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More rain jacket musings

Astrid

Veteran

I'm sorry I'm spamming you with all these gear posts... But I'm really hesitant to spend so much money on a damn rain jacket, so I wondered if there weren't any alternatives.

Googled a bit too and one option that might be
nicer to wear on the trip and afterwards would be a soft shell - some people recommended buying a nice soft shell that's
windproof and waterrepellant for the cold and light drizzle and then adding a
cheap but effective rainjacket to the travel wardrobe that you could wear on it's own or over the
soft shell when it's really raining. But it wouldn't be the main jacket. And a softshell is much nicer to wear
doing activity and the cost of both pieces should add up to maybe about 130€, same as one of the cheaper jackets from the other post would cost. Of course it might rain all the time and then I'd wear a cheap rainjacket constantly, but it might also be more warm and sunny than rainy. Who knows.

Does anyone have experience with this kind of combination?

Dressing

24 replies

Latest reply was from Alassë

Caro in Oz

Veteran

http://www.nau.com/womens/categories/sale/

These are supposed to be good. They are expensive but the link is to their sale items. They have shops in Germany but not in Berlin as far as I can see.

rabbit

Veteran

Well, you would probably need to carry both with you no matter what and might need to switch back and forth a few times during a day outing. Part of what makes a Goretex jacket expensive is paying for the brand name. There are other synthetic breathable waterproof jackets made by house brands like REI, Columbia, Marmot etc. in the US - I'm not sure of the equivalent in Europe. that might be less expensive on sale but just as good in terms of waterproofing and breathability.

It's likely (although who knows) that the sky will be dripping and moist for at least part of every day, so whatever jacket you bring might be something you wear 80% of the time even when it's not actively raining.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I have learned the hard way that a water repellant soft shell is not good. I went on a hike in a steady fog, very low level drizzle. By the time the hike was over I was soaked to the bone. And it was an expensive Arc'teryx jacket.
Truly waterproof is much better.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I am with Anna.

One issue with the soft shell jackets is that they are really designed for the kind of weather that is rare in the summer in most places. At least the kind I'm thinking of. Most of them have a sort of fuzzy inner side. It helps the jacket to feel a bit warmer and more windproof/ safe from other elements and makes it nice to the touch -- but it also tends to cling onto lots of fabrics (even denim) and can feel "bunchy" on. For some people that maybe isn't an issue but I have noticed it when I've tried them on.

I have a girlfriend in Vancouver who has one. It's nice looking -- sort of somewhere between gear and a regular coat. Sporty, but fashionably so. But she wears it mostly in the Vancouver fall/ winter. It could never do for the summer, even in that temperate climate. And although she wears hers a fair bit, she also curses it -- because she has to carry an umbrella when she is wearing it.

I suppose that's your other option. I'm afraid I missed the earlier threads but I expect you will be doing hiking where an umbrella might be a pain to carry? If so, I would go for the rainproof (doesn't have to be Goretex). But if it is just city walking and you think you would get more long range use from a soft shell, then do that with an umbrella.

E

Veteran

What about ebay? Or the German equivalent? I know you don't have luck with secondhand for general stuff, but maybe it'll be better with gear?

carter

Veteran

Tough one. It sounds like (in the other thread) that although you could keep the pricey one for years, that it won't get used too much after your trip. Can you ballpark a CPW based just on the trip, and see how you feel about that number? As another option, could you borrow something from a friend? I'm taking my stepmom's raincoat to Europe because my regular one is too bulky to fold up into a baggie to stash in my tote.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Caro. They do have some nice stuff, with that 'urban' look. Bust still very espensive even one sale...

Thanks Rabbit. I agree that it doesn't have to be Gore-Tex, I know you pay for the name. With all the expensive options I tried that were all not quite right in some aspect I just wondered whether I shouldn't get an inexpensive one after all. The jacket in #1 is the Marmot rain jacket that offers the most bang for the buck, so to speak. You can get it online for about 50-70€. I've already tried it and I don't remember exactly what with all the jackets I've tried, but I think the fit wasn't bad. But I sent it back because it really is only a thin hard shell, no lining or anything and I couldn't see myself wearing it as an only layer for the whole trip! But if I had an alternative that I could layer also under it that would be different. I don't think this is super breathable, but it has pit zips for ventilation and all the features the other Marmot jacket has to keep you dry in real rain. It packs away in its own pocket, so it is lightweight enough to carry it around just in case.

