[Notice] The 2016 edition of the ultra-lightweight rainwear comparison test has been updated. If you want to know the latest comparison test results, please go to the latest article using the link below
Comparison Test: Ultra-Lightweight Rainwear for Hiking and Running [2016 Edition]
table of contents
As we've previously reported, ultra-light rainwear (or UL rainwear, as we like to call it) is a relatively new category that has recently emerged in the field of rainwear, one of the most important items of outdoor gear, and it has become In response to the demand for lightweight and breathable rainwear, as seen in the recent trend towards ultra-lightweight rainwear and the boom in trail running and solo hiking, manufacturers are coming out with a plethora of products that take different approaches in various aspects, such as materials, weight, design, and functionality, and 2015 is truly a riot of possibilities.
So this time, the ultra-lightweight rainwear items I recommended the other day, and compared and evaluated them by wearing them under various conditions. All of the products in this article are definitely recommended, but each has its own strengths and weaknesses, and I think knowing these will make it easier to choose the product that best suits your purpose and preferences. So, let's get started!
If you want to know the results first, click here to jump to the results
About the rainwear we compared this time
- The definition of ultra-lightweight rainwear is roughly "a jacket weighing less than 300g excluding accessories" and having waterproof and breathable properties
- Excluding models that are essentially wind shells but only have water-repellent properties
- All jacket types, excluding pullover types, ponchos, and other items that differ in shape
Comparison test items
THE NORTH FACE Climb Very Light Jacket
Haglöfs Lim III Jacket
Mont-Bell Torrent Flyer Jacket
OUTDOOR RESEARCH HELIUM HD JACKET
![Outdoor Research Helium HD Jacket in Pewter/Leather [Parallel Import]](https://images-fe.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51aQKlM176L._SS150_.jpg)
finetrack Everbreath Photon Jacket
NORRONA bitihorn dri 1 Jacket
Berghaus Light Speed Hydroshell Jacket
Rab Flashpoint Jacket
MONTANE MINIMUS JACKET
Test environment
I used them on multiple mountain hikes between March and July 2015. Since I couldn't try out all the gear in one day, I tested as many different outfits as possible on the same day, repeatedly. Rain tests weren't limited to the mountains; I also walked and cycled around town when it rained, and since it's impossible to replicate heavy rain multiple times, I made use of indoor showers
Detailed evaluation through practical testing
| Overall ranking | 1st place | 2nd place | 3rd place | 3rd place | 5th place | 6th place | 7th place | 8th place | 9th place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| item | THE NORTH FACE Climb Very Light Jacket | Rab Flashpoint Jacket | MONTANE MINIMUS JACKET | NORRONA bitihorn dri 1 Jacket | OUTDOOR RESEARCH HELIUM HD JACKET | Mont-Bell Torrent Flyer Jacket | finetrack Everbreath Photon Jacket | Haglöfs Lim III Jacket | Berghaus Light Speed Hydroshell Jacket |
| Waterproof (20 points) |
18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 16 |
| Breathability (20 points) |
18 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 |
| Comfort (20 points) |
20 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 15 |
| Weight (10 points) |
8 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 5 |
| Storage capacity (10 points) |
7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Durability (5 points) |
4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Ease of use (5 points) |
3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Design (5 points) |
4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Price (5 points) |
1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Overall score (out of 100) | 83 | 82 | 80 | 80 | 77 | 76 | 75 | 74 | 73 |
| Specifications | |||||||||
| weight | 260g(M) | 180g(M) | 232g(M) | 214g(L) | 254g(L) | 215g(M) | 265g(M) | 220g(S) | 301g(S) |
| material | GORE-TEX C-Knit Backer | FlashPoint | 15D x 40D PERTEX Shield+ nylon rip-stop | dri1 | 30D Pertex Shield+ | 12D GORE-TEX Paclite | 15D Everbreath Membrane | 20D GORE-TEX Paclite | Hydroshell Elite |
