Comparison review: Comparing the popular ultra-light rainwear [2015SS]

[Notice] The 2016 edition of the ultra-lightweight rainwear comparison test has been updated. If you would like to know the latest comparison test results, please go to the latest article using the link below.

Comparison test: Wearing ultra-lightweight rainwear that is great for mountain climbing and running [2016 edition]

, "ultra-light rainwear (or named UL rainwear)," a relatively new category that has emerged in the field of rainwear, one of the most important items in outdoor gear, has been extremely hot recently. In response to the recent demand for "employing weight reduction and breathability," which is seen in the recent trend towards ultra-light, trail running, and solo hikes, manufacturers have a wide range of products with different approaches in various ways, including materials, weight, design, and functionality, and 2015 is truly a flurry of flowers.

So this time, the other recommended ultra-light rainwear that we recently recommended, and compared them and evaluated them under various conditions. There is no doubt that all of the products this time are recommended, but I think that each product has its strengths and weaknesses, and knowing these will make it easier to choose the one that suits your purpose and preferences. So let's get started!

If you'd like to know the conclusion first, go to the results here

About the rainwear we compared

• The definition of ultra-lightweight rainwear is roughly an outerwear with a waterproof and breathable function of less than 300g, excluding accessories.
• Excluding the model, which is just water-repellent, almost exclusively a windshell.
• All jacket types are excluded, except for items that differ in shape, such as pullover types and ponchos.

Comparative test items

THE NORTH FACE Climb Very Light Jacket

Climb Very Light Jacket

THE NORTH FACE

39,960 yen

260g

HAGLOFS LIM III JACKET

LIM III JACKET

HAGLOFS

35,640 yen

220g

mont-bell torrent flyer jacket

torrent flyer jacket

mont bell

22,680 yen

215g

OUTDOOR RESEARCH HELIUM HD JACKET

HELIUM HD JACKET

OUTDOOR RESEARCH

25,920 yen

254g

finetrack Everbreath Photon Jacket

Everbreath Photon Jacket

finetrack

28,080 yen

265g

NORRONA bitihorn dri 1 Jacket

Bitihorn Dri1 Jacket

NORRONA

32,400 yen

214g

Berghaus Light Speed ​​Hydroshell Jacket

Light Speed ​​Hydroshell Jacket

Berghaus

29,160 yen

301g

Rab FLASHPOINT JACKET

FLASHPOINT JACKET

Rab

38,880 yen

180g

MONTANE MINIMUS JACKET

MINIMUS JACKET

MONTANE

29,160 yen

232g

Test environment

It is basically used multiple times for mountain hiking from March to July 2015. Since you can't try all the clothing in one day, I have repeatedly tested multiple times to compare as many clothing as possible on the same day. The rainfall test is not only conducted on the mountains, but also on the town when it rains, and we also conducted tests such as walking and cycling in the city, and as heavy rain cannot be reproduced many times, we also used the help of an indoor shower.

Detailed evaluation using field tests

Waterproof

The waterproof function is the basic type of rain gear, but to be honest, I don't have much hope for UL rainwear from the start. The result was the GORE-TEX Paclite (mont-bell torrent flyer jacket, HAGLOFS LIM III JACKET), which has been proven to be proven . Among other materials, Rab Flashpoint Jacket and Finetrack Everbreath Photon Jacket were particularly effective in terms of "waterproofing," but even so, Gore-Tex is outstanding in that its water-repellent power (the performance that repels water droplets on the surface of the fabric) is notable (of course, it is undeniable that no matter what fabric is treated, it will decrease over time). As for other materials besides Gore-Tex, I was surprised to see that the Flashpoint developed by Rab showed considerable performance in terms of both water repellency and waterproofness

Breathability

To put it simply, this test does not involve strict measurements in the laboratory, of course, but rather an evaluation based on how much moisture inside the clothing has been expelled from the actual use. For this reason, some manufacturers publish the moisture permeability of the materials, but the evaluation does not necessarily follow the order of those numbers (it is also different for each manufacturer, so numbers cannot be simply compared). With this in mind, the most permeable thing we felt was THE NORTH FACE Climb Very Light Jacket, which uses the latest Gore-Tex fabric GORE-TEX C-Knit Backer, which has even greater moisture permeability than before, and the Rab Flashpoint Jacket, which also uses the latest original materials . However, with other materials, PERTEX Shield+ and dri1, it doesn't look inferior, and it seems like they're close to each other, and it's hardly anything UL rainwear would make you feel uncomfortable when you wear it while you're on the move.

Reference: Public values ​​for water pressure and moisture permeability of each item

Comfort (Mobility)

This item can be considered from a variety of perspectives, including the feel of the skin when worn, the comfort of the cut pattern, the body's freedom over intense movements, and the improved breathability through the pit zipper, but the complete summary of these features makes it the most comfortable to act. The NORTH FACE Climb Very Light Jacket is the perfect example of the NORTH FACE Climb Very Light Jacket. First of all, the newly developed round knit knit used for the lining is even more comfortable, and the less stressful cutting is comfortable, and it is windproof, waterproof, breathable, and durable, so I think it can be said to be a revolution in rain gear. Other items include Everphoton, which has developed stretch fabric, is also quite comfortable and easy to use in terms of ease of movement (but because it is a Japanese fit, the sleeves are short and I personally can't fit). Other pit zips on the NORRONA bitihorn dri 1 Jacket are bigger than any other clothing and play a major role in making you feel comfortable. As with the breathability category, other clothing is generally not particularly harsh, and it is only rainwear that pursues comfort.

weight

I was surprised by the Rab Flashpoint Jacket . Of course, it's not that there are no lighter rainwear (for example, berghaus Vaporlite Hyper Smock 2.0), but as far as I know, this is the only one that has been able to achieve this lightness with rainwear that can withstand mountain climbing. We still can't see how far the weight reduction race will go.

