Rain Jacket Help

[black525]

Looking to get a new rain jacket this year. I've read the review on the site and found it very helpful. My top choices right now are the Sitka Stormfront, Sitka DewPoint and the First Lite Boundary. I'm looking for something that is durable, has an athletic cut and preferably in a solid color as I can't justify dropping $300plus on a jacket that won't be a primary layer. Any help and first hand knowledge would be great.

 

[JeremiahH]

Have a look at the Kryptek koldo. I love mine. It's ridiculously durable, quiet, and the cut is Very functional IMO. I bowhunt primarily so all these attributes were important to me. Mine came from a cabelas sale well below $300. They have a solid grey that is slick.

 

[PA 5-0]

Kuiu Chugach or Yukon. You won't be disappointed.

 

[mallacootasmoothie]

I love my kryptek koldo. Some people say the hood feels massive but I would call it roomy and it doesn't bother me at all.

 

[Huntr]

I have been very impressed with my Chugach rain gear.

 

[2rocky]

I like my Chugach as well from 2 years ago.

 

[Superdeuce]

If you are good with solids, the door opens to a lot more options outside of hunting brands, arguably better quality with some, and good time to find cheap prices being winter season now over. A Westcomb event or neoshell jacket would be on my short list. Arcteryx maybe if you want goretex.

 

[charvey9]

Are the solid colors cheaper than the camo? If not, you'll be spending the same amount on a jacket that won't be a primary layer no matter what color it is.

Current trend for many, myself included, is to use the rain gear and insulating layer for all your needs and avoid the soft shell jacket all together. A good rain jacket and a good puffy is all you should really need....so the rain jacket could be a primary layer.

I owned this Sitka downpour gear for two years, and loved it for keeping me dry. Lots of miles in wet miserable weather in Oregon without any leaks and few complaints. I would wear it over my base layers when hiking, and the only negative feedback I could say is that it does not breathe as well as I would have liked. The downpour is the same material as the stormfront or dewpoint jacket, without the venting features. I think you would be happy with either of those.

Looking for a lighter, more breathable rain suit I went out on a limb and bought the KUIU Chugach and Yukon sets this year. I had never used the Toray fabric and did not really know what to expect. I've got some good use in both jackets so far this spring in some pretty nasty weather. So far I am very pleased with the product. They both have kept me dry, and vent well to keep the sweating down while hiking.

In my opinion, can't go wrong with any of the products you mentioned.

 

[Becca]

You don't mention what your primary use age would be, that may make a difference. For summer and fall backpack/hunting trips where I am going to be hiking a lot and breathability is key, I use a jacket from Westcomb (it's brown) and a pair of rain pants by Rab (in black). This set is made of eVent fabric, which allows me to keep the sweat from building up when I am moving a lot. Camo isn't a big deal to me anyway, and these two companies offer women's specific sized clothing (as well as men's) where most of the hunting brands do not.

For later season trips, coastal hunts via boat, or trips via atv, weight is less of a factor and I am unlikely to be hiking as far, I use the Kryptek Koldo jacket and pants. The Kryptek gear is comfortable, quiet, cut athletically enough for layering and best of all very waterproof in torrential downpour type conditions. Kryptek also offers their sizing down to size small and extra small (men's) which is a huge bonus for those of us with smaller stature.

I use both sets of raingear a lot, just depends on the type of trip. We are doing a coastal black bear hunt later this week, and the Kryptek gear is what I am taking. We are headed out on a backpacking trip/interior grizz hunt the week after and my eVent gear will get the nod.

 

[black525]

You don't mention what your primary use age would be, that may make a difference.

I'm looking for a jacket that is very versatile. I don't hunt out west as often as most people on this site, but I spend a lot of days in the field. Weight is definitely a factor, but not a deal breaker. I would say durability and fit/function are my two biggest must haves.

 

[KMT]

My REI jacket made with eVent is the most breathable jacket I own. Hands down my favorite jacket. I use a core4element torrent when I think I need camo. I had the Kryptek rain jacket and pants. Took them both back to cabelas within two weeks. The hood sucked on the jacket and the pants were as waterproof as a pair of jeans.

 

[Gwoodak]

Arcteryx in grey. I have the Beta LT and it packs up nice. Weighs nothing and the fit is great. Good test, try zipping the pit zips by just holding the sleeve over your head with your non zipping hand and then running the zipper with your other. It's also nice that the collar covers your chin without choking you and the hood covers my ski and bike helmets. The ski and mountaineering stuff fits better than most of the hunting specific stuff in my opinion and you can go skiing in it without looking like a noob on the slopes.

 

[justinspicher]

I live up here in Washington state and have used the first lite rain jacket all last winter. We had some serious rain this year and the jacket performed very well. I bought it a size larger to accommodate layering, but it doesn't get in the way when I draw my bow, even without layers. I wear this jacket more than any other jacket.

 

[Matt W.]

If weight is an issue / concern its hard to beat the Dewpoint. However, its light on features and the pocket / pit zip combo takes a bit to get used to. Chugach NX is good stuff, but I have yet to see one in a solid color. For flat out versatility, in a solid color, its hard to beat the First Lite. If you jump to the mountaineering / backpacking side it opens a whole slough of additional options. Luke and Becca really like the Westcomb stuff, I have yet to try it so can not comment, but they get out enough an endorsement from them is worth more than most.

With all that said; at 10ozs the Westcomb Specter LT Hoody sure looks intriguing... I like the Cinder color...
http://shopwestcomb.com/mens-clothing/hardshell-jackets/specter-lt-hoody.html

 

[luke moffat]

If weight is an issue / concern its hard to beat the Dewpoint. However, its light on features and the pocket / pit zip combo takes a bit to get used to. Chugach NX is good stuff, but I have yet to see one in a solid color. For flat out versatility, in a solid color, its hard to beat the First Lite. If you jump to the mountaineering / backpacking side it opens a whole slough of additional options. Luke and Becca really like the Westcomb stuff, I have yet to try it so can not comment, but they get out enough an endorsement from them is worth more than most.

With all that said; at 10ozs the Westcomb Specter LT Hoody sure looks intriguing... I like the Cinder color...
http://shopwestcomb.com/mens-clothing/hardshell-jackets/specter-lt-hoody.html

Yep thats the jacket I run now.....campsaver had them on sale for $186 a couple months ago so I jumped on it. Becca's Westcomb jacket has been going strong for over 3 years now and she goes everywhere I go so I know its tough enough for me!

 

[Matt Cashell]

Another good UL 3L jacket option is the OR Transonic jacket.

I have been using one during this very wet MT spring, and the GoreTex Active fabric is the first GTX fabric I have used that actually seems to breath pretty well (but not eVent well). The jacket is super light (11 ounces for my Large), but seems pretty durable. Time will tell.

It is super minimalist though. It only has one large chest pocket and no handwarmer pockets.

Runs $300 so it isn't cheap either.

 

[black525]

Thanks for all the input! The west comb jacket looks very nice.

 

[Gutshot]

I have been looking at the Kuiu line myself, chugach and yukon. Have come across other posts on the zippers
only being water resistant, with some people complaining about inside of pockets getting soaked when brush busting
or in a downpour. I've read lots of positive reviews on the chugach and yukon but this is making me shy of pulling
the trigger. Anybody else have similar problems?