Ultra-lightweight rainwear you won't miss this season 2018
Written by Yasushi Hisatomi
table of contents
- Topic 3: Lightest, Race-Specific, Super Comfortable...Other Models Are Also Amazing
- (Reposted) What's so good about ultra-lightweight rainwear? Who is it suitable for?
- What is ultra-lightweight rainwear?
- 1. It's incredibly light and thin
- 2. Flexible, easy to move in, and comfortable to wear
- 3. High breathability keeps you dry even when you sweat
- 4. Waterproof and windproof to withstand sudden rain and wind
- 5. Incredibly small and highly packable
- 6. Wear it on a sunny day and there's no need to take it off afterwards
- 7. Perfect for everyday wear and a variety of outdoor activities
Topic 3: Lightest, Race-Specific, Super Comfortable...Other Models Are Also Amazing
MONTURA RAPTOR JKT
Weight ★★★ Waterproof ★★☆ Breathability ★★★ Comfort ★★☆ Functionality ★★☆
MONTURA, the Italian outdoor brand known for its unique, uncompromising, and sometimes over-the-top construction, has finally entered the ultralight rainwear scene. The membrane used is a 2.5-layer Pertex Shield. While already used by many brands, this material is inherently lightweight and allows manufacturers to experiment with various creative solutions. The result is a truly impressive product, weighing in at an incredible 90g—one of the lightest in the world. Furthermore, its breathability is an impressive 40,000g/m²/24h. While the lightweight design omits features like an adjustable hood, the jacket still offers convenient features like packable pockets, stretch thumb loops to prevent sleeves from riding up, and reflectors for improved nighttime visibility. These features make this versatile piece ideal for a wide range of activities, from racing to hiking and climbing
mont-bell versalite jacket
Weight ★★★ Waterproof ★★★ Breathability ★★★ Comfort ★★☆ Functionality ★☆☆
Montbell the Storm Cruiser . The Versalite is a popular model favored by many trail runners due to its high specs and low price. This season's renewal not only significantly improves the waterproof and breathable specifications, but also succeeds in further reducing the weight. One of the secrets is the unique cut pattern, "K-Mono Cut." Not only has this improved performance, but the silhouette has also finally become slimmer and more sophisticated, going from the somewhat unsophisticated silhouette of the previous model, which I noticed when trying it on. If I may be greedy, I can't help but be concerned about the recent upward trend in prices for this brand.
Mountain Hardwear Leroy Jacket
Weight ★★☆ Waterproof ★★☆ Breathability ★★★ Comfort ★★☆ Functionality ★★☆
This latest lightweight shell from the American alpine brand, known for its innovative products, supports athletes who push their limits. Inspired by feedback from Japan's top trail runner, Rui Ueda, it's packed with features trail runners will love. The clean, well-cut sleeves prevent flapping, a staple of Mountain Hardwear's lineup, while the packable design eliminates the need for a stuff sack and the generous back allows you to wear it over a thin backpack, further minimizing weight loss during a race. The special lining keeps the jacket dry and comfortable against the skin thanks to its 2.5-layer waterproof and breathable fabric, making it ideal for activities like trail running, where sweat levels are high
NORRONA bitihorn ultralight dri3 Jacket
Weight ★★★ Waterproof ★★☆ Breathability ★★☆ Comfort ★★★ Functionality ★☆☆
One of the big topics last season was the achievement of a comfortable, durable 3-layer jacket weighing in at just under 100g. This trend continues this season, with the release of an ultra-lightweight 3-layer rainwear model made with NORRONA's proprietary dri3 fabric. This jacket also offers the premium comfort of a 3-layer jacket, along with high waterproof and breathable performance. The basic construction is similar to the bitihorn Gore-Tex Active 2.0 Jacket introduced earlier, but with fewer restrictions, the jacket has been stripped down to the bare minimum, from the fabric selection to the seam tape, resulting in a surprisingly light jacket with exceptional comfort. The extremely slim cut, while still allowing for easy movement, and the beautiful silhouette are truly one of a kind
(Reposted) What's so good about ultra-lightweight rainwear? Who is it suitable for?
What is ultra-lightweight rainwear?
Of course, there have been many lightweight rainwear models produced up until now. However, at the time, they still had many issues, such as being sticky to the touch and prone to becoming stuffy, and the reality was that even though they were light, they were still difficult to use. However, in recent years, with the spread of high-intensity, short-duration activities such as trail running and fastpacking, many brands and material manufacturers have begun jackets made from lightweight, highly breathable, waterproof and breathable materials that activities. As a result, we now have a wide variety of models to choose from that are not only light, but also vary in comfort and ease of use to suit your purpose and style.