Storageability

How compactly packed each piece is an important factor in this category of clothing, along with its lightness. The results of packing all the items are shown below. By the way, models without a stuff sack (NORRONA bitihorn dri 1 Jacket, HAGLOFS LIM III JACKET) are forced to pack using rough techniques such as twisting one arm into a bag, so the packing is not necessarily possible to be packed to the extreme. The clothes that are easy to pack, including those, were Rab Flashpoint Jacket, MONTANE MINIMUS JACKET, NORRONA bitihorn dri 1 Jacket, and OUTDOOR RESEARCH HELIUM HD JACKET. The torrent flyer could probably be quite compact, but there is too much room for the stuff sack, which is a bit of a loss.

Crimeberry Light, Flash Point, Minimas, Bittyhorn, Fuji Apple, Lower left, Torrent Flyer, Helium HD, Everbreath, LS Hydrochelle, LIM III

Durability

Durability here means the strength of the fabric, such as friction and tear strength, rather than whether it can maintain its strength for a long period of time. First of all, the premise is that UL rainwear, which is made so thin and light, has no choice but to sacrifice durability. However, please forgive the fabric that can tear if worn once or twice rubbed or caught on it. And what I can say about this item is that I first felt a great sense of security when it comes to clothing that uses thicker fabrics like the finetrack Everbless Photon Jacket and the berghaus Light Speed ​​Hydrochelle Jacket . Other are highly rated because the lining is resistant to friction and the overall strength of the fabric is also improved

Ease of use

Here we evaluate various points that you find useful when you actually take action, such as the number and position of the pockets, the shape and adjustment of the hood, and the fit of the cuffs and hem. What's particularly noteworthy is the exquisite pocket hood of MONTANE MINIMUS JACKET . While being extremely lightweight, the large chest pockets offer excellent storage capacity (although it seems that there is also a model called the MINIMUS MOUNTAIN JACKET, which has two pockets on the left and right). The hood is compatible with helmets, wire-equipped visors, and despite its lightweight rainwear, the chin guard has a great fit, giving it a high level of awareness and delicateness that other manufacturers have. The berghaus Light Speed ​​Hydrochelle jacket is also highly praised for its multifunctionality, but it also sacrifices the weight (compared to Montain) in that it is difficult to praise it if you let it go.

Design and price

While I think it's okay to disagree with each and every time I would like to say something personal about it. I definitely like the silhouette of the MONTANE MINIMUS JACKET and the coloring of the NORRONA bitihorn dri 1 Jacket . Of course, there are differences between each body type, so I'll put it into words that just because a good silhouette doesn't mean it's suitable for everyone, but even so, Montain's silhouette is not only cool, but also easy to move around in terms of functionality, so it's good. It doesn't look at functionality and design as a choice, but rather as something that is on the same path. And the Norrona coloring and the subtle coloring that is a Scandinavian product are unique and wonderful. Finally, as stated, prices range from just under 20,000 to nearly 40,000, so to be honest, it's a bit of a concern.

Comparison of this comparison

1st place overall: THE NORTH FACE Climb Very Light Jacket
Closely second place: Rab Flashpoint Jacket

Both of them showed performance beyond expectations, transcending the category of ultra-light rainwear. It has high breathability and comfort as a behavioural wear, but is waterproof and does not inferior to authentic rainwear, and most of all, it is impossible to imagine. As someone who has been watching outdoor gear for a long time, honestly, I can only call it the "future." So, what should you do if you're not sure which one to choose between these two items? If it's about lightness, I think it's best to choose Flashpoint, and if it's about comfort, I think it's best to choose Climb Very Light. In any case, no matter how you choose either, the basic performance is above the standard, and we promise you an unprecedented experience!

Climb Very Light Jacket

THE NORTH FACE

39,960 yen

260g

FLASHPOINT JACKET

Rab

38,880 yen

180g

Best Buy: MONTANE MINIMUS JACKET

The above two items are in the max price, so if you find it difficult to get a good deal, the MONTANE MINIMUS JACKET is the most cost-effective item. The difference in price is simply the difference in "waterproofing performance," and to be honest, it's not clearly inferior to that. The Pertex Shield+, which was the reason I learned about the greatness of ultra-light rainwear, is a very well-made material, and the detailed features are easy to use, and most of all, it looks cool. In a sense, it can be said that it is the best choice if you narrow down your purpose, such as a day trip to a summer low mountain or one night.

MINIMUS JACKET

MONTANE

29,160 yen

232g

Finally, there are many good points for other products, so if you'd like to learn more, please refer to each review. That's all for this time.