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Since we have had rain / snow / or sleet almost everyday for the last 5 weeks and 4 days (it is getting old) , it has given me an opportunity to do a lot of rain wear testing and comparison. To be honest, I have usually looked at rainwear as something to avoid unless I really had to, I suspect most of this attitude was based on waterproof breathables that usually left me wet on the inside years ago, thus I have usually used anything I could to avoid them (poncho, wind jacket, etc). I have also used kilts, and "dancing pants" to avoid waterproof pants. Over the last few weeks, though , most of these items don't cut it, so I have used it as an opportunity to further refine my kit. Now what works for one person, may not work for everyone , but I'm just curious what has worked. I have found a couple pieces that have worked well enough to be happy with, though most of the others I have tried have still left me wanting / or trying to avoid , or changing what I do.

What works for you ?

I use kryptek Poseidon pant and jacket,the pant are awesone,long zippers on sides,no need to take off your boots or shoes,its quick,lightweight and take no place,i can stuff them in a kifaru large belt pouch.This is what its working good for me.

I've been using a Marmot PreCip jacket for years and have been very happy with it.


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I did not have good luck with a precip jacket. It would wet out from the inside. Perhaps it has improved over the years.

I've been using Kuiu Chugach NX rain gear for the last year and a half or so and so far so good. It's no where near as light as my Precip gear, but it does breath very well and has kept me dry in some moderately heavy rains.

I walk in the rain a lot here in coastal Akaska. I've tried multiple versions of about every fabric out there. The main thing is that the jacket has pit zips and that you use them, and that the DWR coating stays repellent. As soon as the fabric wets out, all vapor transport stops. Active venting in the pit zips and out the collar will keep you as comfy as can be hoped for.

The Neoshell jackets I have owned breathed incredibly well, but I only get a year of use out of them before the waterproofing seems to break sown. It's a shame, because when the fabric works, it works better than anything out there. Westcomb makes nice Neoshell stuff.

I've not been very impressed with eVent stuff. I seem to get damp under pack straps and hip belt contact points in it, using both the 2 and 3 layer versions. I have a new Zpacks eVent jacket I hope will perform well, but I'm not sure yet.

I have never had good luck with Marmot Precip. Too plastic-y, and I get wet from sweat.

I have a Marmot Essence shell which uses their Nanopro membrane which breathes quite well, but I can't comment on durability, though it has been very waterproof in the few outings I used it on. I am saving it for trips.

Gore tex is still the most durably waterproof fabric I have used, but it does not breath the best. The new Active Shell fabric is okay if the jacket has pit zips. My most reliable jacket now is a Marmot Superlight from Sierratradingpost.com. You can get them for about $150 with a coupon discount. Nice fit, durable DWR, and usable pit zips. That's my day-to-day rain gear.

My legs don't sweat, so I just get some Gore Paclite pants on sale and call it good.

Thanks , you definitely live the wet conditions a lot more than I . I found the first lite shell worked very well for me ,but it's relatively robust and heavy . It was the only one I had , I did not mind wearing when it stopped raining . I recently acquired a DryQ Elite one and it seems to work pretty well, but I have not had the opportunity to test in continuous slop since our weather has changed. None of the other shells were very impressive as far as breath ability


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I have a zpacks cuben poncho on the way. We will see how that works.

Got the zpack poncho in a good downpour. I could wear it with my pack on and it didn't sweat me. I was really glad I got it!