[pct-l] Rain jacket / Marmot precip / Post by "Panama"

[Lachlan Fysh]

I have an Arc'Teryx jacket which is gore active - it breathes very well and is definitely waterproof... 

It's so breathable that for a period I considered going with that and no wind shirt for the PCT this year, but decided that even in an El Niño year I'll probably see more dry and windy conditions than wet and windy, so I've landed on a lighter jacket (Marmot Essence) and a wind shirt for a similar weight to my gore tex... So yeah, not windshirt breathable, but not bad.

I also considered a poncho tarp for a while, but decided that given El Niño will probably mean a wetter year with more prolonged rain I didn't want to deal with getting wet while converting the tarp to shelter... So I've gone with the lighter rain jacket and a larger cuben tarp (duo size is 2oz more than solo and let's me leave the bivy at home).

Sent from my iPhone

> On 12 Jan 2016, at 10:43 PM, Tyler Underwood <u.tyler at yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> I am just curious has anyone else looked into the Gore-Tex Active? I am curious about how water proof and breathable it is. 
> 
> Thanks! 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Jan 11, 2016, at 10:48 PM, rbelshee <rbelshee at hotmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Yep, breathable waterproof coats do not work. It took me too many purchases, miles and years before I finally accepted that.
>> 
>> A poncho is my most versatile rain gear, combined with rain pants. It isn't perfect, especially in high wind or brushy areas, but is still better than a goretex coat in keeping me dry.
>> 
>> 
>> Rod Belshee
>> hikepaddle.blogspot.com
>> 
>> <div>-------- Original message --------</div><div>From: Drew Smith <jdrewsmith at gmail.com> </div><div>Date:01/11/2016  8:23 PM  (GMT-08:00) </div><div>To:  </div><div>Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net </div><div>Subject: Re: [pct-l] Rain jacket / Marmot precip / Post by "Panama" </div><div>
>> </div>
>> Your point is right on.  The truth about "waterproof-breathable" jackets is
>> that they are neither waterproof nor breathable.  I wore several brands in
>> the 80s and 90s.  In any extended rain, I got wet - first along any contact
>> points with straps and pack, and then all over.  And unless the temps were
>> in the 40s, or I was walking downhill, I soon wetted out from the inside.
>> 
>> I still use these jackets in the winter, but I switched back to ponchos for
>> summer hiking 15 years ago.  I know that WPB jackets are the reigning trail
>> orthodoxy, but consider this:
>> 
>>  - Ponchos are much cheaper than WPB jackets
>>  - They keep you drier in long rainstorms
>>  - They ventilate MUCH better
>>  - They keep your pack dry
>>  - They minimize contact of cold wet fabric with your skin, reducing
>>  convective heat loss.
>>  - They are easy to flip back over your head when it dries out a bit - no
>>  need to stop walking to change out.  And to pull back over when it resumes
>>  raining.
>>  - They are multi-use as a tarp or groundcloth
>>  - You can take a break and eat a snack in the rain in them without
>>  getting your pack wet