Opinions on shell jackets?

Hi all!

My current rain jacket is starting to be in a pretty bad shape and it
also takes a lot of space, so I need a new one. Since I often travel
light (with just a relatively small backpack), I have been thinking
that maybe the best option for me would be to get what I think is
traditionally called a shell jacket: a rain coat with very little
functionality that fits into a small space (no pockets or other gizmos
ala wading jackets).

I have Simms waders and boots, and I've found them to be pretty good
buys. So I took a look at what Simms has to offer, and found their
Paclite series: a jacket and a pullover. I am going to visit Canada
(BC) in December and thought of buying the jacket there. I contacted a
local shop and they told me that all they have available is the
pullover. So that's my strongest option right now.

However, since I have no personal experience on these products, it
would be valuable to hear from those who have used them. The criteria
that I have for the jacket are as follows: it should fit into a small
space, be breathable and durable, and have camouflage coloring (not,
say, bright red). I guess that's about it. Any personal info on the
Simms jackets or competing products would be much appreciated. Thanks.

--
Jarmo Hurri

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"Jarmo Hurri" wrote in message
...

Hi all!

My current rain jacket is starting to be in a pretty bad shape and it
also takes a lot of space, so I need a new one. Since I often travel
light (with just a relatively small backpack), I have been thinking
that maybe the best option for me would be to get what I think is
traditionally called a shell jacket: a rain coat with very little
functionality that fits into a small space (no pockets or other gizmos
ala wading jackets).

I have Simms waders and boots, and I've found them to be pretty good
buys. So I took a look at what Simms has to offer, and found their
Paclite series: a jacket and a pullover. I am going to visit Canada
(BC) in December and thought of buying the jacket there. I contacted a
local shop and they told me that all they have available is the
pullover. So that's my strongest option right now.

However, since I have no personal experience on these products, it
would be valuable to hear from those who have used them. The criteria
that I have for the jacket are as follows: it should fit into a small
space, be breathable and durable, and have camouflage coloring (not,
say, bright red). I guess that's about it. Any personal info on the
Simms jackets or competing products would be much appreciated. Thanks.

--
Jarmo Hurri

Commercial email countermeasures included in header email
address. Remove all garbage from header email address when replying,
or just use .

You might take a look at frog togs.com

john

Jarmo Hurri wrote:
Hi all!

My current rain jacket is starting to be in a pretty bad shape and it
also takes a lot of space, so I need a new one.
snip
However, since I have no personal experience on these products, it
would be valuable to hear from those who have used them. The criteria
that I have for the jacket are as follows: it should fit into a small
space, be breathable and durable, and have camouflage coloring (not,
say, bright red). I guess that's about it. Any personal info on the
Simms jackets or competing products would be much appreciated. Thanks.

In addition to your criteria I want a rain jacket to have
pit zips, (I sweat a lot), a hood that is comfortable when
I wear it and rolls out of the way when I want to wear a
rain hat, and most important to me elastic *and* velcro
at the wrists, I cannot stand to have water running up my
arm every time I lift a canoe paddle out of the water.

The best rain jackets I've ever found is Marmot and I highly
recommend them.

http://www.marmot.com/products/subca...loth&subcat=34

--
Ken Fortenberry

"Jarmo Hurri" wrote...

Hi all!

My current rain jacket is starting to be in a pretty bad shape and it
also takes a lot of space, so I need a new one. Since I often travel
light (with just a relatively small backpack), I have been thinking
that maybe the best option for me would be to get what I think is
traditionally called a shell jacket: a rain coat with very little
functionality that fits into a small space (no pockets or other gizmos
ala wading jackets).

I have Simms waders and boots, and I've found them to be pretty good
buys. So I took a look at what Simms has to offer, and found their
Paclite series: a jacket and a pullover. I am going to visit Canada
(BC) in December and thought of buying the jacket there. I contacted a
local shop and they told me that all they have available is the
pullover. So that's my strongest option right now.

However, since I have no personal experience on these products, it
would be valuable to hear from those who have used them. The criteria
that I have for the jacket are as follows: it should fit into a small
space, be breathable and durable, and have camouflage coloring (not,
say, bright red). I guess that's about it. Any personal info on the
Simms jackets or competing products would be much appreciated. Thanks.

