Packable Rain Gear
- Thread starter Trigger50
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rjthehunter
Well-known member
FlashStorm jacket or Vapor Stormlite jacket from Firstlite.
Flashstorm is their lightest weight one, good for an occasional shower. I wouldn't hunt a rainy day in it though. The Vapor Stormlite is a 12 oz, and has more pockets, and is tougher than the flashstorm something you could hunt a rainy day in if that makes sense. Not brush busting tough like their Omen line though.
Flashstorm is their lightest weight one, good for an occasional shower. I wouldn't hunt a rainy day in it though. The Vapor Stormlite is a 12 oz, and has more pockets, and is tougher than the flashstorm something you could hunt a rainy day in if that makes sense. Not brush busting tough like their Omen line though.
I purchased Chugach rain jacket and pants from KUIU several years ago. They are light-weight, and they do not take up much space (roll them up) in my pack. I actually use the pants as snow pants in the winter for downhill or cross-country skiing. They fit great over sweats or KUIU long underwear ... keeps me warm and dry. A little expensive, at first, but they have lasted me several years with zero complaints.
KUIU Chugach Rain Gear
KUIU Chugach Rain Gear
Matthew57
Well-known member
I’m also a Chugach fan. It’s kept me dry in some real downpours. If you wait typically it’ll go on sale at some point throughout the year.
El Jason
Well-known member
OR Foray rain gear is pretty solid stuff for the price. Always a trade off with cost and performance.
Irrelevant
Well-known member
Kuiu made a much lighter weight set than the Chugach back in the day; they packed down incredibly small and were great for the first 6 years, but have been deteriorating a bit since then. I need to replace them, but I don't see anything nearly that light on the market anymore.
AlpineAssassin907
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- Apr 16, 2022
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- 161
Kuiu Chugach or Northridge is very solid and very lightweight
SaskHunter
Well-known member
Pretty sure that's what I have. Can't remember the model. Super light and packs really nice, still going strong 7 years in!
It's definitely not heavy duty rain gear and I wouldn't walk around heavy brush wearing it. Otherwise, it's pretty hard to beat my Helly Hansen gear for downpours, but very heavy and hard to pack.
Irrelevant
Well-known member
I was rocking them 2 years ago in a snow/rain storm and they really just didn't cut it, but they're 10 years old now and I've been pretty hard on them.
Creedance91
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- Oct 13, 2023
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- 46
Have the Stone Glacier M5 set. It's not the lightest, but works well. Pants seem to run a little long, but that's better than short I suppose.
belshawelk
Well-known member
Yes IMO the best there is for lightweight
SaskHunter
Well-known member
I usually only pack them as a back-up or on a back-pack hunt. Otherwise I wear heavier stuff for sure!
Bambistew
Well-known member
Its as good as the super expensive stuff, and my go to... It's very well made, ergos are right, good seam tape, waterproof zippers, pit zips, etc. I'm on my 4th coat I think, and 3rd rain pants. They eventually wear out after getting beat through the brush for a couple seasons, but good enough for around town, and the house. pro tip... buy a new jacket in the winter when they go on sale, you can usually find them for 40-50% off.
I will not spend more than $150-200 on a rain jacket ever again. No one can convince me that it's worth it or that brand XYZ is "the best." Once the DWR on the shell is soaked you are too, and there is no better DWR you can apply that will match factory new. New fabric is much tighter so the DWR works much better, once worn and stretched, applying DWR will never be as good. I've tried half a dozen different solutions, none work as well as it was new. The whole 2 layer vs 3 layer is just a gimmick. Gore-Tex is "guaranteed to keep you dry" no matter how many layers, the layers just make it more pleasurable to be clammy and cold because the saturated Gore-Tex isn't next to your skin. The only way to stay dry is not exert a lot of energy, layer with fleece and wear PVC.
YMMV
MTLabrador
Well-known member
Agreed, I’m not going to spend the money on a $4-600 rain jacket that’s going to wear out and soak through just the same as a $150 one. I have a lighter weight Sitka jacket that was great the first year or two, but wore out and now leaks pretty bad
My favorite rain jacket is actually a Carhartt storm defender that I got for about $100. It’s not super light and packable, but it’s a great shell for wind and cold weather, has good DWR finish, and it’s durable. Even for warm weather backpacking I wear it enough for wind that I like having something a little more than the super light rain shells. I’ve been in some all day downpours with it and it did well.
