Bushwalk Australia

Hi all,

I'm looking for some feedback on a rain jacket for walking in a Tassie winter.

I have a WE 3 layer Isoclime 40 that still works but is bulky and weighs 800g+

I also have a Marmot Precip that's in good condition, around 300g but probably not up to it?

Been trawling the web/shops and have narrowed it down to possibly the following two jackets:

Montbell Storm Cruiser
Macpac Traverse

They have different feature sets and fabrics.

Montbell is goretex c knit, features pit zips and is about 50g lighter

Macpac looks ok, no pit zips and $70 cheaper.

Anyone own/use either of these?

Any other suggestions?

I just need something that will keep me dry in potentially endless rain/snow, around $400 or less and no more than 350g in weight.

Any advice would be most welcome.

Cheers,

Pete

I cannot comment upon those particular jackets but if I had to buy a new shell I would for the OT in winter I would get a jacket with a good hood.
Anything by Rab or Montane would be good, although they tend to be mountaineering focused. Look at trekkinn or ukultralightoutdoorgear for bargains. Brit gear is sized small.
Columbia outdry gets good reviews, is light and can be inexpensive, but IMHO the hood is not the best

I have the Montbell Storm Cruiser (love it and I just noticed it's on clearance in the US at least), Marmot Precip and Featherlight Outdry, I also have a range of other rain shells including a MD 3layer Goretex at 700gms!. Wouldn't hesitate to take the Montbell (used on the AAWT and in Scotland) or Outdry (used since!). The purpose of a rain shell is to keep the rain off you...other layers for other reasons!
Cheers
onward

Thanks for the info. So you've been happy with the storm cruiser? Ok in filthy weather for a whole day? Pit zips/zips keep the water out?

Cheers,

Pete

The featherlite outdry or any of the other goretex shakedry jackets all run 100-200g and will not wet out. You’ll probably get your base and mid layers pretty wet from your sweat regardless, but there are nice dry huts every night so it’s easy to dry off. I did the track in March a couple of years ago and it rained every day plus we were snowed in due to a prolonged blizzard and not allowed to hike for 2 days (luckily stuck at Pelion rather than one of the small ones).

Very happy with the Storm Cruiser, a great compromise between durability and weight and I did buy it on special from Montbell Sydney about 3 years ago. It has been on during many multiday alpine rain events and a week of rain on the coast of the UK! Hood is ok but I use a 'truckers' hat with it because I wear glasses and that keeps the rain off much better. Waterproof zip and the storm flap behind that works fine, in as I have never noticed getting wet from the outside. Pit zips are huge and I mostly have the top half open unless it's really cold. The external pockets sit above the pack waist belt and that's handy. I think it's a 40D face fabric and that seems fine when pushing through scrub. Like all other rain shells I have other than the OutDry and a sinylon poncho it does eventually wet out, but its DWR seem better than my other rain jackets. I did notice the Montbell US store has them on closeout sale at the moment.

Thanks for the advice. I too wear a cap with a rain jacket, works well.

a hat works for about 30 mins to an hour of rain but if the rain is constant and all day then the hat will become saturated and depending on temperature, wind and your exertion level you could become very cold. Especially if the trucker hat is cotton.

A hood is a good idea.

baselayers becoming saturated from sweat is very common, in non alpine areas the "breathable" membranes cant keep up no matter what the marketing tells you. If moving quickly and the temp is above 10C I often dont wear anything under the rain jacket.

When I stop a nice dry fleece or in warmer weather a baselayer is put on to maintain body temprature. I find im alot warmer and dryer with this approach.

pit zips are awesome.

If your proper jacket is really too heavy, take your Marmot and add a rain kilt/garbage bag kilt.

Just bought the storm cruiser. $320 seemed too good to pass up.

Thanks for the input everyone.

I've used a Marmot Precip at altitude in the Himalaya. It coped well with far worse conditions than are likely to be encountered in Tasmania.