The ULTIMATE rain jacket

Is there such thing? After being left wet and freezing cold at 2000m wearing my shitty creek Tundra rain jacket with a down jacket underneath a while ago it’s got me looking for a new rain coat. There are so many options around now it’s hard to know where to start. Being the Bulkiest item I have left in my pack, this would be a good opportunity to shed some bulk and weight. If this is possible without losing too much durability and life span that is. Looking at brands like Mac pac, marmot, Rab etc. At the moment the top option looks to be the Rab meridian, a gortex coat at 350 odd grams, Prefer to keep weight under 500 grams. Has anyone had any experience with a rain jacket that fits this bill? Any suggestions or experiences much appreciated

Earth Sea Sky Hydrophobia

Haha! sorry, shouldn't laugh, I feel your pain (or wet as it may be) I too have a shitty creek rain coat, good for about 10 minutes in light drizzle from new, then you get wet.

Just to be clear: shitty creek refers to Stoney Creek, some of the shittiest and misrepresented gear. Don't ever go there. Repeat: DON'T BUY STONEY CREEK.

My raincoat is a battered old Brit issue, keeps out the wind and rain and lots of useful pockets, not light but when the weather is crap, I love the old thing! With my down jacket underneath am good as gold curled up in the tussock with the hood pulled over while the rain and wind bash away :2 z Z:

The Macpac Resolution would also have to be considered https://www.macpac.co.nz/macpac-mens...at/115183.html

That ESS Hydrophobia does sound good thou

The macpac resolution is good. But to consider, no venting zips (not necessarily that important if you just need a solid barrier against the weather). And as per some reviews on their website, those front pockets are shockers for filling up with water in even moderate rain.

@257weatherby Me too; and a new Brit Desert cam that cost me $99 new.... Helluva bang for buck

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

Kaiwaka seal tex. half the price of the “brands” and twice as waterproof.

Hunters Element Halo. Impressed with my one :thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by 257weatherby

Haha! sorry, shouldn't laugh, I feel your pain (or wet as it may be) I too have a shitty creek rain coat, good for about 10 minutes in light drizzle from new, then you get wet.

Just to be clear: shitty creek refers to Stoney Creek, some of the shittiest and misrepresented gear. Don't ever go there. Repeat: DON'T BUY STONEY CREEK.

My raincoat is a battered old Brit issue, keeps out the wind and rain and lots of useful pockets, not light but when the weather is crap, I love the old thing! With my down jacket underneath am good as gold curled up in the tussock with the hood pulled over while the rain and wind bash away :2 z Z:

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I thought mine was the only "lemon" one hour in light rain and soaked. Plastic from the Warehouse does better.

I've had most of the hunting brand jackets, now I just use one I got off of army and outdoors for $15 . Swedish army surplus from memory. I mostly just use a swandri or wool jumper for hunting now days, as stated above if your moving in a jacket you get just as wet on 5he inside from sweat. Plus when your pushing through the bush all day water eventually finds its way in. I reckon just make sure your still warm when you eventually get wet

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

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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

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

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Originally Posted by Bradp

I've had most of the hunting brand jackets, now I just use one I got off of army and outdoors for $15 . Swedish army surplus from memory. I mostly just use a swandri or wool jumper for hunting now days, as stated above if your moving in a jacket you get just as wet on 5he inside from sweat. Plus when your pushing through the bush all day water eventually finds its way in. I reckon just make sure your still warm when you eventually get wet

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You still trapping bro?

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Originally Posted by Backsteaks

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

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

Enjoy

@257weatherby have you ever weighed your army outdoors raincoat? Interested in what one of them weigh
And you’re certainly right about misrepresented gear. Shows what marketing can achieve for a brand. Makes you wonder why a lot of guys on social media and tv all represent SC

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

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Originally Posted by Backsteaks

@257weatherby have you ever weighed your army outdoors raincoat? Interested in what one of them weigh
And you’re certainly right about misrepresented gear. Shows what marketing can achieve for a brand. Makes you wonder why a lot of guys on social media and tv all represent SC

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Am guessing around 700g.

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Originally Posted by Nick-D

You still trapping bro?

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Nah mate I'm back on the tools now

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 ...

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Originally Posted by +Snoop

I'm going to throw this thought into the mix. I was running a Swazi Kagoule (800g medium) (soft exterior, waterproof, good length rain jacket), but noticed it was not completely waterproof a year or so later when going for walks locally. Sent it in to Swazi and they found little micro holes, the cause, using it bush hunting I'd pick.

Then I realised that you could have the most expensive rain jacket on the market, that is perfectly breathable, lightweight, compact and the latest technical waterproofing, whatever that looks like... if you take it into the bush, your gonna munt it.

So, moved on from the Kagoule, got a Swazi Rifleman (trying to support local) for the tops trip (350 odd grams), lightweight and packable. For hunting bush, I pick my days, and use a Swazi fleece. I've actually picked up a Swandri Reidston (kinda a more athletic cut of the traditional swanni, really really like it) and intend on using this in the deep of winter in wet bush, wool and warm. If it's absolutely chucking down, a Line 7 PVC rain jacket might be the go, or not hunting.

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Pretty much exactly why I now use a HE Halo for most things. Cheap, lightweight, waterproof and I won’t cry if I bugger it.

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.

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Originally Posted by Backsteaks

@257weatherby have you ever weighed your army outdoors raincoat? Interested in what one of them weigh
And you’re certainly right about misrepresented gear. Shows what marketing can achieve for a brand. Makes you wonder why a lot of guys on social media and tv all represent SC

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Mine weighs 606grams (size small).
Interesting comments about the Hydrophobia. We have them as work issue and no one rates them. Must say I haven't really challenged mine yet.

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.

Another topic around rain jacket performance is the dwr coating. After you wash a gortex or other membrane jacket the dwr coating can after time start to fail requiring all water proofing to be provided by the membrane. And it fails. So you need to restore the dwr by warm not hot iing or retreating if ironing does not work.

There is an Aussie brand called Mont who make a good 3/4 length coat using a fabric called hydronaute. I like mine.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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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.

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

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Originally Posted by Shearer

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

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Yea that’s the colour I was referring to. Probably fine for open country but you wouldn't catch me wearing that colour in the scrub.