Thanks Anna. That's good to know - so the rain jacket is probably a must when I'm hiking and not walking around the city with an umbrella.

Thanks Suz. I've never had a soft shell before, so I'm not sure about the issue with the bunching. As for temperature, there are summer weight options out there. My parents and my brother each have one and they wear them a lot. For the trip we will be doing some light hiking (probably more walking though), but also city stuff. I'm definitely taking my umbrella btw. I guess the more substantial rain jacket might be more useful on the trip, but I can't really see myself wearing it that often afterwards. I've always used an umbrella in everyday life and I find the combination of woolcoat and umbrella much more comfortable for rainy weather in fall than wearing a rain jacket for example. And I don't cycle in the city so I don't have any occasions where an umbrella wouldn't work. The face that I haven't found the need to buy a rain jacket before this trip speaks for itself. The last one I owned gave up on my maybe four years ago and I haven't owned one since. If I would get the softshell to wear in the city, in good weather or under the rain jacket I thought of maybe something like #2. Simple looking to go well with a scarf, jeans and sneakers and without a hood so that I can layer it under the rain jacket. I would probably wear a sweater or short- and longsleeved tees underneath. I'm not going to pack any fancy tops or clothes in general, so the layering should work.

Thanks Eva. I did have a look at Ebay and also some other German sites out there. I guess I could do that, but only for jackets I've tried already that worked out. But they still want around 50-70€ secondhand for a more expensive gear jacket and they don't take it back when it doesn't fit. With the fit problems I've been having I'd need to be very lucky ordering an unknow model.

Thanks Carter. Wearing the jacket every day on the trip would result in a CPW of around 8€. That's definitely too high, although to be fair I would certainly wear it again after that. Borrowing from a friend won't work because they're all much bigger than me.

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

I guess I must be thinking of a specific type of soft shell jacket, then, Astrid. It makes sense they have them for different climates. It sounds like you would actually prefer that. So why not go for it and just add a cheap rain poncho (packable) for real down pours.

Your saga is making me realize how very lucky I was to find my McKinley waterproof jacket a few years ago. It is not perfect (not the perfect pink -- they call it red, actually, but it's a hot pink), sleeves a bit loose and long, not all that well ventilated (though breathable) -- but it does keep the rain off me and has a detachable hood.

It was really inexpensive (about $45). I don't wear it often -- but it is super useful to have when I do need something like this.

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JAileen

Veteran

Astrid, have you checked thrift stores for a jacket? I found a nice Patagonia waterproof jacket for $3. For that price I was willing to overlook the funky pocket design.

ETA: I had a couple of softshell jackets that I hated so much I gave them away!

rabbit

Veteran

Hmm... my breathable rain jacket doesn't have any lining, it's just a shell. I wear a very thin zip up fleece jacket for warmth under it when I need to. Maybe that's a route to take?

In my experience umbrellas aren't a good bet for the UK -- occasionally you can use them in the city, but there is a lot of wind too, mine tended to get destroyed fast.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Suz! I think I would get more use out of two layering pieces I could use seperately afterwards. And I have to admit I'm balking at the price with the other ones. Your jacket looks great on you btw.

Jaileen, no thrifting something like gear here. Most thrift stores here cater to the hipster crowd, but there aren't really any places to thrift normal (modern) clothes. As for as I know. Maybe because most people own less and wear their jackets until they are unwearable. Or they sell them online. What did you hate about the softshell jackets?

Thanks Rabbit. So then I will have to wear the rain jacket when it's raining in any case - that's alright. I'm definitely getting one! I still think it might be nice to have an option for when it's not raining though. Of course a fleece is nice for layering under the jacket, but it doesn't really keep you warm when you leave the jacket off and it's windy. That's why I thought a soft shell might be nice, because it's more windproof. I've never been to Scotland, but when I think back to past trips to Scandinavia or the North Sea it was great to have a windproof layer near the water when it wasn't raining. Like my Fjällräven jacket below - not waterproof but fairly windproof it makes a big difference when it's slightly chilly and windy.