1. It's incredibly light and thin
Traditional rainwear for mountain climbing weighs around 400g to 500g. On the other hand, most rainwear that is positioned as ultra-lightweight weighs just the outer layer in the low 200g range or less . Nowadays, it is not uncommon to find models that weigh less than 100g, which is much lighter than a 350ml can of juice.
2. Flexible, easy to move in, and comfortable to wear
The supple feel is non-stiff. The smooth lining feels instantly recognizable as you put your arms through it. While traditional rainwear had given up on that level of comfort, ultra-lightweight rainwear has made a surprising improvement. Previously, light rainwear inevitably had a slippery feel that made sweating uncomfortable. However, with the release of GORE-TEX® C-KNIT™ backer technology , which use a solid lining instead of a laminate, have become mainstream, resulting in a consistently smooth and comfortable feel despite the ultra-lightweight nature of the garment . Other models have also emerged that use stretch fabrics for ease of movement, offering a major advantage: not only are they lightweight, but they also comfortably support active activities that involve a lot of sweating.
3. High breathability keeps you dry even when you sweat
Originally designed for activities such as trail running and cycling (short bursts of movement without carrying large loads of luggage), ultra-lightweight rainwear is made from materials and constructed to have relatively higher breathability than conventional, regular rainwear . This makes ultra-lightweight rainwear comfortable even during intense movement or midsummer activities, making it the perfect outerwear that combines comfort with weather protection.
Incidentally, in terms of breathability, not only are material manufacturers such as eVent, Pertex, Neoshell, and GORE-TEX® developing their own high-performance materials, but outdoor brands are also developing their own high-performance fabrics, resulting in fabric products with an increasingly diverse range of performance and features. Furthermore, the breathability of clothing itself is also affected by the thickness of the fabric and the ventilation structure, so in the future, the key to clothing comfort will likely be not just the quality of the materials, but also the overall construction of the clothing .
4. Waterproof and windproof to withstand sudden rain and wind
Despite being so thin and light, recent models still offer sufficient waterproofing to withstand normal rain and wind. Looking at the "water pressure" used to measure durable waterproofing numerically, for example, Pertex Shield+, a representative lightweight material, has a water pressure of 20,000mm. It's said that 10,000mm is necessary to protect against heavy rain, so it's perfectly usable for day hikes and low-altitude mountain climbing. However, just to be clear, it's not necessarily sufficient for long-term mountaineering, in rainy areas, or in storms on mountains above 2,000m, so don't assume that this is the only gear you can use for all kinds of mountain climbing. It's best to consider it for calm environments like day hikes and trail runs, or for short, intense activities .
5. Incredibly small and highly packable
Example of how the OUTDOOR RESEARCH HELIUM HD Jacket fits. Even clothing with pit zips can fit into this size
Despite all these features, it folds up small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. This compact size is nothing but an advantage for anyone who wants to keep their luggage as minimal as possible
6. Wear it on a sunny day and there's no need to take it off afterwards
It's flexible and easy to move in, and its high waterproof, breathable, and windproof properties mean that it can be used in ways that go beyond just rain gear. In other words, it can be used as a regular outer layer, like a windshell . For example, you can put it on on a chilly morning, and there's no need to take it off when you're climbing a steep forest or on a ridgeline, or when a sudden rain shower hits. This means that even if you're not particularly lazy, you can enjoy the huge time-saving benefits, which is very much appreciated.
7. Perfect for everyday wear and a variety of outdoor activities
Originally, this type of clothing was developed with intense exercise in mind, such as running and biking. Even now, as its range of uses has expanded, it is still ideal for a variety of outdoor activities. Many of the styles and designs are slim, easy to move in, and stylish, and can be worn comfortably both as outerwear for running and as everyday wear, so you can wear it in a variety of ways with just one piece. It's sure to become a staple in your wardrobe.
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 2017
- Must-See Rainwear for Mountain Climbing in 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
Ultra-lightweight rainwear you won't miss this season 2017
The snow season has arrived. Hard shell jackets featured this season [2017-2018]
Comparison review: We compared ultra-lightweight rainwear that is great for mountain climbing and running [Summer 2016]
Comparison review: Comparing ultra-lightweight rainwear from the perspective of a girl who loves mountains