[pct-l] Re: Lightest Raingear??

[verber at gmail.com (Mark Verber)]

> What is the lightest Waterproof rainshell out there?  And how well does it
> work.

The lightest option is from the Rainshield O2 line.  Their cycling
jacket, size XL is 4.5oz and costs only $24.  The rain jacket with a
hood is slightly heavier.  No pit-zips, but the material is somewhat
air permeable.  In the lab it is the second more breathable material
(very close to eVENT).  I can wear my O2 rain jacket in 55F weather
without overheating (I can't even do this with an eVENT because it
blocks the wind better and is heavier / warmer).  Even better, my
soaked supplex shirt most drying in an hour while I was hiking in the
rain after I put on my Rainshield O2 jacket. The only other shell I
can wear in this sort of weather without overheating is my unlined
windshirt which only protects me in very light drizzle.   The downside
of rainshield is that it is pretty fragile.  It would be fine for any
of the sections on the PCT I have travelled, but it would likely rip
doing cross country bushwhacking.  Slightly more durable but heavier
and not quite as breathable are FroggTogg and DriDucks.

If you need something more durable the lightest option include:

1) the new Patagonia Specter Pullover 6.5oz which doesn't have any
pitzips... not field reports if they revised WPB material is
breathable enough with venting options.
2) Integral Designs eVENT Jacket 9oz
3)  Montbell Peak Jacket... to be released in the next month.
Somewhere between 8-10oz.  Made from Entrant derivative which more
more breathable than GoreTex XCR (approaching eVENT), with huge
pitzips, a decent hood, with a lot of attention to details I would
expect from Montbell.
4) Montane Hydralight which is around 7oz, but I don't think is
breathable enough

--Mark