Hiking Gear I Wish I Didn't Buy (& What I Wish I Got Instead): Rain Jackets
Hiking Gear I Wish I Didn't Buy (& What I Wish I Got Instead): Rain Jackets
Comparing different rain jackets to help you make the best choice for your rainy, outdoor adventures! ⛈
Find the links to the jackets I mentioned in this video below.
RAIN JACKET BREAKDOWNS 👇
💧REI Rainier Rain Jacket
– 2.5 Layer system
– Weight: 9.9 oz
– Waterproof Rating: NOT LISTED
– Breathability: 2/5
💲Price: I purchased this on sale for $49; however retail price is $99.95.
Jacket Link 🔗: https://alnk.to/fHlOcR7
💧Columbia Arcadia II Rain Jacket:
– 2 Layer system
– Weight: 11.2 oz
– Waterproof Rating: NOT LISTED
– Breathability: 2.5/5
💲Price: Retail price is $89.99, however this item can often be found on sale for under $50.
Women’s 🔗: https://amzn.to/45J93vE
Men’s 🔗: https://amzn.to/3W2gqvc
💧Rab Kinetic 2.0 Rain Jacket:
– 2 Layer system
– Weight: 10.2 oz
– Waterproof Rating: 10,000mm
– Breathability: 5/5
💲Price: Purchased on sale for $200, retails for $260. If I had to do it over, I would definitely pay full price for this jacket for how incredible it is!
Women’s 🔗: https://backcountry.rockporch.com/prdlink/8QoHHnWNdD
Men’s 🔗: https://backcountry.rockporch.com/mlink/521?userId=139518&redirectUrl=https%3a%2f%2fwww.backcountry.com%2fsearch%3fs%3du%26q%3drab%2bkinetic
💧Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Rain Jacket:
– 3 Layer system
– Weight: 12.4 oz
– Denier: 20D
– Waterproof Rating: 20,000mm
– Breathability: 4/5
💲Price: $179, on sale at REI about once a year
Women’s 🔗: https://alnk.to/aLIAKdL
Men’s 🔗: https://alnk.to/fwr3ef9
Rain Pants 🔗: https://alnk.to/5jl6kVZ
Kids 🔗: https://alnk.to/9mowTHV
Let me know in the comments which Rain Jacket YOU would pick, or if there’s another you recommend after your own extensive testing!
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Look at Paramo, love mine and it keeps me dry in all conditions. Super comfy and quiet. They don’t have a waterproof rating the same as others due to how they work but in the end you are dry. The6 also do lightweight versions.
Awesome and informative breakdown. Im looking to purchase my first rain jacket and want to do it right. Is there any reason you didnt choose gortex material? Thats what ive been looking at. TIA
thanks for a good and pleasant comparison/review! i’m 100% with you on not understanding why brands conceal certain key data for the products they sell… ofc we do know why: for profit. It’s easier to oversell an item for which you’re not transparent. But this should stop, arguably should be banned. It’s like if food or medical companies were allowed to sell you things without telling you the ingredients!
I have had several "breathable" rain jackets…. they never ever work. They always soak through.
The only jackets that work are 100% waterproof, non breathable jackets or ponchos.
I dont mind getting rained on while hiking in warm months. I change and put my rain gear on when done.
BTW, ponchos allow for great air circulation
VS the rain i mostly use a poncho, its quite cheap, light and compact.
I purchased a Patagonia Torrent this year and it’s a dud. The jacket "wets out" with any rain, meaning the water does not bead but soaks in. This happens even if the jacket is freshly washed. Also, the H2No logo started wearing away in the first month.
A very helpful video that comprehensively explains a rain jacket. This basically made my choice to purchase a rain jacket so easy. Kudos.
How do people find ounces a good measuring scale when we have grams I always wonder
Disney, why completely changed the story and keep the original title? Just make a new show.
(Woke Girl Boss telling her Magical Creatures [not slaves] what to do)
Could you also just use your hardshell? I’m loving my Himali Monsoon as it checks so many boxes. Admittedly, I don’t live in an area of the Country that gets a ton of rain.
Very comprehensive thank you, I agree I don’t get why many companies don’t publish specs of mm rating or breathability
What are your thoughts of the anti-gravity gear rain jacket?
Tog 24 make good jackets
Great advice here Shelby, awesome video ✌🏽
bring the rain Olympiaaaa xD
Then how would you explain why double Ventile cotton jacket are waterproof in real rain, even though the HH is only 500-700 mm?
What do you think of Helly-Hansen Crew midlayer sailing jacket with 5,000 mm? It’s good for snow or just a light rain?
I found out the hard way with rain jackets over the last 16 years of active hiking that it is never worth it to buy budget. The expensive jackets are expensive for a reason. I now have had an Arc’teryx Zeta hiking shell (that they discontinued a few years ago to push their Beta jacket). I got it for half the regular price by using Arc’teryx’s "Regear" portion of their website where they sell used gear and encourage everyone to send back their Arc’teryx gear to be resold if they are not going to use it or are going to upgrade because they don’t want their gear going into landfills. This has been the best of all the jackets I have ever had. It is rated at 20,000mm and 30,000 breathability. It uses the C-Knit backer which is really comfortable against the skin. Now, I also have Beyond Clothing rain shell that is excellent. But, it is thicker and stiffer. I believe it uses the Pertex membrane, if I remember correctly. I haven’t tested it in bad rain conditions on trail since my Arc’teryx Zeta shell lives in my hiking backpack. But, it is definitely heavier and bulkier than the Zeta shell, so it always feels amazing to go back to the Zeta!
