Thread: Light rain jacket vs warm heavy rain jacket

Has anyone experimented with whether a light rain jacket and more layers equals less weight to a heavier warmer rain jacket with less layers? Pros and cons to both methods obviously. Do lightweight rain jackets actually have weight merits if you then have to add more layers anyway. Thoughts?

I used to have a heavy soft shell type coat but found it to hot and bulky for all year use now I have an entrant parka and use light layers underneath for warmth in winter.

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The second one is warm and heavy.

An advantage may be it does not rustle as much against vegetation. You do not go stalking wearing corduroy trousers either (showing my age).

I carried and used for years a bum freezer nylon jacket...it kept me dry and weighs stuff all,screws up and fits in a pocket..... advantage you only put it on when its raining and can were it under a fleece layer if you want to be sneaky silent.
gone back to carrying it as a windbreak layer too...also good for placing meat on to cool where a heavier one not so good for all the above reasons
now for duckshooting or hunting from/in a truck the heavy single layer is primo option.

Light layers every time except in the coldest of conditions. This is primarily for N Island hunting, but even in August in the South the simple clothing system I use has worked very well.

Even in 2-5°C I get flippin' warm on the climb. I need to regulate my heat with a proper base layer / mid layer / outer layer system. Then I have a lightweight milsurp rain jacket from either the German or British Army which are brilliant. Gortex / Sympatex fabric. Also very good as a windbreak. The absolute worse thing for me is to get too hot, and then have to carry a thick outer. I need it to be small and easily packable.

The only time I ever wear a parka type outer is when I am on the bike for long periods in freezing conditions, and/or when I expect to be sitting up glassing or watching a good spot for extended periods of time.

Between me and the wife we have one each of the British and two of the German jackets, they are properly waterproof and take a hiding without problems:

https://www.armyandoutdoors.co.nz/co...ert-mvp-jacket
https://www.armyandoutdoors.co.nz/co...pm-jacket-used
https://www.armyandoutdoors.co.nz/co...erproof-jacket

It is all about layers and fast drying.
I have had the rain coats with the soft fabrics on the outside to be supposedly quiet for when stalking through bush etc...... whAt a load of Shit!!.... when it is raining deer cannot hear you moving through the bush. I have been wet and very cold in those shitty jackets too many times. And further more they take too long to dry out.
Funny enough I went into fiordland with 3 other guys and they used the cheap pack away rain coats(quick drying) and it rain 5 out of 6 days and they rated them.
So there you go, there is my 2 cents for what it is worth.
Rain coats should be; water proof, quick drying, light, wind proof and live in your pack at all times! It may save your arse one day.
Forget about breathable, if you are hauling up a hill sweating hard a flash coat will still get wet on the inside just as quick as a cheap nylon one!

Originally Posted by Flyblown

Light layers every time except in the coldest of conditions. This is primarily for N Island hunting, but even in August in the South the simple clothing system I use has worked very well.

Even in 2-5°C I get flippin' warm on the climb. I need to regulate my heat with a proper base layer / mid layer / outer layer system. Then I have a lightweight milsurp rain jacket from either the German or British Army which are brilliant. Gortex / Sympatex fabric. Also very good as a windbreak. The absolute worse thing for me is to get too hot, and then have to carry a thick outer. I need it to be small and easily packable.

The only time I ever wear a parka type outer is when I am on the bike for long periods in freezing conditions, and/or when I expect to be sitting up glassing or watching a good spot for extended periods of time.

Between me and the wife we have one each of the British and two of the German jackets, they are properly waterproof and take a hiding without problems:

https://www.armyandoutdoors.co.nz/co...ert-mvp-jacket
https://www.armyandoutdoors.co.nz/co...pm-jacket-used
https://www.armyandoutdoors.co.nz/co...erproof-jacket

I 2nd everything you say - but I think most here will ignore and spend 600$ on something that gets them wetter from their own sweat.
As you said - something more suited to stand shooting or Quad riding

I have 4 of those German Gore-Tex now - 1 left at block another in Quad - boat and home.
Total cost for 4 - less than 200$ (mother in-law got them for $30US)
Even at $99 - great value. Fold up tight and light.

