Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Paclite or ?

Hi all

I'm planning to purchase a lightweight rain jacket to put in my pack on those "just in case" days. The main criteria are lightweight, small pack volume, reasonable durability and performance. Low noise is desirable but not essential.

I was contemplating the Marmot Precip until I found the OR Celestial Jacket offered at a good price. It is lighter than Precip and reportedly has good ventilation.

Any comments on the Paclite material? Durable? Quiet?

Suggestions for alternate jackets also appreciated.

Thanks

Ian

I'm really sold on the eVent raingear sold by Integral Designs and others; I've tried 'em all.
Don

1+ E-vent.......

All the Paclite Gore-Tex garments I've seen were far more expensive and did not perform better than the simplier made stuff, at least for my uses. Patagonia, for instance, now only makes one parka of that stuff. Something like $425 plus. For very active mountaineering/search and rescue types, etc. I've worked my Rain shadow Parka, $149, pretty hard. Works better, due to the 3 way hood, than my Paclite Ether Jacket which retailed for $365.
If it has no pit zips, I can't use it. Won't vent well enough for me. No material I've found, even Patagonia's most efficent, will pass moisture well enough for me when I'm acively on the move. I've gotta have pit zips. The longer the better. That's one thing Patagonia understands very well.
I've never found anything that is really waterproof that is quiet. However, by using wool pants w/ gaitors and just the top, I've found I can be reasonably quiet if I've got some rain to muffel the sound. E

Between the precip and the celestial I'd go with the OR celestial; gonna be quite a bit more breathable than the precip. That said, the precip is tried and true. I've heard nothing but good about eVent, and I don't doubt the quality, but for a "just in case", light rain jacket, I'd go the precip/celestial route myself.

Thanks everyone for the input. I can get the OR Celestial Paclite for under $150 which makes it an attractive option, it does have Pit Zips. The e-vent Thru Hiker jacket from Integral Designs looks like a great option but does cost a lot more.

The "just in case" phrase might make the application sound a bit casual - I mean just in case the weather turns really bad and I get caught in serious rain (or some snow). I'd pack this jacket, along with some Icebreaker thermals and a silnylon tarp. I've got the good gear if I know the weather is crap when I set out, the problem is that it is too heavy/bulky to pack every day when it probably won't be needed.

Cheers

Ian

FWIW, precip for less than $75

http://www.rei.com/product/718330