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Isabel

Veteran

Astrid, I have the following unlined coat in black with a belt. They no longer have that exact style, but this is it without the belt. It is 100 % waterproof. It is also a great wind blocker.

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop.....mesh-lined

I bought it a few years ago because of the same situation that you described.
Every year we vacation in a place where we hike, canoe, etc. But we also go to a couple of cosmopolitan areas. I wanted something that looked good in both places. I soft-shell is great for water resistance and wind but not for rain, I found. I liked having a polar fleece for hiking and such and a sweater for the cosmopolitan areas.

JAileen

Veteran

I bought a Spyder soft shell with a hood for walking the dog. I wanted something I could grab and go. I wasn't familiar with that kind of jacket, and a salesperson told me it was warm, which it wasn't. It also wasn't waterproof or windproof. And I couldn't layer it because it was very form fitting. It also had a really large weird spider imprint across the front. The other one I bought very impulsively because it was on sale and I thought it would work. But this one (Patagonia) had the same attributes (not warm, waterproof or windproof) but it was also kind of stiff and unflattering. And it didn't have a hood.

My go to is a Woolrich Mountain Parka. It's not as waterproof as my North Face gore tex jacket, but most of the time it's perfect. I can layer it, it's wind proof, and nearly waterproof. If I'm not layering, I can cinch up the waist. It's has functional pockets that work for me, and then there's the nostalgia factor - I had a nearly identical one in college. I bought mine at Sierra Trading Post a while back, but they don't have any now.

https://www.woolrich.com/woolr.....d=cat20070

Astrid

Veteran

Isabel, that coat looks like a great compromise between city style and practical gear! And they even have petite sizing. Unfortunately we don't have LLBean and I won't do international shipping on this.

Jaileen, I can understand the frustration in that case! Seems like both didn't work for you at all. I really like the look of that Woolrich Mountain Parka, the plaid lining is awesome. It looks really good for a functional jacket.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Astrid -- LE can work for you, correct? How about this one?

http://www.landsend.com/produc...../id_264592

Astrid

Veteran

Yes, we do have LE, although the range is not as big. The one you linked to is available, but I'm just not sure how well this would keep me dry. I do think it's more of a city rain jacket, I think I'd prefer a gear jacket from an outdoor brand.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think the LE jackets are surprisingly good for the money. Of course if you are looking for a sort of "investment" rain jacket, it's not the one. But prettier colours and at least there are reviews.

Here is another wild card option if you are concerned to save money: The MEC gear swap. A sample listing: http://www.mec.ca/Apps/outdoor.....55&re

and another: http://www.mec.ca/Apps/outdoor.....55&re

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Suz. I have to go have a look at the US Lands End site, not many reviews on the German page. Oh and that jacket is still 100€, so it's not that big a difference to the JW for example.

Astrid

Veteran

I placed an order for the pink Marmot jacket. The jacket is last year's model and the pink looks actually much nicer than this year's colors. It's called plum rose, which makes me hope it won't be too loud IRL. At least I will be seen with this one if I keep it... And I figured if I buy a rain jacket that really looks like a rain jacket I can also go for color. Added a fleece jacket to the order, also on sale. Not sure if it works with the jacket, it might be too warm for layering under the jacket anyway. But I wanted to try it because it looks fairly dressy for a fleece and the color is one of my most flattering blues.

No idea if this brings me nearer to a solution, we will see.

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JAileen

Veteran

Marmot is a good company. I like the bright color so they'll see you! I hope it works out.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Jaileen.

Alassë

Veteran

Oh yes, that's a lovely blue for you. I hope the items work out!

Astrid

Veteran

They came today, that was quick! The fleece was a great color and so soft and comfortable, but it goes back because it didn't fit right. Wrong figure for it which resulted in some weird puckering of the zipper. And the rain jacket goes back too. The pink actually was rather nice, but this jacket was so loud. I was rustling with the slightest movement, so no way.

I'm now thinking of ordering the Schöffel or the JW one after all...

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Alassë

Veteran

Too bad, though at least you don't have second guesses at this round. I hope the next jacket you try works!