Rain Jacket vs Shell

[SwiftShot]

I still run a soft shell. For me it works out as I bow hunt so quite is a must. Plus the KUIU Guide jacket and pants are very water resistant. I have been in some heavy stuff for a few hours without problems. In December when it get bad in PNW I do run a hard shell.

 

[Desk Jockey]

I think soft shells have their charms but they are a compromise. Mine have held up better to brush busting than other gear. They breathe better than a rain jacket and can handle up to light rain. I have run mine with a light poncho (MLD or a dyneema one) or A light thin rain jacket (OR) that gets used for heavy rain only.

I do agree that when I am trying to go as light as possible and expecting decent weather I run a base, mid layer and insulation with a rain jacket. Some of the midlayers like the Sitka ambient Start to blur the lines in terms of function With soft shells.

 

[SwiftShot]

I think soft shells have their charms but they are a compromise. Mine have held up better to brush busting than other gear. They breathe better than a rain jacket and can handle up to light rain. I have run mine with a light poncho (MLD or a dyneema one) or A light thin rain jacket (OR) that gets used for heavy rain only.

I do agree that when I am trying to go as light as possible and expecting decent weather I run a base, mid layer and insulation with a rain jacket. Some of the midlayers like the Sitka ambient Start to blur the lines in terms of function With soft shells.

You are correct about the brush busting. In PNW blackberries are insane. The soft shell hold up better for that.

 

[EastHumboldt]

For the torso… Base layer, mid layer, puffy jacket, hard shell. Also carry rain pants, a fairly compact fleece vest, and mid layer leggings. I Hunt mule deer at 8 to 10,000 feet in Nevada mid to late October. Most of the time, I’m just wearing pants, Bass layer, and something to break the wind, I have to be ready for Weather That can be anything from 60° and sunny to 20° and puking snow. Fairly open where I hunt don’t have to do too much brush busting.

 

[just.mark]

The only thing I wear in the early season is often the sitka ambient. It's basically a softshell and base+midkayer for early season. I carry a rain jacket and a single fleece for warmth. In the PNW where rain is a steady drizzle and every thing is wet soft shells are the way to go. True softshells are very situation dependent and I tend to use them day hunting and not on overnights.

 

[Buckhead]

Soft shell here. I typically wear a Jetstream over a couple of layers. I generally hunt from a base camp, so choose not to hunt in a driving rain. Whitetails in Georgia. I know, am a Candy. If drizzling or if light rain, I stay dry.