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updated zpacks rain jacket review

A place to chat about gear and the philosphy of ultralight. Ultralight bushwalking or backpacking focuses on carrying the lightest and simplest kit. There is still a good focus on safety and skill.
Forum rules
Ultralight Bushwalking/backpacking is about more than just gear lists. Ultralight walkers carefully consider gear based on the environment they are entering, the weather forecast, their own skill, other people in the group. Gear and systems are tested and tweaked.
If you are new to this area then welcome - Please remember that although the same ultralight philosophy can be used in all environments that the specific gear and skill required will vary greatly. It is very dangerous to assume that you can just copy someone else's gear list, but you are encouraged to ask questions, learn and start reducing the pack weight and enjoying the freedom that comes.

Common words
Base pack backpacking the mass of the backpack and the gear inside - not including consumables such as food, water and fuel
light backpacking base weight less than 9.1kg
ultralight backpacking base weight less than 4.5kg
super-ultralight backpacking base weight less than 2.3kg
extreme-ultralight backpacking base weight less than 1.4kg
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updated zpacks rain jacket review

Postby wayno » Fri 08 Nov, 2013 4:11 am

In July of 2013 the company that makes the fabric that the ZPacks Rain jacket uses made a change to their manufacturing process which resulted in a massive increase of MVTR of the fabric. I would encourage you to read this article that I wrote on the changes made to the fabric. Suffice to say, the jacket went from a rated 20,000-25,000 g/m2/24hrs range up to a range of 40,000-41,000 g/m2/24hrs. These are based on the JIS L 1099 testing method.

http://hikelighter.com/2013/11/07/zpacks-rain-jacket/
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Re: updated zpacks rain jacket review

Postby ULWalkingPhil » Fri 08 Nov, 2013 5:24 am

I got my eye on that jacket as a future investment.
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Re: updated zpacks rain jacket review

Postby Onestepmore » Fri 08 Nov, 2013 12:56 pm

It seems to be one of the few jackets that has designed a hood that is for those who DON'T wear helmets :)
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Re: updated zpacks rain jacket review

Postby ULWalkingPhil » Fri 08 Nov, 2013 3:43 pm

Onestepmore wrote:It seems to be one of the few jackets that has designed a hood that is for those who DON'T wear helmets :)


And I thought all along it was just me. i thought I must have a smaller head compared to others, hence why the hood was so large for me.
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Re: updated zpacks rain jacket review

Postby wayno » Fri 08 Nov, 2013 3:53 pm

you both need a bigger hairdo thats all..
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Re: updated zpacks rain jacket review

Postby Onestepmore » Fri 08 Nov, 2013 4:57 pm

Oh I don't have one of these jackets, I just read the review. It just seems that most of the jackets these days seem to have hoods made to cover a climbing (or snowboarding) helmet.
And Wayno, I don't need an 'Effie' hairdo (being a Kiwi you may have to look that one up!)
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Re: updated zpacks rain jacket review

Postby wayno » Fri 08 Nov, 2013 5:14 pm

removed
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Re: updated zpacks rain jacket review

Postby wayno » Fri 08 Nov, 2013 5:18 pm

Image
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Re: updated zpacks rain jacket review

Postby Bubbalouie » Fri 08 Nov, 2013 8:28 pm

Just wore one of these for the better part of a week on the OT, ignoring the super low weight this is the best hiking jacket I've ever owned. Breathability wise it leaves my older goretex paclite jacket for dead. It doesn't hurt that it packs down to nothing when not in use either.
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