Rain Jacket Reccomendations ( Buyer Be Ware)

[Chase_Rowdy]

Last week I went out to buy a new rain jacket and stopped by REI. The last couple times I'd been there the customer service was horrible; no one knew anything about the products in their sections. This time was different. Or so I thought. A sales person showed me a bunch of jackets and ultimately recommend the Mammut Tatoosh, on sale for $165. He said he had the same jacket and loved it. After wavering between a couple options I went with it, based on his personal experience. The jacket was compactable, fit well, had the options I was looking for and looked good. It worked great last weekend on the Tour D'Abyss in perfect conditions and I was very pleased.

However, on Wednesday, I decided to use it to go to the store in some very light rain in Golden. It was exposed to rain for less than 3 minutes ,and before I knew it, water soaked straight into the jacket. It sucks the water straight through, creating a dimple with each drop. I was furious, but thankful that this happened in town and not backpacking or on a peak. If I had gotten soaked miles into the backcountry it could have been a very serious situation. I promptly returned the jacket and will never do business with REI or Mammut again. There are many reviews online I found that all have the same issue, yet REI still carries the jacket and was recommend it personally.

Rant/


So, I am in need of a new jacket before I head the San Juans' for a week on Monday. I want something similar; a light-weight, compactable, technical shell that has pit zips, for around the same price. Only difference is that I want this one to work. It also needs to be helmet compatible and fits well for climbing. What are your recommendations?


Chase

[Bill Cummings]

Check out this recent thread:

http://www.14ers.com/forum/viewtopic.ph ... ain+jacket

[Chase_Rowdy]

Check out this recent thread:

http://www.14ers.com/forum/viewtopic.ph ... ain+jacket

I already had read through this, but can't afford 300+ on a jacket, and don't need it to be ultralight. It needs to be durable for scrambling/climbing

[ajkagy]

pony up and get some goretex or similar fabric with a 20k+ nm water resistant rating/breath-ability rating, otherwise cheaper jackets will eventually soak through with a long rain. No tech fabric that is breathable will be waterproof. If you want waterproof get a cheap plastic poncho.

With that being said you'll still need to tech wash your rain jackets. Use this: https://www.rei.com/product/724687/nikw ... h-10-fl-oz" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[polar]

Your experience with REI is pretty much how I feel about them as well. They used to have experienced staff knowledgeable with their product, now most of them give you a deer in a headlight look when you ask them a question. I rarely buy anything from REI anymore, unless I see a really good deal.

As far as Mammut goes, my feeling is a little mixed. Mammut makes some of the best climbing ropes in the industry, so that gives them quite a bit of cred in my mind. I have one of their harness, which I like a lot except for some minor issues with the leg loops. But I had a Mammut avalanche probe that pretty much fell apart on the first use. Luckily it was in an avalanche class and not in a real avalanche situation, otherwise it would've been very bad.

I have not used any of their clothing, so can't speak about that. But it's interesting that if you google Mammut Tatoosh, you won't find it anywhere except REI. It's not even on Mammut's web site. So I'm wondering if it's a el-crapo jacket Mammut made specifically for REI, with below average quality and construction. Just a thought.

I feel that in Colorado, it really doesn't rain that much for that long to need a bombproof rain jacket. I have a couple of gore-tex and eVent jackets that pretty much just sit in the closet these days and rarely come out. In winter time I use a softshell most of the time, in the summer time I have an OR Helium jacket that usually just stay in my pack.

[pmeadco]

Check out this recent thread:

http://www.14ers.com/forum/viewtopic.ph ... ain+jacket

I already had read throug this, but can't afford 300+ on a jacket, and don't need it to be ultralight. It needs to be durable for scrambling/climbing

The OR Helium is not a $300 jacket. You should be able to pick one up for less than half that if you watch for sales. I've been using one for a couple years. Very compact and lightweight. I haven't experienced a complete downpour with it so I can't comment on how well it does when thoroughly soaked, but it has done well for me so far. Couple a jacket like that with a puffy and you have a very versatile and lightweight setup.

[onebyone]

$5-10 poncho is what I use. Light and bomb proof to water.

[Chase_Rowdy]

I have shopped at REI since I was a kid and have slowly watched their decline from specialist to Walmart-like, sell as many products as possible, ideals. There are far too many other retailers to keep my allegiance to them, especially after being "sold" on a completely inferior product that they knew had issues.

I use my rain jacket 80% of the time as a warmth layer around camp or on windy hikes/summits. Which is why I like one that has good ventilation/breathability.

I agree about it not being super wet here ( which is funny to say as its pouring out right now), but still don't want to get soaked and wind frozen up high. I know there no such thing as waterproof AND breathable, but I know there's better products that find a nice balance between the two. That's also why I prefer pit zips and other methods of ventalation to aid in circulating the moisture out of the jacket.

So far the OR helium has been recommend. What else?

[dsr1986]

With that being said you'll still need to tech wash your rain jackets. Use this: https://www.rei.com/product/724687/nikw ... h-10-fl-oz" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Not to hijack the thread, but my rain jacket hasn't been washed in probably over 10 years. It's finally starting to wet through during a heavy rain. I stay "dry" but not the same as when it was new. Will this product introduce the waterproofing back, or will it just clean the jacket in order to promote whatever waterproofing is left?

Even though I know this jacket has had a long life, I'm not ready to get rid of it just yet.

[ajkagy]

With that being said you'll still need to tech wash your rain jackets. Use this: https://www.rei.com/product/724687/nikw ... h-10-fl-oz" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Not to hijack the thread, but my rain jacket hasn't been washed in probably over 10 years. It's finally starting to wet through during a heavy rain. I stay "dry" but not the same as when it was new. Will this product introduce the waterproofing back, or will it just clean the jacket in order to promote whatever waterproofing is left?

Even though I know this jacket has had a long life, I'm not ready to get rid of it just yet.

all rain jackets are treated with a DWR (durable water resistant) finish on the fibers which makes the water bead and fall off the jacket. Over time that DWR finish will wear off, but the jacket will still repeal that water in the interior, but it might get wet on the exterior.

This explains it really well: https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice ... r-dwr.html

To answer your question, yes it works amazingly, it's like having a brand new jacket again. I usually wash my jackets in it once a year or whenever they seem like the water won't bead off anymore.

[Chase_Rowdy]

With that being said you'll still need to tech wash your rain jackets. Use this: https://www.rei.com/product/724687/nikw ... h-10-fl-oz" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Not to hijack the thread, but my rain jacket hasn't been washed in probably over 10 years. It's finally starting to wet through during a heavy rain. I stay "dry" but not the same as when it was new. Will this product introduce the waterproofing back, or will it just clean the jacket in order to promote whatever waterproofing is left?

Even though I know this jacket has had a long life, I'm not ready to get rid of it just yet.

It depends on what type of jacket it is ( what is it by the way, since it's served you so well?). If the waterproof membrane has deteriorated then there's not much you can do. Techwash was is a Durable Water Repellent that is an "outer coating". It will help, but if the membrane is gone it will only do so much. Either way, washing the jacket will more than likely make a big difference. It cleans out the dirt and contaminants out of the pours allowing the jacket to work properly. My Burton AK Gore-Tex gear was starting to wet out, and a wash ( properly done ) restored the jacket to new functionality and looks.

[ajkagy]

If the waterproof membrane has deteriorated then there's not much you can do. Techwash was is a Durable Water Repellent that is an "outer coating". It will help, but if the membrane is gone it will only do so much.

if the coating is worn down (super old jacket) you'll need more than just the wash.

You'll need this to re-apply the coating: http://www.nikwax.com/en-us/products/pr ... ricid=1174