the most epic peak of your life, you'll repeatedly utilize the maximum mobility of your jacket. Chris Simrell crossing the upper Elwah River in the Olympic Mountains, WA. They are a little more expensive than the lowest-priced models in our review but provide a significant step up in performance. The shell has also gone through the wash a couple times and is still looking like new. Base layer T-shirt? We feature several air-permeable models in our review; the Rab Kinetic and Outdoor Research MicroGravity being two of our favorites. In every aspect, from the hood to its storm protection, to its low weight and top-tier breathability. There are many waterproof fabrics and treatments that manufacturers use in the various models we tested. Approach shoes are an important piece of gear for many rock climbers. Our water resistance metric measures and compares how well each contender kept its wearer dry from the outside; in contrast, our breathability and ventilation metric quantifies how well each model kept its wearer dry from the inside by allowing sweat, moisture, and heat to escape. The Outdoor Research Heliums combination of $159 price tag, 6-ounce weight, and full waterproofing put it in a unique spot in the marketmost of its rain jacket competitors are either more expensive or quite a bit heavier.

The Helium uses Pertexs new Diamond Fuse face fabric, which boosts tear resistance from the prior model by a claimed 5 times (OR explains the testing process here). These fabrics breathe when there is a temperature difference (and temperature differences inherently create a pressure difference) between the inside of the jacket and the outside environment. While some folks might not care about spending more or sacrificing some features or storm worthiness for just a few ounces; for the most weight-conscious of users, or those who own a quiver of jackets; these lightest of light jackets are impressively light and might allow you to get away with bringing a slightly smaller pack or to bring one when you otherwise might forgo a rain shell altogether. For many users, weight is possibly the single most important attribute of a rain shell because they will be carrying it more than 90% of the time. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. This means your jacket keeps breathing even after you've cooled off. Those seeking the lightest fully featured model should check out the Patagonia Storm 10, which unlike the two previous models listed actually has front pockets that offer superior storm protection and weighs a cool 8.5 ounces. Many of the contenders in our review weigh less than a pound, which is the unofficial benchmark for what is considered a lighter weight jacket. We tested the breathability of these jackets while hiking, backpacking, climbing, and ski touring. This also presents a problem since it's so breathable, it isn't as comfortable for those "soggy days in camp", as it keeps breathing even when you aren't moving, which usually results in a net heat loss and the user feeling colder than if they were not wearing an air-permeable model. Plus, while OR doesnt specifically call it helmet-compatible, Ive been able to fit it over my bike helmets, including the Giro Radix and Smith Forefront 2 (both size medium). GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. This review results from over 350 field hours hiking, backpacking, mountaineering, and just plain hanging out in wet conditions around the Pacific Northwest. But models with adjustable cuffs and well-designed hood adjustments are superior in howling rainstorms or when working with your hands overhead in the rain.

As useful as many ventilation features are, a fabric's breathability is more important than ventilation. Ian estimates he has worn a rain jacket over 800 days over the last two decades because he guides AND lives in the rainy and wet Pacific Northwest. Well, it's nearly exactly what it sounds like a fabric where air can pass through the material at all times. This is in both abrasion and cut resistance but also in overall longevity. Even on multi-day trips with perfect or less than perfect forecasts, packed size should be high on most outdoor enthusiasts' priority list. Likely wider than any other product there is an enormous price range of rain jacket options on the market today. If you're thru-hiking 2,650 miles, climbing technical terrain, or riding your bicycle from coast to coast, weight may (and should) be one of your primary concerns.

Simply put, no other model can match the Zeta's across-the-board performance. What you get for that weight is a premium feel from the 2-layer Gore-Tex Paclite Plus construction, a fantastic athletic cut, and excellent waterproofing and durability. L-R top row: Helium and Minimus, Essence, Resolve, Minimalist. While on adventures that require wearing a pack, a majority of the jacket's pocket is under a weighted hip-belt strap and is frequently uncomfortable due to the zippers being pinched under the waistbelt (or harness) and the pockets themselves unusable. This means they continue to breathe better in warmer conditions or once their user has cooled off. We considered over 90 different rain jackets before choosing the best in our review. Often times, it's a "just in case" layer, brought along in the event of an afternoon thunderstorm, strong winds, or a drizzle that is not in the forecast. Our review team conducted our tests several times, comparing models with lots of ventilation options and compared and contrasted performance keeping vents completely closed, partially open, and completely open to best get a sense of how each model performed. Our final competitor also comes from Arcteryx: their Norvan SL. The jacket stuffs easily into its own chest pocket and secures with a two-sided zipper. The most expensive options represent those built with the best materials and have years of engineering behind them. ), but the Montbell manages to pack in additional features like two hand pockets, pit zips, a three-way adjustable hood (the Helium has one point of adjustability), and Velcro at the cuffs. More than hiking shoes or trail runners, they ensure solid footing on loose trails, scree slopes, boulder fields, and ridge scrambles. This is a columniation of a number of factors but generally refers to several design aspects of the jacket, particularly each model's hood, cuffs, pocket(s) front/primary zipper, pit zips, or other vents, and how well they keep water out.

These higher-end laminates are more expensive to produce, and when looking at Name Brand materials, you are not only paying for the "name" but also the years of engineering that went into it. Nice features include a microfleece-lined zipper and good fitting cuffs. In short, the Helium packs down small enough to make it easy to justify bringing along on those just-in-case kind of days.

Here in the Pacific Northwest, we know a thing or two about rain.

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