Is Breathability an Important Feature in a Rain Jacket for Hiking?

0 votes
by (120 points)
Frequently, I go for hikes when it’s warm and raining out. My only question would be, how much breathability do I need in a rain jacket and what do I look for?

1 Answer

0 votes
by (380 points)
Wearing a rain jacket with a high level of breathability is very important when hiking in warmer conditions where sweat will build up. Such a jacket will allow moisture from the body to escape thereby enhancing comfort. Always consider models with high breathability or with the presence of pit zips. Nonetheless, remember that the more breathable and high in fabric porosity a garment is, the less waterproof it tends to be but it can be overcome by having a perfect breathable jacket for your purpose.
by (100 points)
The Rab recommendation is really intriguing! I typically run hot when hiking, trail running, and fastpacking.
by (100 points)
Thank you for the content. Breathability can definitely be quantified, but only a handful of manufacturers provide the information in the form of g/m²/24hr. (JIS L1099 B-1). It makes a big difference to overall performance.
by (100 points)
When outer layer gets soaked, you get soaked too. Membrane is a big PoS...
by (100 points)
Rain jackets may be ok but the fact of having all the pitzips and vents demonstrates that it is not breathable.

If you need a rain jacket, then you probably want rain pants as well. And, only in my opinion, that all is too much of a headache. Even with just the jacket, if the weather is unsettled. Stop
 Drop pack. Take out. Put on. Get all ready to go again. Or misting just enough that you will eventually get too wet.
I use a poncho. I can flip it over my head so it lays over my pack. Pull it back if rain picks up. Or even take it off. I can still put it on with barely even a pause. It ventilates. On the bottom I wear shorts or light nylon pants. I buy Duluth light pants with lots of pockets.
by (100 points)
It's incredible people forget things they learned in school physics lessons. Breathable membranes only work in very specific conditions, cold dry climates. Gore-tex is the worst for propagating these marketing claims. It is DWR that makes a new waterproof item seem waterproof by making it runoff. The key to waterproof clothing is ventilation. A plastic mac is more waterproof than any breathable rain jacket; however, there needs to be adequate ventilation such as pit zips and side, arm and back vents. Anyone who wants waterproof clothing needs to accept that they may at times feel damp. This realisation has led to the growing popularity of non-waterproof waterproof clothing such as Ventile, Paramo and other similar softshell products, even hiking umbrellas! Finally, a waterproof should only be worn when it is raining. It shocks me the number of people I hear complaining about their hardshell waterproofs while wearing them in conditions other than rain. A waterproof jacket is not the correct clothing to protect you from a cold wind. A cheap breathable windproof jacket is best to wear as an outer-shell garment. I would advise avoiding windproof fleeces and the like, they have all the problems associated with waterproof when it comes to breathability and comfort.
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