Don't tell Tim Shuff I said this, but the rain is getting on my case here in BC - endless. So, anyone had any luck with the newer lightweight, breathable, waterproof rain jackets for camping duty while coastal kayaking? I have to pack tight with a Nordkapp and find a full-blown rain jacket way too cumbersome. I tried taking along something in-between last year on some trips, namely a non-breathable, but waterproofed nylon jacket with built in rain hood, but it was bulky and a mess to roll up and store wet. Traditionally in the past, I've often simply relied on by paddling jacket and a rain hat while camping in the rain, setting up tarps, walking along the beach in the rain, etc, but the lack of hood and clamminess of a drytop is a real drag. I picked up a couple of new jackets today ($450.00 for the two). One's for off-road riding, and the other is for commuting in the rain, but it is a multisport jacket, so should be good for hiking, around town, and as a nice, compressible, backup rain jacket for kayaking. With a hood that articulates better than anything I've tried to date, and waterproof routing for a personal listening device and hydration system, it's state of the art. However, even with the 10,000mm waterproof rating, I wonder if I'd have been better off with a Marmot or North Face product (though they don't cross-over well to cycling). Here's the website for the Aquamax jacket: http://www.raceface.com/clothing/ What success have other paddlers had with pack-tight, waterproof but breathable rain jackets, or do folks buy the paddling jackets that come with the hoods, maybe. Doug Lloyd Victoria BC *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> What success have other paddlers had with pack-tight, waterproof but > breathable rain jackets, or do folks buy the paddling jackets that come with > the hoods, maybe. Paddling jacket is breathable through its chest opening, which is often zipped up when you need it as a rain jacket. Those from CDN 300 and up can breath through their fabric as well, but I'm afraid it wouldn't be much fun for me if to breath through 3-ply fabric, even if it costs over 300 :-). *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I just picked up a breathable waterproof jacket from Campmor for $49US. Called the Red Ledge Thunderlight it has gotten good reviews and is only 12oz. I needed a new rainshell for the upcoming trip to Vietnam and Cambodia. For the price it's hard to go wrong. http://www.campmor.com/webapp/commerce/command/ProductDisplay ?prrfnbr=3192609&prmenbr=226 -Patrick *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
>> Red Ledge Thunderlight it has gotten good reviews and is only 12oz. << I second the Red Ledge jacket. I have the jacket that has pit zips and good vents and pants, which zip up the outside be both legs. Breathable is good for when you are sitting around NOT generating a lot of perspiration as there a limit to how fast moisture can move. You sweat faster that it evaporates even with nothing on at times. That said, I really like the gear. The jacket is short enough that I can use it to paddle in as I don't yet have a paddling shell, and when un-zipped the pants are like having shorts on, but you can quickly zip up when that downpour happens. In the fall when water temps are moderate I wear poly long johns and the rain gear for wind breaks hiking, climbing and paddling. If I go for a swim the poly/raingear is sorta like a wet suit. And at that price, if I rip it on sharp rock or some pro, I've not lost that much, provided I can find a replacement. Cheers, Carey *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> I just picked up a breathable waterproof jacket from Campmor for > $49US. Called the Red Ledge Thunderlight it has gotten good reviews > and is only 12oz. I needed a new rainshell for the upcoming trip to > Vietnam and Cambodia. For the price it's hard to go wrong. > > http://www.campmor.com/webapp/commerce/command/ProductDisplay > ?prrfnbr=3192609&prmenbr=226 > Not all of them quote waterproofness in mm. Those that Doug has found are Freeride for CDN 150 (USD 120) with 3,000 rating and Aquamax for CDN 300 (USD 230) with 10,000 rating. I have found locally in Vancouver (still remote for Doug :-) something similar breathable in Tayga store booklet (they don't have a webpage), for CDN 100 (USD 70) with rating 2,000, weight 15 oz. Miracles usually don't happen, and without rating for Red Ledge Thunderlight (CDN 63 now, regular price CDN 75) I would suspect it to have waterproof rating less than 10,000 but perhaps no less than 2,000. There is also a question what will become of 10,000-rated material after couple of seasons of use (this isn't a $10 PVC jacket, that leaks only when it is punctured). Campmor online store is treacherous for canadians, btw - their canadian counterpartner makes profits on shippping apparently. Shipping of 12 oz Thunderlight costs CDN 28 (USD 22), for example. Alex. PS: there was a suggestion to use rain jacket as a paddling shell - I've got impression that rain jackets would leak through cuffs without gussets in a heavy rain, because hands are raised periodically. At least those that I tried, did that. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2003 23:33:39 -0800 > From: "Doug Lloyd" <dalloyd_at_telus.net> > Subject: [Paddlewise] Weatherproof Jacket > > Don't tell Tim Shuff I said this, but the rain is getting on my case here in > BC - endless. So, anyone had any luck with the newer lightweight, > breathable, waterproof rain jackets for camping duty while coastal kayaking? I'm a fan of carrying one really good jacket for one-water and in-camp. In the clothing system I used for paddling the coast in summer I had one of the new Gore-Tex touring jackets with latex wrist gaskets and a sprayskirt tunnel with an open collar and hood. I wore a wetsuit and slipped this jacket on for snotty days. It doubled as a great storm-proof raincoat in camp. Once I had the camp set up I'd usually change clothes and wore an insulated windbreaker for lounging around under the kitchen tarp. This was a great system and I don't think you can do any better for keeping dry than to wear one of these jackets, which is essentially a drytop with a hood instead of a neck gasket. If I was doing serious paddling in winter or planning to spend some time upside down I would consider doing the same system with a Gore-Tex expedition drysuit ($$$$!). I think bringing a rain jacket is redundant and just leaves you with one more piece of wet gear to pack away. Tim Shuff Editor www.adventurekayakmag.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
>Doug Lloyd pondered: > http://www.raceface.com/clothing/ > > What success have other paddlers had with pack-tight, waterproof but > breathable rain jackets, or do folks buy the paddling jackets that come > with the hoods, maybe. Doug, Last spring I picked up a very reasonably priced breathable paddling jacket made by a company called White Rapids. While this is not a dry top (the sleeves and neck are neoprene and Velcro, it does keep me remarkably dry even while practicing rolling. The original one I purchased had some sort of a manufacturing defect and it failed after about 5 or 6 wearings---HOWEVER, the manufacturer and the retailer (Southwind Kayaks) completely stood by the product and it has been replaced by a new and improved version. The seams are all double sewn, taped, and heat treated. There is a double tunnel and the elbows are even padded. I have worn this in the rain and stayed completely dry and almost completely dry while practicing rolls (I don't consider a teaspoon of water in the arms as a problem). Price was very reasonable at about $100 US. This jacket doesn't have a hood, but I find my Tilley keeps my noggin dry as long as my boat stays upright and we are not rolling. ;-) Steve Holtzman *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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