Thread: The ULTIMATE rain jacket

Pros and cons with all waterproof jackets, it depends on what your priorities are

Extremely light?
Durable?
Length to knees?
Camo?
Pockets?
Hood preference?

As Ryan mentioned, a classic is the ESS Hydro, hard to beat, NZ Made

Also as above, don't touch stoney Creek. Far better options out there for your money

Originally Posted by hotsoup

Pros and cons with all waterproof jackets, it depends on what your priorities are

Extremely light? 500 ish grams
Durable? Yes
Length to knees? Preferably
Camo? Hell no
Pockets? Not fased
Hood preference? Definitely hooded

As Ryan mentioned, a classic is the ESS Hydro, hard to beat, NZ Made

Also as above, don't touch stoney Creek. Far better options out there for your money

definitely won’t be buying another stoney creek rain jacket after the last 2 I’ve had have been shit

Originally Posted by Backsteaks

definitely won’t be buying another stoney creek rain jacket after the last 2 I’ve had have been shit

https://earthseasky.co.nz/product/hydrophobia-men-s/

Enjoy

Thanks everyone for your replies. Had a look at the earth sea sky range and looks like they’ve got me covered. Being NZ made will go with them

AS Tahr said Technidairy. Obvious. LOL. Great leggings as well if doing lotsa 4wheeler work.

Another problem is a lot of raincoats will keep you dry but not warm, why layering becomes important

I have got a Cactus Rain Jacket (these are now $$$) and a British Army MVP jacket - I pretty much always use the ex-Army one as it packs down a bit smaller ...

Cactus mountain coat is the best jacket I've found buy far, and I've tried most.

Sent from my SM-S906E using Tapatalk

Be aware, there are degrees of "rainproofing" built into raincoats. I was in a Macpac store a while back and looking at a raincoat. I asked the assistant how rainproof this model is. He said: "define rainproof". I said "2 hours in very heavy rain" . He shook his head. He handed me one that would fit the bill. It works. Ask the questions.

Kuiu have 25% off sale at the moment for some things, including the NORTHRIDGE RAIN JACKET and pants.
Not cheap but good quality.

The Kuiu stuff is great but you really need to wear both the coat and jacket together.
I’ve also goat the latest stretchy Swazi Thar jacket (made offshore!) . I wanted pockets for my ‘always getting cold’ fingers.
I’ll report back after winter.

Having owned most raincoats - yes I have a problem - I have come to a few conclusions. First up, lightweight and durability don't really get along very well. A lightweight raincoat can be amazing but they crap out. I still buy them but they are for emergencies, not for wearing with packs, or bushbashing, or getting blood on. Secondly. I love pitzips. I have yet to find a breathable fabric that works sweating up a hill. Third, "quiet" raincoats with furry outsides hold water. They get really heavy. F that. Fourth, a near new coat will be good for a few years then get worse. You can defer the inevitable with careful washing and DWR - but they all decline.Even the heavyweight ones. So don't think they are invincible, look after them. Fifth, long coats are a kiwi thing - US brands often have short jackets to be worn with rain pants.Sixth, you _generally_ get what you pay for. Some coats are ridiculous. 1500 bucks for an Arcteryx Alpha SV? Yeah Nah.
So pick your coat for the conditions. Fiordland for a week in winter very different from a day walk in summer very different to bashing through the matagouri. Pick the tool for the job. There is no magic raincoat.
Lightweight? The Goretex shake dry stuff is amazing. About as durable as glad wrap. But breathable and OMG it is water proof when new.
Fiordland? A plasticy Goretex pro shell with pit zips, good luck finding one with a decent length... the now discontinued Sitka Kodiak was awesome.

My best raincoat (when new!) was an Aussie hand made one (lots of personal measurements supplied to the maker) by Wilderness Equipment. Back in the 80's it was the ducks nuts. 2 layer Goretex, pit zips, fantastic hood, pockets that DIDN"T fill with rainwater . Went all around the world, and for a 35 day trek in Nepal to 21,500 ft and kept me warm and dry. Unlike a lot of other brands on display on that same trip. But was only great for the first 3 or so years, Then it was all downhill from there.

The new Hunters Element Atlas Jacket has caught my attention. Some impressive figures for breathability and waterproofness (if that’s a word). Hopefully they offer an alternative colour to the brown, I do not do brown in big game hunting clothing.

Originally Posted by stagstalker

The new Hunters Element Atlas Jacket has caught my attention. Some impressive figures for breathability and waterproofness (if that’s a word). Hopefully they offer an alternative colour to the brown, I do not do brown in big game hunting clothing.

https://www.hunterselement.co.nz/col...s/atlas-jacket
Is this a different colour to what you have seen?