| Layer | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| 2 (left/right) | 1 (chest) | 1 (chest) | 2 (chest) | 3 (left/right/chest) | 1 (chest) | 1 (inside) | 1 (chest) | 3 (left/right/chest) | |
| pit zip | × | × | × | ◯ | ◯ | ◯ | ◯ | × | ◯ |
| Food | Helmet ◯ | Helmet ◯ | Helmet ◯ | Helmet△ | Helmet ◯ | Helmet ◯ | Helmet△ | Helmet ◯ | Helmet△ |
| Storage method | stuff sack | stuff sack | stuff sack | none | stuff sack | stuff sack | none | stuff sack | |
| Reference price | 39,960 yen | 38,880 yen | 29,160 yen | 32,400 yen | 25,920 yen | 22,680 yen | 28,080 yen | 35,640 yen | 29,160 yen |
waterproof
Waterproofing is a fundamental feature of rain gear, but frankly, I didn't have high expectations for UL rainwear. As expected, the proven GORE-TEX Paclite (Mont-bell Torrent Flyer Jacket, Haglöfs Lim III Jacket) proved to be the strongest . Other materials, particularly the Rab Flashpoint Jacket and the finetrack Everbreath Photon Jacket, performed quite well in terms of waterproofing, but GORE-TEX stands out for its water-repellent properties (the ability to repel water droplets from the fabric's surface) that last longer than any other material (though, of course, any fabric will deteriorate over time if not properly cared for). I was surprised that, apart from GORE-TEX, Rab's Flashpoint demonstrated excellent performance in both water-repellency and waterproofing .
Breathability
Let me preface this by saying that this test was not conducted through rigorous laboratory measurements, but rather through subjective evaluation of how much moisture escaped from the garment during actual use. While some manufacturers publish the breathability of their fabrics, the rankings do not necessarily follow the numerical order (as each manufacturer uses different measurement methods, the numbers cannot be simply compared). Based on this, the jackets that felt most breathable were THE NORTH FACE Climb Very Light Jacket, which uses GORE-TEX C-Knit Backer, the latest GORE-TEX fabric with even greater breathability than previous models, and the Rab Flashpoint Jacket, which also uses their own proprietary fabric . However, other fabrics, such as PERTEX Shield+ and dri1, were not inferior, and even if they were, the results were only slightly different. None of the UL rainwear items were uncomfortable to wear while on the move.
Reference: Published values for water resistance and breathability of each item
| item | THE NORTH FACE Climb Very Light Jacket | Rab Flashpoint Jacket | MONTANE MINIMUS JACKET | NORRONA bitihorn dri 1 Jacket | OUTDOOR RESEARCH HELIUM HD JACKET | Mont-Bell Torrent Flyer Jacket | finetrack Everbreath Photon Jacket | Haglöfs Lim III Jacket | Berghaus Light Speed Hydroshell Jacket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water pressure resistance | private | 20,000mm | 20,000mm | 20,000mm | 13,000mm | private | 20,000mm | private | 15,000mm |
| Breathability | private | 45,000g/m2/24h | 25,000g/m²/24h | 20,000g/m2/24h | 20,000g/m2/24h | private | 10,000g / m2/ 24hrs (A-1 method) or more | private | 20,000g/m2/24h |
Comfort (mobility)
This category considers various aspects, including feel, comfort due to the cut pattern, freedom of movement, and improved breathability due to pit zips. Overall, THE NORTH FACE Climb Very Light Jacket offers the most comfortable rainwear. First of all, the newly developed circular knit lining is incredibly comfortable, and the stress-free cut is also comfortable. This combination of windproof, waterproof, breathable, and durable rainwear could be called a revolution. Another item, the Everphoton, developed with a stretch fabric, is also very comfortable and easy to use in terms of freedom of movement (although the sleeves are short for a Japanese fit, which doesn't suit me personally). The NORRONA bitihorn dri 1 Jacket's pit zips are larger than any other jacket , contributing significantly to comfort. As with the breathability category, the other jackets were generally not particularly bad, as expected from rainwear designed for comfort.
weight
especially surprised by the Rab Flashpoint Jacket . Of course, there are lighter rainwear out there (for example, the Berghaus Vaporlite Hypersmock 2.0), but as far as I know, this is the only rainwear that can withstand mountain climbing and is this light. There's still no limit to how far the lightweighting race will go.
