Would be nice to see a head to head rain gear test. There is a lot on the market now and it would be good to test them out.
Mainly 5 Criteria: Weight, Durability, Breathability, Waterproofness, Value
Was thinking, 20ozs as the max weight? The weights & specs I found are from the web...
KUIU Chugach NX - 18.9oz (3 Layer Construction – 161 g/m2, Waterproof/Breathable: 20,000mm/24hr/40,000g/m2/24hr)
First Lite Boundary Stormtight (no weight found?) - (waterproof (20,000mm) breathability (30,000 MVTR))
Kryptek Poseidon Lightweight Jacket - 12.8ozs (2.5 layer - Monolithic Lamination, 100% Polyester, Waterproof (10,000mm) /Breathability (10,000mm))
Sitka Gear Dewpoint Jacket - 12.7ozs (3 Layer GORE-TEX® Fabric microtaped/ laser cut seams, 100% waterproof and highly breathable)
Others? Core4's new stuff? Something from Cabela's?
And to add some "non hunting" companies to the challenge:
Mont Bell Versalite Jacket - 6.7ozs (2.5-layer 15-denier Ballistic Airlight rip-stop nylon, Water resistance (20,000mm) Breathability (20,000 g/m2/24hrs))
Mountain Hardwear Quasar Jacket - 13.1oz (15D 3L Nylon Laminate with DryQ Elite)
Arc'teryx Beta LT Jacket - 12.5oz (Materials N40p-X GORE-TEX® Pro)
Or some crazy light stuff...
http://lukesultralite.com/content/gore-tex-limited-edition-shells
http://lukesultralite.com/content/pertex-rain-shell
Any other contenders for the top lightweight rain gear test?
Tests: (hard to test real world results without taking each gear out, but might be a good benchmark) ??
30 minute shower test (this can test both waterproofness and breathability in a controlled environment)
5 mile run in a steady rain fall (useful to gauge both waterproofness and breathability in a semi field environment)
Day hike with pack on in rain conditions (better if weekend) (hard to do much more if one guy or small group is testing all the gear in a reasonable time frame)
User feedback from actual field use in wet conditions
Provide standard spec sheets from manufacturer (type of fabric, how many layers, waterproof/breathability info- like KUIU, Kryptek, Mont Bell and First Lite provide)
List of Jackets with price
Some sort of abrasion test, but may ruin jackets, not sure how to really test durability in a short test, it would be more of a guess based on "feel". ???
Use tests then tabulate results, Pick winner by the 5 categories above, then pick overall winner
Or just buy what you want and quit reading about the new stuff..
After my little research jaunt to do this I found 3 that intrigued me.
KUIU Chugach NZ (breathability is the key to this one) $299 is steep though...
First Lite Boundary Stormtight (close 2nd in breathability claims) $275 for dry earth color (has to be lighter than the KUIU?)
Mont Bell Versalite Jacket - at $149 MSRP these seems like a heck of a jacket for the $$
Mainly 5 Criteria: Weight, Durability, Breathability, Waterproofness, Value
Was thinking, 20ozs as the max weight? The weights & specs I found are from the web...
KUIU Chugach NX - 18.9oz (3 Layer Construction – 161 g/m2, Waterproof/Breathable: 20,000mm/24hr/40,000g/m2/24hr)
First Lite Boundary Stormtight (no weight found?) - (waterproof (20,000mm) breathability (30,000 MVTR))
Kryptek Poseidon Lightweight Jacket - 12.8ozs (2.5 layer - Monolithic Lamination, 100% Polyester, Waterproof (10,000mm) /Breathability (10,000mm))
Sitka Gear Dewpoint Jacket - 12.7ozs (3 Layer GORE-TEX® Fabric microtaped/ laser cut seams, 100% waterproof and highly breathable)
Others? Core4's new stuff? Something from Cabela's?
And to add some "non hunting" companies to the challenge:
Mont Bell Versalite Jacket - 6.7ozs (2.5-layer 15-denier Ballistic Airlight rip-stop nylon, Water resistance (20,000mm) Breathability (20,000 g/m2/24hrs))
Mountain Hardwear Quasar Jacket - 13.1oz (15D 3L Nylon Laminate with DryQ Elite)
Arc'teryx Beta LT Jacket - 12.5oz (Materials N40p-X GORE-TEX® Pro)
Or some crazy light stuff...
http://lukesultralite.com/content/gore-tex-limited-edition-shells
http://lukesultralite.com/content/pertex-rain-shell
Any other contenders for the top lightweight rain gear test?
Tests: (hard to test real world results without taking each gear out, but might be a good benchmark) ??
30 minute shower test (this can test both waterproofness and breathability in a controlled environment)
5 mile run in a steady rain fall (useful to gauge both waterproofness and breathability in a semi field environment)
Day hike with pack on in rain conditions (better if weekend) (hard to do much more if one guy or small group is testing all the gear in a reasonable time frame)
User feedback from actual field use in wet conditions
Provide standard spec sheets from manufacturer (type of fabric, how many layers, waterproof/breathability info- like KUIU, Kryptek, Mont Bell and First Lite provide)
List of Jackets with price
Some sort of abrasion test, but may ruin jackets, not sure how to really test durability in a short test, it would be more of a guess based on "feel". ???
Use tests then tabulate results, Pick winner by the 5 categories above, then pick overall winner
Or just buy what you want and quit reading about the new stuff..
After my little research jaunt to do this I found 3 that intrigued me.
KUIU Chugach NZ (breathability is the key to this one) $299 is steep though...
First Lite Boundary Stormtight (close 2nd in breathability claims) $275 for dry earth color (has to be lighter than the KUIU?)
Mont Bell Versalite Jacket - at $149 MSRP these seems like a heck of a jacket for the $$