SectionHiker.com Backpacking Gear Reviews and FAQs 
You can buy two types of rain jackets for hiking and backpacking: waterproof/breathable rain jackets and waterproof but non-breathable ones. While waterproof/breathable rain jackets will repel rain, you’re still likely to get wet inside from perspiration buildup because the breathable membrane can’t transport water vapor fast enough to keep up. The water vapor transmission rate is further impeded by the fact that your backpack, backpack straps, and hip belt cover half the surface area of the jacket. Keep in mind that waterproof/breathable jackets only transmit water vapor. Once your perspiration condenses into sweat and liquid form, it can’t be vented by a breathable membrane.
If you accept that you’ll get wet from perspiration anyway, you might as well buy a rain jacket that is permanently waterproof and not breathable. If it has pit zips, you can at least open them up to vent excess heat and moderate the amount you sweat.
Here are the most popular non-breathable rain jackets for hiking and backpacking that we recommend.
Lightheart Gear makes 20D ripstop polyester Rain Jackets for men and women that are permanently waterproof with a silicone coating on the outside and a polyurethane coating on the inside. All of the rain jacket seams are taped to prevent leaking. The jackets have extra-long pit-zips with waterproof zippers and adjustable hoods with a small flexible brim to keep the rain off your face. They also make ripstop polyester rain pants and rain skirts.
Frogg Toggs makes a wide assortment of lightweight rain gear. The Frogg Toggs XtremeLite Rain Jacket is popular with hikers because it’s highly durable, fully seam-taped, and has a fully adjustable hood with brim, zippered side pockets, Velcro wrist closures, and a cord-adjustable waist.
AntiGravity Gear makes a unisex 70D siliconized nylon Rain Jacket that is not factory seam-taped or seam-sealed. It has long pit zips, an adjustable hood with a brim, a two-way zipper, adjustable wrist closures, and a cord-adjustable waist. They also make siliconized rain pants and a rain kilt.
The Warbonnet Outdoor makes The Stash Jacket,a unisex rain jacket made with 30D siliconized polyester. It is not seam-sealed but has an adjustable hood and very long 22” pit zips that provide ventilation and access to your pants pockets.
Sea-to-Summit makes the Ultra-Sil Nano Poncho. It is a 15D silnylon poncho with seam-tabled seams and an extended front bill to keep rain out of your face. They also sell an Ultra-Sil Nano Poncho Tarp, which can double as an ultralight tarp shelter.
Six Moon Designs (SMD) makes a poncho called The Gatewood Cape, which can also be used as an ultralight tarp. It’s made with siliconized nylon and is large enough to cover your backpack when worn.
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I’ve appreciated your consistent posts on this topic. I came close to getting a Lightheart a year or two ago but ended up going for an OR “breathable” that was on sale. Maybe my next one will be one of these.
Despite needing to reapply DWR to ensure beading/performance, isn’t it the case that a breathable jacket will still be “waterproof” if/when the DWR wears off? This was part of my hang up for a while on getting a breathable jacket – thinking that it’d only be waterproof IF the DWR was working … but I think I’ve convinced myself that it’s waterproof regardless of the state of DWR. (Obviously this is separate from whether the “breathability” has disappeared and all of my sweat is trapped inside.).
Yes, the waterproof/breathable jacket will continue to be waterproof even when the DWR rubs off. The pores in the membrane are too small to let water in, only water vapor out.
Have you used on been with others using a Packa poncho, and what is your present view? I am curious about possbly easier on-off compared to either jacket or conventional poncho and about better wind performance than conventional poncho; but I’ve yet to see one 1st hand.
I haven’t see one. I’m very put off by the fact that they can’t host a credible website with https. Big red flag.
That doesn’t make sense. The whole point of this article is that breathable jackets are not permanently waterproof specifically BECAUSE the DWR wears off over time. Surely many here have had this experience, especially in the shoulders where backpacks straps wear it off faster. The article itself mentions that you have to reapply DWR to keep it waterproof? What would be the point of DWR if the jacket was waterproof without it?
But it’s the truth. Waterproof/breathable jackets are permanently waterproof but impermanently breathable when the DWR coating wears off unless the seams leak, but the seam tape would have to open which would be unusual.