--
Jarmo Hurri


I've been a backpacker far longer than I've been a fly fisher, and have
found a couple things about lightweight rainwear to be true:

First, there is no such thing a 'breathable' -- just varying degrees of
sauna-like Hell. Marmot's Precip fabric and Mountain Hardwear's Conduit do a
pretty good job of keeping the sweat misery to a minimum. This may be due to
the fact that I sweat like a whore in church, so YMMV....

Second, durability is important. My Precip jacket has been around a while.
It's been thru what would have shredded many other light weight rain
jackets, and came out no worse for wear.

Third, no brand/model is perfect. Picking one is kind of like finding the
one that sucks the least.

Specific brand experience...

I had a cheap Sierra Designs 'Backpacker' raincoat -- ripped under my pack.
The shoulder strap just tore thru the fabric. Junk. About as durable as
wearing a plastic grocery bag. Not even worth the 20 dollars I spent. Their
tents are outstanding. Their rainwear sucks.

Had a Frogg Toggs set -- feels like DuPont Tyvek with a paint job. If you
are not going to encounter any situations where the material may get poked,
abraded, etc. then these might be for you, as they are very lightweight. If
however, you fish/hike in the 'real world', avoid these, also. Mine lasted
two hikes. The pants went bye-bye when crossing a downed tree. The coat's
elbow seams came apart. More junk.

Had a set of Red Ledge rainwear -- absolute ****e. The seam tape delaminated
after less than 10 wearings. The waterproof coating flaked off soon there
after. Quality control at the factory consists of a drunk monkey. Burned
this set in the camp fire.

Got the Precip set -- jacket and full-zip pants. So far, happy with these.
Not cheap (around US$225 for the set), but as you can see, I've wasted a bit
of money in the past. Wish I had purchased these first. My set has a few
hundred trail miles on it, and is still in decent shape. The pants have the
breathability of an old canvas tent, but they are durable and light. And,
the rainpants don't go on until the weather is really horrible, anyway. The
jacket is actually not bad. The armpit vents are great, the hood is
reasonable, and it weighs something along the lines of 13 ounces, size XL.

While in Canada, look around for a Mountain Equipment Co-Op Store.
Outstanding reputation. I've never shopped there, but some Canucks on a
backpacking board I read rave about it.

www.mec.ca

Good luck.

Dan

"Jarmo Hurri" wrote in message
...

Hi all!

My current rain jacket is starting to be in a pretty bad shape and it
also takes a lot of space, so I need a new one. Since I often travel
light (with just a relatively small backpack), I have been thinking
that maybe the best option for me would be to get what I think is
traditionally called a shell jacket: a rain coat with very little
functionality that fits into a small space (no pockets or other gizmos
ala wading jackets).
(stuff snipped)

Hi Jarmo,
I have "several" rain jackets. You might want to check out Cabela's. Not
the fly fishing catalog, but one that has to do with hunting. I have a
camo one that fits in to one of the pockets of the jacket itself. Quite
light and has always worked for me. When you get into the frosty weather
though, make sure you have the " other" stuff underneath. (but heck . . .I'm
sure it doesn't get frosty where you are
BestWishes,
DaveMohnsen
Denver
(Don Stern of the Swedish clave says hi. He has used a Cabela's version to
British Columbia, Costa Rica, and of course here in Colorado, and says they
work fine)

"Jarmo Hurri" wrote in message
...

Hi all!

My current rain jacket is starting to be in a pretty bad shape and it
also takes a lot of space, so I need a new one. Since I often travel
light (with just a relatively small backpack), I have been thinking
that maybe the best option for me would be to get what I think is
traditionally called a shell jacket: a rain coat with very little
functionality that fits into a small space (no pockets or other gizmos
ala wading jackets).

//snip//

I guess it depends on exactly how you plan to use it. I keep a Helly Hansen
shell in the back pocket of my vest which I use only when fishing - not
usually while hiking. It wads up into a very small space. I can put up with
a good bit of rain without it, but when I need it it fits over my vest so
there's plenty of room underneath it and breathability is not that critical.
I can also take it out of the pocket and put it on quickly without having to
remove the vest. It doesn't have pockets or velcro. It has strong elastic
wrist bands that keep most of the water from running down my sleeve when I
cast.

Somebody gave me a fedora-style hat last Christmas. I put off using it for a
long time because I thought it made me look too much like I stepped out of
an Orvis catalog, but it does a great job of keeping the rain from running
down my neck. And in hot weather I soak the hat in water and it does a great
job of cooling.

