Best rain jacket that works??

[Hillstyle]

I have a sitka dewpoint and I have zero complaints. Good hood stays put and water runs off without getting too hot. I usually try to wear the pants because it runs off so good my pants get wet.

 

[NM13]

I use an ultralight Event jacket by Mt. Hardware along with an silnylon poncho for extra rain protection. It's wider and shorter than a typical poncho. Don't remember the brand - out of business anyway. If heavy rain is expected I bring a Helicon-tex military-style poncho for the second layer. Not that heavy but is waterproof. For riding/packing nothing works better than rubber. Also been looking at a Packa - zipped poncho/jacket/pack cover hybrid that may cover all the bases without the poncho shortcomings - https://www.thepacka.com/

 

[NRA4LIFE]

My best rain jacket is a cheap-ass Frog Tog. Only one I've tried that will keep me dry all day. I live in Western WA where we get a bit of rain.

 

[freezer003]

I'm another that has moved away from 'waterproof breathable' gear in the last few years. I've moved to a poncho and been way happier with it.
Even on boots. I had a conversation with a boot manufacturer about their Gore lining and he told me straight that it usually breaks down within a year. So I've moved to full waxed leather boots and just take a break or two in the day to air them out.

 

[JAshley73]

I bought an OR Foray 3L recently, and after some initial testing, and seeing some funny patterns on the face fabric, I called & spoke to OR about it. The customer service agent said they believed that this particular jacket had a defective membrane, and advised that I return it or file a warranty claim.

They were very helpful & knowledgeable, and I have a massive respect for OR for keeping their customer service local, using smart, knowledgeable, native English-speaking Americans to help customers... - I was very pleased by that.



I'm on the fence if I replace it with another Foray, or go a different direction.

I'm starting to question whether a Nylon face-fabric is wise at all, since it's hydrophilic by nature. I may be wrong about this, but it seems like Nylons are going to wet out quicker, once heavy rainfall overwhelms the DWR treatment.

Polyester by nature shouldn't be as hygroscopic once the DWR is overwhelmed, and I would expect them to recover faster.

And then of course, there's options like Columbia's "OutDry" that uses no outer face fabric at all, so there's no exterior fabric to wet out. These are looking better & better.




(I say all that with the self-admitted caveat, that "a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing," and I've barely acquired "a little bit of knowledge..." So take everything above with a grain of salt...)

 

[badjujuu]

Gore-Tex with huge ventilation pit zips to dump any heat buildup.

I sweat a lot underneath so being wet inside while preventing rain kinds defeats the purpose.

Ponchos work well

This is what I have in my kit now

Drilight Rain Jacket

Technical Features Durably Waterproof Totally Windproof Reliably Breathable Packable and Lightweight Highly Durable Design Details Built for Layering: Reduced Friction with Insulating Layers Dual-Slider Pit Zips for Added Breathability YKK® VISLON Self-Lubricating Center Front Zipper with Inner...

beyondclothing.com

 

[Luke S]

I tried an OuterDry rain jacket in 2016 and liked it a lot. I did a couple packrafting trips in Canada with it. Not as breathable but okay and it kept me dry. Unfortunately it was borrowed so I had to return it.
I bought another one and used it hiking in Alaska in 2021. I hiked off the Kesugi Ridge trail and by the time I reached the highway I was soaked under it. Not sure what happened but it was not sweating. I think I've been in the rain enough to say whatever happened was an unusually bad rain coat experience.
My Goretex raincoat is showing some age but still works better by comparison.

 

[NM13]

Another I'd like to try - https://timmermade.com/product/megazip-silpoly/
Zippered poncho with arms.