Waterproof breathable Rain Gear Review
This isn’t your typical gear review. It’s more my commentary on rain gear and the failings of waterproof breathable rain gear.
Why I’ve Owned 11 Rain Jackets
I’ve bought and worn dozens of rain jackets over the years. Literally, dozens of them. Right now on the rack beside me as I type this I can count 11 rain jackets. Eleven.
Rain gear is an essential item of our backpacking gear list. I backpack with it. Top and Bottom.
It’s a bit ridiculous. I have everything from my old Aussie Dryzabone to my most recent Outdoor Research Goretex jacket I bought last year. Whatever your jacket, chances are good I’ve owned at least one of those.
And none of them, I mean none of them, work like I want them to. In fact, it’s fair to say none of them work like they did when I first bought them. They work well. Some, amazingly well. For a while. Then they start to fail.
I’ve been wet in virtually every quality rain jacket you might imagine.
Nothing lasts.
Waterproof Breathable Raingear Coatings
It’s been my experience that the magic of waterproof breathable technology is in the DWR (durable water repellent) coating. I don’t know what kind of black magic voodoo those manufacturers employ, but that stuff is astonishingly good.
Until it isn’t.
How DWR Coatings Work (and Fail)
Once it begins to fail, it’s done. I’ve tried everything. Washing the jacket, drying the jacket, spray-on DWR replenishments and washing DWR treatments. And all of them work just well enough to keep me going, to keep me believing enough to do it again later.
But the treatment never lasts long. At first the water beads up on the jacket like new and I’m a happy fella. But soon (before the end of the first trip) I find the jacket not working well again.
And what “works” really depends on my needs. If I’m doing one multi-day backpacking trip a year, it’s simply not worth buying a new jacket. But most seasons I’ll spend 60 days or so in the mountains (not counting winter wear, which means snow gear, not rain), and being cold and wet and cold for 60 days doesn’t excite me. At all.
So I buy a new parka.
Why Treatments Don’t Last
I don’t really know.
I do know that the factory treatment lasts a longer than any homemade version. All the sprays and washin treatments are good, but they don’t seem to have the staying power of even a single trip. I suspect it’s just wear and tear. Much like the difference in failure rates between a music CD (remember those?) you bought at the store and a disc you burned at home. Night & day difference.
I also know that bushwhacking gives rain jackets (and those of us wearing rain jackets) a beating. That adds to the wear, for sure.
So does the pressure points created from your backpack. Should er straps and hip belts probably aren’t the best thing for a coating of any kind. Nor is a heavy pack rubbing against your back all day long.
Best Rain Jacket I’ve Owned
So what has been the best one I’ve had?
REI Shuksan eVent Review
The best performance I’ve had from (breathable) rain gear was my original REI Shuksan eVent jacket (now discontinued; shameful). I got nearly 2 seasons with it and it worked great. Failed the third season. It was lightweight and robust. The Shuksan was by far the most breathable rain jacket I’ve ever had. By .
My current OR jacket is a poor performer and likely won’t see the mountains with me again.
How to Extend Your Rain Gear’s Life
I’m not telling you folks to go without a rain jacket. Just don’t expect magic. And if it’s old and worn, clean it, and treat it with a good DWR treatment like Nikwax.
before a trip, I’ll often spray the most heavily worn and abraded areas of the jacket. The shoulders where the backpack straps, the back and some on the front. The front of the torso usually isn’t an issue (which makes sense for the major wear-points of a backpacking jacket).
The Iron Trick for High-Wear Areas
Then I iron that area on low heat for a few minutes. Be sure your particular jacket is OK to be ironed. Some are not.
But a light touch with low heat should be fine, most times. Then treat the entire jacket as normal (either a washing treatment or spray on and hang dry).
Then hope for the best.
More likely, save your pennies. You’ll need a new one soon.
Cheers
Carl