There is one caveat to that – which is that waterproof doesn’t mean 100% waterproof in the outdoor industry. But most waterproof/breathable jackets are sufficiently waterproof that you’re not experiencing leakage. What you are experiencing is the condensation of your perspiration or plain old condensation caused by the temperature differential of your body heat on the inside and cold air on the outside.
The entire point of this article is that breathability fails, so why bother getting a waterproof/breathable jacket if you’re going to get soaked inside anyway.
Have you used or been with others using a Packa poncho, and what is your present view? I am curious about possbly easier on-off compared to either jacket or conventional poncho and about better wind performance than conventional poncho; but I’ve yet to see one 1st hand.
Exped “pack poncho UL’ is nice. You can cinch it down if the wind picks up so it is not “flappy” in those conditions. Pro: Vents well. Con: But it can be a pain to get over your pack sometimes (snags on stuff). . But once once in place, it is great You get wet below the knees so I carry chaps to stay warm in cold windy conditions
followup= based on some of the other comments, I ordered a PACKA. It is not rain season right now in California but I think the PACKA may be a better choice than the Exped poncho I mentioned, Ordering seemed wierd (It says “email me” on the website) but in practice works well. He just makes sure you are getting the right one Then he asked your shipping address and sends a PayPal money request. Poncho showed up two days later. Actual customer service is kind of nice :)
I love the lightheart jacket. I have been a believer in ventilation for ages and it really checks that box.
I bought a Packa this year. It’s even better than I expected — a really nicely polished product. The sleeves can be worn loose for ventilation or cinched for storms. The hood is great. The pack attachment is simple elastic like most pack covers, just stretch it on and it is ready to go. Full front zip and long pit zips for ventilation. Goes over the pack so there is no sweaty jacket pressed against my back or chest by the pack and straps. Stuffs into its own pocket.
Maybe it is just me and my pack, but the fit I got is perfect. Comfortable and airy without being loose or flappy in the wind. It fits like a parka — just over the pack instead of under it.
I wouldn’t let the fact that Eddie isn’t a webmaster put you off — the Packa is the best “mountain poncho” (with sleeves) that you can buy.
On that endoresement – I’ll add it to the list!
I purchased my first Packa several years ago when Eddie was making a model from eVent. The design was not really suitable for eVent or any other breathable fabric because the jacket fits very loose.But I liked the additional structure of the heavier fabric.
I used the Packa extensively but not exclusively especially when I purchased a HMG pack in 2018.
I perspire heavily and even with the loose fit, pit zips there were times when I was wet inside but not as bad as with a regular rain jacket (breathable or not). My clothes dry out much faster in a Packa whilst I am moving compared to a regular jacket.
I really like the flexibility of the Packa including having it at the ready by putting it on my backpack but not wearing the jacket portion until I need it. The large pit zips let me cover just my body. Or the large jacket can be kept unzipped while still providing protection inn light rain.
I had to retire my old Packa this year as the years of use have taken their toll.
A new nylon version is on its way from Eddie.
His site and business transaction may not be as slick as the large producers but the Packa is a well built and highly functional product.
This has been a constant frustration for me for many years. I eventually found the best solution is to wear TWO rain jackets if I’m going to be out in the rain for more than an hour. I’m talking about the “cheaper” kind, under $100.
This has been a talking point for many years and many items gear items have been tried over time. My rain gear choice for many years was a Helly Hensen jacket with a slick shiny coating that was totally waterproof. It kept me dry and as it had a loose fit and the climate was cool to freezing perspiration was of little consequence. I now find that a poncho is by far the best choice with its multi-use.
I bought a Lightheart hoodie pack-cover after seeing it mentioned in passing in Section Hiker a couple of years ago and it suits me. It’s not suitable for situations where hypothermia could be an issue as the loose ‘sleeves’ (little more than flaps) leave the lower arm exposed and the front opening is not zipped. Nevertheless, on a 12 mile out and back in the Finger Lakes, much of it in light rain, pushing through dripping overhanging foliage and mud in late August and paired with a light rain (sil-nylon?) kilt, I was as comfortable as I felt as comfortable as it seemed reasonable to expect!