Storage capacity
When it comes to clothing in this category, how compactly each item can be packed is an important factor, along with lightness. The photo below shows the results of packing all the items. Incidentally, for models without stuff sacks (NORRONA bitihorn dri 1 Jacket, HAGLOFS LIM III JACKET), I had to force them into a bag by twisting one arm, so they weren't necessarily compressed to the maximum. Including these, the items that were easy to pack were the Rab Flashpoint Jacket, MONTANE MINIMUS JACKET, NORRONA bitihorn dri 1 Jacket, and OUTDOOR RESEARCH HELIUM HD JACKET . The Trent Flyer can probably also be packed quite compactly, but there's too much room in the stuff sack, so it's a bit of a disadvantage.
Top row (from left) - Climb Berry Light, Flash Point, Minimus, Vitihorn, Fuji Ringo; bottom row (from left) - Torrent Flyer, Helium HD, Everbreath, LS Hydroshell, LIM III
durability
Durability here refers to the strength of the fabric, such as its abrasion and tear resistance, rather than whether it can maintain its strength over a long period of time. First of all, UL rainwear, which is so thin and light, inevitably sacrifices durability. That said, I don't want fabric that gets torn after just one or two wears or a slight snag. So, what I can say about this item is that I felt very secure with garments that use thick fabrics, such as the finetrack Everbreath Photon Jacket and the berghaus Light Speed Hydroshell Jacket . Other 3-layer fabrics, such as the THE NORTH FACE Climb Very Light Jacket, also have linings that are resistant to abrasion and improve the overall strength of the fabric, so they are highly rated.
Ease of use
Here, we evaluate various aspects that are considered convenient for practical use, such as the number and positioning of pockets, the shape and adjustment of the hood, and the fit of the cuffs and hem. Of particular note here is the exquisite construction of the MONTANE MINIMUS JACKET's pockets and hood . While it's as lightweight as possible, the large chest pocket offers excellent storage capacity (Montane also appears to have a model called the MINIMUS MOUNTAIN JACKET, which adds two additional pockets on each side). The helmet compatibility, easy-to-use wired visor, and the hood design, which features a chin guard that provides an excellent fit despite being lightweight rainwear, demonstrate a level of attention to detail and delicacy not found in other manufacturers. The Berghaus Light Speed Hydroshell Jacket is also highly rated for its multifunctionality, but the weight sacrifice (compared to the Montane) makes it difficult to fully praise it.
Design and Price
While I think it's fine to disagree about design, I'll say something personal: I absolutely love the silhouette of the MONTANE MINIMUS JACKET and the coloring of the NORRONA bitihorn dri 1 Jacket . Of course, it depends on the individual body type, so just because a silhouette is good doesn't mean it's suitable for everyone, but even so, the Montane silhouette is not only cool, but also functionally easy to move in, which is great. I don't see function and design as mutually exclusive, but as something on the same path. And the Norrona coloring, this subtle use of color that is so typical of Scandinavian products, is unique and wonderful. Finally, as I mentioned, the price ranges quite a bit, from around 20,000 to nearly 40,000, so it's honestly a tough decision.
Summary of this comparison
Overall 1st place: THE NORTH FACE Climb Very Light Jacket.
Close behind in 2nd place: Rab Flashpoint Jacket.
Both products performed beyond expectations, transcending the category of ultra-lightweight rainwear. They offer the high breathability and comfort of activewear, while also boasting waterproof performance comparable to full-fledged rainwear, and above all, they're incredibly light. As someone who's been following outdoor gear for a long time, I can honestly say that they're the future. So, what if you can't decide between these two items? If you're looking for maximum lightness, I 'd recommend the Flashpoint, and if you're looking for comfort, the Climb Very Light. Either way, both offer above-average basic performance, promising an experience like no other!
Best Buy: Montane Minimus Jacket
If the two items above are too pricey for your budget, the MONTANE MINIMUS JACKET is the best value for money option. The price difference is primarily due to the waterproof performance, but honestly, it's not significantly inferior in any other respects. The Pertex Shield+ material, which first introduced me to the wonders of ultra-lightweight rainwear, is incredibly well-made, with thoughtful features that are easy to use, and, best of all, it looks great. If you're looking for a day trip or overnight stay in the low mountains in the summer, this might be the best choice
Finally, the other products also have many good points, so if you want to know more details, please refer to the reviews of each product
