Ultimate Rain Jacket / Pants ??

[ekloco]

What are people using for rain gear that is fairly ultra light but still durable and cycling specific ??
I am not racing or ultra-endurance...just weekend warrior + vaction time. Location... Northern NM
My "system" = 1 cycling clothes...2 tights top+bottom...3 Montbell UL down pants + jacket...4 Rain Jacket + pants
Soooo....with my rain suit being the outermost layer, it will probably take the mst abuse therefore light wight and DURABLE is the criteria

[AZTtripper]

I have Sierra Designs quick dry stuff it is plenty durable not entirely waterproof but the price was right. I also carry an ultralight  poncho worse case scenario I have to get under that http://www.seatosummit.com/products/display/6 it was a little pricey but it works good as a bivy shelter as well

[the_mc5]

I'm curious about this too. I've found several satisfying jersey-pocket-packable and bike-centric jackets like Marmot Super Mica and Showers Pass Elite and Pro Tech.

But all the pants are not as packable, seem overbuilt. I like eVent, but for example the Showers Pass eVent pants (which are at my LBS, but I don't see on their website anymore) get extra burly and bulky below the knee. The pant ends up way less packable than the jacket, where I'd expect the reverse. I've heard of folks modifying them to knickers...

So - pants?

[Mr.Pink]

I just bought the super mica and I am pleased with the purchase. I just got to use it in the rain the other day and like it much more than my old precip jacket. It packs down awesome and breaths slightly better then the precip. I was really looking for the event fabric in a jacket but all the jackets I found were pretty heavy or had no pit zips.If  you don' t care about pit zips then checkout the RAB line of rain jackets with event fabric.

[ekloco]

E.K.Loco here,

I have done a bit of research in "all my spare time".

 I found that the GoreTex "PacLite" material is the one to have. ArcTeryx and other high-end manufacturers use it on their $200 plus jackets.  As far as I can tell it is breathable.... light.... and packable more than anything else out there.  It is not a substantial difference, but every little bit helps.

 I did a search on eBay for "PacLite" and there are quite a few options.... I purchased a jacket that had hand pockets, pit zips and cargo pouches in the back.... for $120 delivered.
It's still a wee bit pricey, but if it's the coolest stuff on the planet, I will be happy. I am also tracking down some pants of the same material.

Due to the fact that I live in New Mexico not Oregon... I decided that rain gear was not an "all day every day" item and that I could forgo the durability issue...time will tell.

If anyone has experience with "PacLite" that they would like to share... I would love to hear it.

Thanks,   E. K Loco

PS..... I just packed up my bike for an overnighter..... tent, sleeping bag, air mattress, water purifier, food, warm clothing, rain gear,...... 10 pounds on the bicycle and 8 pounds on my back.... not including water.

[patrickTsai]

i use:

Outdoor Research Foray Rain Jacket
Arc'Terx Alpha SL Rain Pants

both are Gore-Tex® PacLite®, they pack well and keep the water out.

[Rob]

I'm curious about this too. I've found several satisfying jersey-pocket-packable and bike-centric jackets like Marmot Super Mica and Showers Pass Elite and Pro Tech.

But all the pants are not as packable, seem overbuilt. I like eVent, but for example the Showers Pass eVent pants (which are at my LBS, but I don't see on their website anymore) get extra burly and bulky below the knee. The pant ends up way less packable than the jacket, where I'd expect the reverse. I've heard of folks modifying them to knickers...

So - pants?

I talked to Showers Pass about the pants and they said they are coming out with a new design for the pants. Hopefully they'll be more packable.
I'm not sure of the release date.

[thook]

Just curious.........

Has Gore-Tex gotten any better? Maybe it's not just Gore, per se, but I've had a number of waterproof items (jackets, pants, shoes......the like) over the years and most of them Gore items. What I've noticed is that there's a point when the water repellent barrier just breaks down and the item wets out no matter the replenishment of water repellancy. I managed to stay dry with most of the products because of the interior liner(a Moonstone jacket and Montrail boots would be the exceptions), but it just kinda sucks getting water logged exterior wise. I have tried all the recommended products (Never had any good results with Nikwax, btw), and I've asked around about maybe I'm doing something wrong. PVC is the only thing that's been really, really reliable. The downside being, of course, no breathability. I will say there's nothing like my Gore-tex XCR jacket in the winter riding months. A bit of Patagonia or other fleece insulation and I stay warm with no windchill. The jacket stills wets out, but......

[keywee]

I've been using a RAB Momentum jacket this past winter through everything from thunderstorms to -10C. I'm pretty slim and so the fit isn't quite right, but I can recommend the eVent fabric used. It's also no UL, but the protection it's provided is worth the 100g IMO. This is my second eVent jacket (after I lost my first RAB Drillium), and it's comfortable for longer whilst exercising.

Any other suggestions for a slimmer fit (eVent fabric ofcourse)?

[eec]

I've been using a RAB Momentum jacket this past winter through everything from thunderstorms to -10C. I'm pretty slim and so the fit isn't quite right, but I can recommend the eVent fabric used. It's also no UL, but the protection it's provided is worth the 100g IMO. This is my second eVent jacket (after I lost my first RAB Drillium), and it's comfortable for longer whilst exercising.

I am not familiar with RAB products whatsoever, but after doing some digging around they seem to be pretty top notch, on par with the big names. Anyone else have any experience with their gear, specifically their waterproof shells?

[B@se]

I've owned (and own) to many WWB (Wind-waterproof Breatable) jackets. My current jackets I use most are:
Arc zeta ar, Montane Minumus, Marmot Precip jacket, Bontrager eVent jacket, Bontrager stowaway jacket, Mountain Hardwear Argon Jacket... and some others.

eVent jacket is by far the best breathable jacket, the Montane pertex jacket seconds that. The Arc' jacket goes with me when I am camping out with just the big-backpack while hiking. Smallest Bontrager jacket breaths the least but is very small and neon-yellow thats my jackets to go to my work. Precip jacket is somewhere in the middle, bit heavier, bulkier and more city orientated. the MH os my currentl oldest jacket (7 years in use) and goes with met in bad weather when I do not want to use my Arc jacket.

When I am going some where not waring a WWB jacket but expect the chance to spend much time outside I take my Montane with me, fit is superb, breathes wery good.

Also owned some stuff from RAB, as they are Brittish (like Montane, Berghaus) they do know a thing or 2 about faul weather... they are really rock solid, good stuff at the right price points. Fit and finnish are great.

Pants are a mix, use a Precip pant most of the time, sometimes use a fullside zipped TNF pant with stuf on it that they cannot call Gore (its the same stuff) and it lasts for year (17 years now if Iam correct). also some tighter fitted gore trouwsers, brand... dunno.

Cheers

Bas