If conditions allow, an umbrella can be great. I have a cheap umbrella ‘hat’ which is pretty good – it’s a bit too small to provide a complete shelter – and I modified a couple of the struts in the back so there’s a reduced collision between it and my pack. Of course it’s not usable in strong winds or lots of high brush. Biggest problem is the comfort factor – the cheap model that I have isn’t particularly comfortable on the head. Don’t even think about helmets, of course. That’s not that big deal since I’m unlikely to be doing any serious rock ascent when things are wet. I’m thinking of getting a regular umbrella that can be strapped on. Either way you can use hiking sticks.
Of course umbrellas make ventilation a non-issue!
My go to is a lightweight umbrella and rain skirt. It has suited me well and I dont get the sweat factor.
I picked up a kiprun waterproof trail running jacket from decathlon for spring summer walking. Very lightweight but the downside is no pit zips. I often find my breathable jackets don’t breathe when it rains anyway.
I’m currently trying to get base weight down after a nasty motorbike accident so this seems a good solution for me.
“But it’s the truth. Waterproof/breathable jackets are permanently waterproof…”
This is not my experience with Gore Tex. I have had numerous Gore Tex garments replaced under warranty because they stopped being waterproof.
Mostly this has been sailing gear, made with either Gore Tex Pro, or Mil-Spec Gore Tex.
The usual problem is that the fabric delaminates. When that happens, water soaks through.
One product I have had replaced (twice, actually) that readers here might be familiar with is my Kokatat dry suit. These are Gore Tex Pro.
How long did you own them before they delaminated.
Were they actually Gore-tex or some other membrane?
What pray tell did you do to them to make them degrade – was this salt-water sailing? Did you store your gear in a hot car?
I thought Gore-Tex was sandwiched between two stitched-together layers so I don’t see where delamination comes into play. It’s also odd that DWR promotes breathability; I would think it would clog up the pores (“comedogenic”). Horizontal or slanted wind-driven rain goes through Gore-Tex. I don’t know at what wind speed Gore-Tex stops working but that’s what I blame for its failure to work for me. I always found, before corrective eye surgery, that the worst part of rain was seeing through my glasses, i. e., nothing rain gear could help with anyway.
It’s only sandwiched between full fabric layers in 3-layer jackets. It’s likely that the delamination occurs in 2.5 layer jackets where the interior “printed” layer flakes off and that people confuse that with the GTX delaminating.
I typically owned them for a year to a couple of years.
yes – they were real Gore Tex – actually “Gore Tex Pro”, which is supposedly a higher level Gore Tex, with a different warranty. The warranty is for “the life of the product”, which can be several years or more. Supposedly the Gore company themselves actually cover the warranty for the maker of the garment.
I think some of the more expensive hiking products use the Pro fabric as well – Arcteryx maybe…
The garments actually say “Gore Tex Pro” on them.
In addition to the two Kokatat dry suits, I also had a pair of sailing bibs (~$850) replaced, and a pair of sailing boots (~$400) replaced.
Yes I used them in salt water; they are all marketed for use in salt water.
No, I don’t leave them in my car.
I don’t really know why they delaminate, but all of those had obvious delamination and leaked quite a lot where the fabric was delaminated. My guess is that the fabric just gets worked very hard in normal use.
I am right now in the process of trying to warranty another Gore Tex pro bib that is less than two years old. It is cosmetically in great shape, but in rain or ocean spray, I get wet in them. I can literally hold the fabric layers apart with my fingers where it is delaminated.
My greatest hiking regret is purchasing a rain jacket and waterproof trousers, for me a real waste of money. Nowadays, I only carry a poncho with me and a windproof. I’ve tried traditional throw over ponchos, but I just don’t like them, they don’t work well enough in my view, so my preference is to wear a poncho with a full length front zip. Mine is from Spain, an Altus Atmospheric and cost me £40. The hem only came to my knees, so my wife sewed a 6″ wide Tyvek extension to it. In a rain lull I just open the zip and if condensation is there, the inside dries rapidly. I couldn’t do that with my previous poncho, no real way of getting rid of any condensation. My feet still get wet though because I hike in trail shoes, but unlike the boots I’ve owned, they dry quickly.
I wanted to list the Altus but it appears to be unavailable online, even in Europe.
Nobody seems to make anoraks anymore, or at least ones long enough to keep the thighs dry. They were wide enough to not impede one’s stride but narrow enough to not billow in the wind. They had a Quasimodo hump to accommodate the back pack.