Best rain jacket that works??

[JAshley73]

For a good cheaper option/keep it packed away just incase the REI branded Ranier jacket is well worth the money if you get it on sale. Picked it up in the dark green for about $60 bucks compared to $100 retail and is probably the best ive used for that price range. Has the pit vents too which is nice. Relatively lightweight and packs away pretty small. Not terribly loud either.

I had about 6 rain jackets side-by-side recently, during some very informal testing. I had bought one of those REI Ranier jackets for my daughter, and included it. Despite being washed, dryed, and DWR treated per the care recommendations, it performed the worst of the entire bunch, wetting out terribly in about 30 minutes. I let it dry, re-treated the jacket with DWR (Nikwax Techwash) and repeated. It showed no improvement.

I returned it to REI, and replaced it with a used Patagonia TorrentShell jacket. I haven't had a chance to "test" her TorrentShell yet, but I expect it will do well.

The Columbia "Whistler Peak" jacket had the best water-shedding performance, since it has no face-fabric layer to absorb water & "wet out." Next-bestest was the Patagonia Granite Crest jacket. Needing a bright color for outdoor work & visibility, I went with the Granite Crest. It is a comfortable, nice-wearing jacket as well. Not too thick, noisy or plastic-ey...







The REI Ranier wetting out after just 30 minutes in light-moderate rain.





The Columbia "Whister Peak" OutDry jacket. Completely unbothered. I wish these were available in bright colors for those of us that need visibility.





The Patagonia Granite Crest. Excellent water-shedding, and hardly a spot of "wetting out" after over an hour in light-moderate rain.

 

[ChesapeakeTrad]

I had about 6 rain jackets side-by-side recently, during some very informal testing. I had bought one of those REI Ranier jackets for my daughter, and included it. Despite being washed, dryed, and DWR treated per the care recommendations, it performed the worst of the entire bunch, wetting out terribly in about 30 minutes. I let it dry, re-treated the jacket with DWR (Nikwax Techwash) and repeated. It showed no improvement.

I returned it to REI, and replaced it with a used Patagonia TorrentShell jacket. I haven't had a chance to "test" her TorrentShell yet, but I expect it will do well.

The Columbia "Whistler Peak" jacket had the best water-shedding performance, since it has no face-fabric layer to absorb water & "wet out." Next-bestest was the Patagonia Granite Crest jacket. Needing a bright color for outdoor work & visibility, I went with the Granite Crest. It is a comfortable, nice-wearing jacket as well. Not too thick, noisy or plastic-ey...



View attachment 1078150



The REI Ranier wetting out after just 30 minutes in light-moderate rain.

View attachment 1078155



The Columbia "Whister Peak" OutDry jacket. Completely unbothered. I wish these were available in bright colors for those of us that need visibility.

View attachment 1078156



The Patagonia Granite Crest. Excellent water-shedding, and hardly a spot of "wetting out" after over an hour in light-moderate rain.

View attachment 1078157

Very informative test! That sucks for your Ranier, ive had an excellent experience with mine. Especially for the price point being on sale. Was just wearing mine off and on all week in some moderate rain while camping up in the U P and the only spots it "wetted out" was on the the little velcro sleeve cuffs. Maybe I got lucky and just ended up with a good one! Once I inevitably tear this one up from busting through brush in it i might check out one of the Patagonias if i can find a good sale on one in a darker color (usually trying to be the least bit visible). Always loved most of their products its just a shame their prices are getting carried away as they cater to a seemingly specific type of outdoor/hiking crowd. Or atleast a crowd that likes to look like they spend alot of time outdoors lol.