Other than my Kuiu Chugach rain jacket I have basically given up on using hunting specific outer layers. It helps that I do a bit of mountaineering/climbing, but I now use gear that has been designed with alpine activities in mind. It's generally lighter, well cut, and made with high performing fabric. Just buy the black colour option if you are worried about being seen.

Far easier (and lighter) to carry a couple of light layers (mid insulating layer and hard shell outer) that dry quickly and pack down small than a bulky, heavy jacket that takes an age to dry. In the winter months I add either a synthetic insulating jacket or down jacket for extra warmth if needed.

I was ice climbing in Canada 12 months ago, we climbed in -30 to -35 degree C temps a couple of days. I wore 260 weight merino base layers, soft shell pants, a very light polarfleece mid layer on top and a hard shell jacket (Arc'teryx Alpha SV) while walking and climbing. I was comfortable when moving and if we were stopping for more than a few minutes I had a warm down jacket that I put on over top of my hardshell.

Personally, I prefer clothing thats designed in UK/Europe - particularly for Scottish winter conditions as its more like what we get here rather than North America where it's cold, but dry in the winter generally

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I go lightweight shell with layers underneath, works well for me.

@Sarvo

Please can we swap mother-in-laws. Yours for fine, with a little cash your way?

Just got back from a couple days hunting. Some good discussion and points raised. I too get very hot very easily, too the point where if it’s raining and I’m on the move or climbing I will sacrifice a light shirt to get soaked otherwise if I put anything else on I overheat and sweat so quickly. But then on the opposite side of things I feel the cold good when still and glassing etc. Not happy with my current jacket, lightweight huntech one.. sleeves are too short and I hate the internal cuff design, especially if I have a lot of layers on underneath. Very annoying on the last few trips.

Ah the quest for the perfect rain jacket, the problem with some jackets is while they won’t let the rain in they do get condensation on the inside which leads to you getting cold, I don’t mind being wet but being wet & cold can be dangerous.

like the Claw I’ve been using a non hunting brand jacket, it’s the macpac resolution jacket in black for a few years now, I have recently bought a Swazi Rifleman jacket as it’s super lightweight, to carry on the trips when you shouldn’t need it and more as a wind proof layer on the tops down here, yet to use it on a trip.

Think I’ll be swapping to a light weight jacket/layer set up soon.
Anyone using the Stoney creek stow it’s? How do they perform for there price?

I started off with Stoney Creek rain coats with the soft fabrics on the outside, windproof and too a degree waterproof but no matter what you wear and for any lengthy time in the rain you will eventually get wet especially in Fiordland!

I hated that jacket especially having to put it on the next morning as it was heavy from retaining water, I'd have to wring out the cuffs and the waist and it reminded me of a putting on a wet swandri's which I first started hunting in!

I have one of those Stoney Creek Stowit Jackets and all they are is something to though on in an emergency, they don't breathe and you'll get wet soon enough.

The next jacket was a Hunter Element's XTR which was great, it retained no water and dried overnight but they don't last and aren't built to last, the internal seam lining fell apart and it leaks, it's a good design but quality and quality control has let that jacket down!

I recently bought a ex Army British DPM jacket such as what Flyblown mentions above, it's great, it folds down super small so it comes on all trips where as before with a bigger jacket you'd have to think what the weather is doing as bigger jackets take up room.

The jacket is waterproof, windproof, and it cost me $50 so I'm not expecting much but in the limited weather I've had it in it's been great. Downsides are it has no pockets or waist draw cord but I'm sure if I contacted "Twin Needle" they might be able to sort something out but for $50 I can't go wrong.

The breathability and waterproof ratings of goretex is the answer, thin and folds up small. The nz army have some good gear made by macpac I believe, can usually find some online at a good price or unless you know someone in the army