Comparison review: Comparing ultra-lightweight rainwear from the perspective of a girl who loves mountains
Written by Mioko Matsubara
NORRONA bitihorn ultralight dri3 Jacket
Perfect protection as rain gear! Don't underestimate it just because it's lightweight - minimalist and high-tech rainwear
This is ◎
- Has heat retention properties
- Soft to wear
- Elastic hem and sleeves
- High collar and cool look
- The logo placement is cool
This is △
- The price is high
- It has high windproof and heat-retaining properties, so it can feel hot
- It lacks storage capacity because it does not have a stuff sack or pocketable design
- The ventilation and pockets are in an awkward position
Anyway, the design is cool
As you'd expect from Norwegian designer Norrøna, the design is flawless. It looks cool just by wearing it. It looks cool no matter where you look. Perhaps this is the power of Nordic design
What I like most is the height of the collar when it's fully zipped up
Not only does it protect you from the elements, but it also looks cool. It looks cool with or without the hood. It's so cool I wonder how many times I've said "cool" here
Don't miss the placement of the Norrona logo on the back and zipper pull
As an aside, did you know that Norrona's logo is a Viking? Norrona's Viking is not the pirate you might imagine, but a mountain hero who rescued the King of Norway by crossing the mountains in the harsh winter. I learned this for the first time recently, and it was quite enlightening. Actually, the logo printed on the rainwear (also on the left chest) is a reflective print, so it reflects light even in the dark. So the hero is protecting you even in the dark
Comfortable and windproof for peace of mind
It's the lightest of the three items, but it doesn't feel particularly light. I wonder if it's just my imagination that the Mountain Hardwear felt lighter. I try to keep my luggage light on a daily basis, but it was hard to feel the 120g lightness... The reason for this is the fabric. Compared to the Mountain Hardwear, it's thicker and sturdier. When I tested standing for one minute wearing the three items alternately on the windy summit of Mt. Iwaki, the Norrona was the only item that didn't make me feel cold, and it was also the warmest I felt while running
The elasticated hem and sleeves make it lighter, which may have given the fabric more weight. In our rain test, the fabric didn't soak in either light or heavy rain, and it repelled water very well
The fabric is just the right thickness, so it's comfortable to wear for a regular hiker. It's also soft and comfortable to wear. It's nice
If you would listen to my selfish request..
There are three areas I would like to see improved. First, I would like the pockets and ventilation to be more specifically for ventilation. Although there are small holes punched into the pockets, it is still hot and stuffy even with the zipper fully open
As someone who gets hot easily, I would be extremely grateful if they could provide dynamic ventilation under the arms or on the front. The second is storage. There's no particular storage method, so I used the standard method of rolling it up and storing it in the hood. However, it is bulkier than the other two items. If possible, a storage bag would be ideal, and even better, a packable design would be ideal. The third is price. It has a beautiful Nordic design, is ultra-lightweight at 120g, and the fabric is just the right thickness and softness, so I understand why it's expensive. I understand, but when I see the price, I stop reaching for the garment. It's such a waste. I really hope they study the cost (Kansai style) and do their best. Thank you (whispering)
Mountain Hardwear Leroy Jacket
The lightness you feel when wearing and moving is unmatched! Stress-free, fluffy, and lightweight 2.5-layer rainwear
This is ◎
- Packable into pocket
- Smooth and comfortable to wear
- Sweat and water dry quickly
- Feels lighter than its actual weight
This is △
- The fabric is thin, so it feels cold when exposed to the wind on the ridge
- No ventilation means it's easy to feel stuffy
It feels lighter than its weight and is comfortable to wear without any stress!
When I put it on, I couldn't help but say, "It's so light..." Norrona is lighter, but Mountain Hardwear feels lighter to the touch. It's light and fluffy, and feels comfortable to wear without any stress. What's more, I even wondered, "Am I even wearing anything right now?"
Dry Q, a teacher working hard with unique materials
Since it's "light and fluffy" to wear, the waterproofing must be "damp-proof," right? No, not at all. In the rain test, there was no soaking. Even in heavy rain, the water didn't soak in and it repelled it perfectly. This is amazing. The top-ranked North Face jacket soaked in water slowly and retained it, but I can't believe it can repel water despite being this thin
Furthermore, it is the only one of the three items that has a hood with a protruding brim, which prevents rain from getting into your eyes. You can really feel the passion behind it, saying, "We'll protect you from the rain."
Protects your backpack from the rain
Another important feature is that the backpack you carry can be stored inside the clothing. A trail running backpack will fit inside with ease
However, when I tried wearing it while carrying my backpack, which I use for general mountain climbing, I found it to be a bit too tight
The limit is probably around 10 liters. If you try too hard, the zipper will break, so you'll probably have to give up and use a rain cover or something similar
The ventilation and thin fabric are somewhat disadvantageous for normal mountain climbing
Mountain Hardwear was slightly behind The North Face and Norrona in the overall rankings this time. What was the reason? It was because it was hot and cold. You might be thinking, "It's not a basin!"
First of all, there's no ventilation, so the steam and heat that surrounds the body can't be ventilated. That's why it's so hot. I tested it by standing for a minute at the top of Mt. Iwaki, and it was cold because the fabric is thin and doesn't retain heat. I had to endure the cold for the last 20 seconds or so. I wish the inner fabric of the chest pocket was mesh, so that it could double as a ventilation pocket... It's a shame, as even this alone would make a difference in ventilation
However, there's a somewhat understandable reason for this. That's because this model was developed based on feedback from Rui Ueda, one of Japan's leading trail runners, and is specifically designed for trail running. Since you're constantly running and sweating, even when it's raining, you're likely to be "hot" most of the time, and there are likely to be few situations where you feel extremely cold. In that sense, it would likely have been a better fit for high-heart rate activities that involve sweating, rather than activities where you move at a normal pace like mountain climbing. The pants offer stress-free movement while wearing them, and the convenience of being packable into a pocket is undeniable
summary
"You never know until you actually try it on," is a blunt comment. Even if you buy something thinking it's super light, cool, or comfortable, you honestly won't know if it'll fit you until you try it on in person. So, I'm trying it out for you and sharing the results with you, hoping to help you decide which one to buy
All of the items were of a high standard, but everyone prioritizes different things, such as waterproofness, appearance, comfort, or lightness. The three items of clothing chosen this time had distinct characteristics that were well-defined
Even lightweight rainwear has the minimum level of protection, so I am planning to use this experience as an opportunity to move forward from the world of safety-first rainwear to the world of lightweight rainwear
We also recommend this article about rainwear.
- Check out the types of rainwear and how to choose them before purchasing
- Ultra-lightweight rainwear you won't miss this season 2018
- Ultra-lightweight rainwear you won't miss this season 2017
- Rainwear for mountaineering that you can't miss this season 2017 [For hiking and trekking]
- Comparison review: Which rainwear you should have if you're going to climb? ?
- Comparison Review: Which rainwear is the most useful on a trail run right now? Runners actually tried it 2018
Related reading
Comparison review: We compared ultra-lightweight rainwear that is great for mountain climbing and running [Summer 2016]
Ultra-lightweight rainwear you won't miss this season 2018
Comparison review: Comparing the popular ultra-light rainwear [2015SS]
Comparison review: Versatile jacket Softshell What's the best "just"? We compared the spring to autumn models