Rab is another top end company. We just don’t see too much of their gear in the U.S., but in Europe and the UK especially they are like the number one outdoor company, as well as Montane. I would recommend that anyone looking for a good shell to be sure to check REI’s Outlet and Used sections of their website in order to find deals. And, also check Arc’teryx’s Regear section of their website for great deals.
You can share a 1 minute overview of all 4, I played at speed 2 and fast forwarded a bunch of times lol
Just a suggestion: bring up the lighting in your studio, looks dark and murky ❗️
Thank you for making this video. I appreciate your detail and expertise. I agree with you re: the REI Rainier jacket. I am surprised that REI sells it – it is the worst rain jacket I’ve used. I went to a 49er football game with steady, light rain. The brand new jacket wetted out after 20 minutes.
Based on your (and others) review, I plan to purchase the Torrentshell.
Have you heard of and tried Analogy Directional technology (like Páramo brand jackets)? This technology makes a lot of sense to me and would like your opinion.
I wish the Torrentshell would put on a better zipper and ditch those storm flaps
any thoughts on Outdoor Research 3L jackets?
The choice of rain jacket depends on each person’s hiking and climbing speed and habits. But I’d respect that each other’s judgments can be different.
Anytime someone recommends REI, I stop listening to anything they say after that.
6:47 can’t find that link?? 😢
hard to imagine a more in-depth review of the rain shell scene, thanks for all the info!
Montbell that is all
Good informative material for those buying a first waterproof jacket but, coming from the UK, I’m surprised by the figures. Over here anything below 10,000 units is considered showerproof rather than rainproof and most outdoors folks look for at least 20000 units (for both head and breathability) And your prices are way lower than we’d spend too. Anything below $200 is budget and a good jacket costs between $300 and $600. Also one of the most popular brands here is Paramo which is a non-shell based jacket, which relies on the jacket material pumping the water back out faster than it can come in (not to be confused with "breathability" which only passively allows water *vapour* to escape).
Great little breakdown. Articulated well. Cheers….well done
"Breathable"? Guess which test method a clothing manufacture uses to promote their products? In total, there are at least 13 recognized MVTR testing methods:
ASTM E96 (Desiccant Method and Water Method)
ASTM E398
ISO 15496
BS 7209
JIS L1099
Inverted Cup Method
Gravimetric Method
ASTM F1249
ISO 11092 (Ret or Hohenstein Test)
EN 31092
BS 3546
AATCC 127
JIS Z0208
Very well done video
The Torrentshell is amazing until you have to hike for a long time with it. The pockets lack waterproof zippers, and you end up with pools of water in them. I almost lost my phone, thankfully, I had it in a ziploc bag.
with what appears to be a DWR reformulation which means the stuff wears off in weeks or months now and the jacket treated wet out, i now have a £20 non breathable hooded Poncho to keep the worst of the rain off. My newest jacket was wetting out in a few months after purchase so DWR now compared to years ago hmmmmmmm perhaps its useless.
Thank you for posting this video, and for the explanations on all the different aspects of rain jackets.
I was about to go the Amazon way and make a big mistake. With this info, I can make a much more informed choice…. thanks !
All this talk about rain jackets, you should also carry a poncho. 10 essentials.
Poncho for the win
I bought the Helly Hansen Loke over the REI Rainer. Both on sale for around $70.
Screw this. I’m going back to garbage bags.😊
Thank you for posting this video! I bought my Patagonia Torrent Shell from Zappos back in 2014. It has served me so well over so many years and downpours! The unfortunate part is that the inner lining of my jacket has started to flake off and I tried to get it repaired by Patagonia, but they sent it back and said they can no fix it anymore. I want to find some way to self-repair it. For now, the neck area is delaminating a lot, but it still does it’s job!
Rab Downpour 2 is a great choice
I think you might be misleading on the Patagonia, look into it I believe it is Goretex but they call it something else an agreement with Gore….PFAS free we have to start going down that road for future generations.
Arc’teryx
Tjanks , very informative, aboit to pirchase the Patagonia 3L , love the orange also
Any thoughts of Aspire 3L Jacket? I always read amazing things about it but am curious if you’ve tried it and have thoughts on it.
Black Diamond Stormline stretch (now the “Fineline”) is one of my favorite bits of kit. 2.5 layer system, 10,000 mm, pit zips, sub 10 oz. Highly recommend!
I have had a REI Rainier Rain Jacket in March 2024, and it doesn’t repel water anymore. This jacket fits great however, how do the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Jackets fit regarding "tall" ? I’m not sure how this would differ on ladies sizes. Any idea?
In Ireland I have yet to find a jacket that does not wet out after several hours of rain, which is typical of the irish weather. My simple solution is for this is when downpours occur during day long rain showers I throw on a €2 poncho for an hour
Helly Hansen marine grade rain jacket & bib are 100% waterproof. Only wearable below 55F – 14C. This is for backcountry hunting & camping from fall to spring. Worn on Alaskan crab boats