--
Bob Patton

Dave,

Next time you see him say hi from me.

/Roger Ohlund
2003-2004 Lapland clavemeister

In article ,
says...

Hi all!

My current rain jacket is starting to be in a pretty bad shape and it
also takes a lot of space, so I need a new one. Since I often travel
light (with just a relatively small backpack), I have been thinking
that maybe the best option for me would be to get what I think is
traditionally called a shell jacket: a rain coat with very little
functionality that fits into a small space (no pockets or other gizmos
ala wading jackets).

I've had good luck with the Marmot Precip. Only downside is that it
provides very little warmth. For hiking it's ideal, but for fishing
I usually wind up having to add another layer underneath unless it's
really warm out. I have a Marmot softshell which is warm, breathable
and water resistant. Cool and lightly raining I just wear the
softshell, cool and raining hard I put the precip over the softshell,
warm and raining just wear the precip. Both have pitzips so you can
provide as much or little ventilation as you need.

My $0.02,
- Ken

Jarmo Hurri wrote:
Hi all!

My current rain jacket is starting to be in a pretty bad shape and it
also takes a lot of space, so I need a new one. Since I often travel
light (with just a relatively small backpack), I have been thinking
that maybe the best option for me would be to get what I think is
traditionally called a shell jacket: a rain coat with very little
functionality that fits into a small space (no pockets or other gizmos
ala wading jackets).

I have Simms waders and boots, and I've found them to be pretty good
buys. So I took a look at what Simms has to offer, and found their
Paclite series: a jacket and a pullover. I am going to visit Canada
(BC) in December and thought of buying the jacket there. I contacted a
local shop and they told me that all they have available is the
pullover. So that's my strongest option right now.

However, since I have no personal experience on these products, it
would be valuable to hear from those who have used them. The criteria
that I have for the jacket are as follows: it should fit into a small
space, be breathable and durable, and have camouflage coloring (not,
say, bright red). I guess that's about it. Any personal info on the
Simms jackets or competing products would be much appreciated. Thanks.


I ditto Dan & Ken's opinions on the Marmot Precip. I just used it last
Thurs on the river. The only drawback for fishing purposes is, the lack
on big pockets, and the length for deep wading. I also have a very
compact rain shell by Marmot. It will pack down smaller than a tennis
ball. I keep it in my vest, just in case. It's minimal protection, but
has kept me dry during a couple surprise thunderstorms.

I have a non Gortex, Cabelas wading jacket. It's very
comfortable..........uhh, it's very comfortable.........doesn't keep me
dry anymore, but it's very comfortable.......holds water like a sponge,
but it's very comfy. It also has a bunch of velcro that has a mind of
it's own, but it's really a comfortable jacket to wear. FWIW, I think it
needs to be cleaned and re-treated with a water repellent.

brians

Daniel-San First, there is no such thing a 'breathable' -- just
Daniel-San varying degrees of sauna-like Hell. ... This may be due to
Daniel-San the fact that I sweat like a whore in church, so YMMV....

My mileage is just the same, so I would tend to agree. However, if I
basically don't move, then a breathable garment might keep me dry.

Daniel-San Second, durability is important.

Agreed.

Daniel-San Specific brand experience...

Daniel-San I had a cheap Sierra Designs 'Backpacker' raincoat
Daniel-San ... Their rainwear sucks.

Ok...

Daniel-San Had a Frogg Toggs set ... More junk.

Ok...

Daniel-San Had a set of Red Ledge rainwear -- absolute
Daniel-San ****e. ... Quality control at the factory consists of a
Daniel-San drunk monkey. Burned this set in the camp fire.

Great...

Daniel-San Got the Precip set -- jacket and full-zip pants. So far,
Daniel-San happy with these.

Based on what you and others are saying, that seems to be a solid
option. They're not too expensive either.

Daniel-San While in Canada, look around for a Mountain Equipment
Daniel-San Co-Op Store. Outstanding reputation. I've never shopped
Daniel-San there, but some Canucks on a backpacking board I read rave
Daniel-San about it. www.mec.ca

Good idea. Their products do look impressive. Mountain Equipment Co-Op
would also be an easy option since they seem to have a store in
Vancouver, and Marmot seems to have dealers there so I can basically
decide when I see the products.

Thanks for your input, much appreciated.

--
Jarmo Hurri

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address. Remove all garbage from header email address when replying,
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