Ah, discovering the right rain jackets for thru-hikers. All we actually need is one thing that may preserve us dry on the skin and the inside once we discover ourselves strolling by way of a downpour. For me, that has usually meant a selection between a heavy, cumbersome coat that leaves me clammy and claustrophobic or one thing so minimalist that it compresses towards my gear in a moist mess of moist, and I dare not cease shifting in case I freeze.
Over time, I’ve leaned extra in the direction of the “coat” aspect, so I used to be so excited to have the chance to strive the brand new Out of doors Vitals Tushar rain jacket, which strives to sort out these points whereas remaining ultralight.
Retailing for $230, the Tushar is a minimalist arduous shell with pit zips that makes use of two totally different materials to optimize waterproofing and breathability. However does it work? Let’s see.
Out of doors Vitals Tushar Rain Jacket At a Look
MSRP: $230 (discounted to $207 for Out of doors Vitals members)
Weight: 7.4 oz (Males’s Medium)
Cloth: 2.5L Toray Torain 3D laminate, 2.5L micro-ripstop nylon
Dimension Vary: out there solely in males’s sizes, small – 3XL
Circumstances of Evaluation
I examined the Tushar Rain Jacket in March on the Arizona Path in heavy, completely soaking all-day rain and light-weight snow. Temperatures ranged from the higher 50s to the low 60s.
Materials and Options
The identify “Tushar” refers back to the mountain vary south of Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah and is pronounced TUH-sher. The important thing design component for sturdiness and breathability is using two totally different waterproof membranes mixed with a 3D-printed inside half layer.
And what does this imply precisely?
All rain jackets have a face layer. Like its identify, this “faces” the weather instantly and is just about what you see whenever you have a look at a jacket on the rack – or on a hiker. Often that is nylon or polyester coated with a type of DWR (Sturdy Water Repellant) to, nicely, repel water. Under that could be a waterproof membrane – assume eVent or Gore-Tex.
The lightest, most breathable, and most reasonably priced choices are 2.5-layer rain jackets. They’ve a troublesome exterior, however their interior layer, which supplies resistance to sweat and oils that may finally break down the jacket, is generally printed or sprayed on the within to chop weight and over time, limiting the lifetime of the jacket. It’s a half layer.
It’s when a 3rd devoted material is added to the jacket’s inside to guard its outer layer that we we get a high-performance, extra strong piece of drugs – and one which’s heavier and extra spendy. These jackets preserve water out, however breathability can typically take a success relying on the fabric.
What OV units out to do with the Tushar is to skip that third layer, combining a rugged face material with two totally different waterproof membranes and that 3D-printed interior layer. The intention is to wick the water, do away with that terrible clammy feeling inside, whereas additionally retaining the jacket extraordinarily light-weight and packable.
Key Options
- Hydrophobic Membrane in high-pressure areas equivalent to the place a backpack or shoulder straps sit
- Hydrophilic Membrane in areas the place breathability is most essential
- 3D Printed Inside Half Layer to maintain membrane off pores and skin & improve breathability & consolation
- Chest Pocket
- Anatomically Minimize Hood
- Half-elasticized Cuffs
- Pit Zip Vents
- YKK Aquaguard Zippers
- Partial Elasticized Hem for higher match
- Seam-taped
Supplies
Off the rack, the jacket feels in regards to the weight and dimension of my bandana. As I discussed, the two.5-layer shell Out of doors Vitals makes use of has two totally different waterproof membranes, body-mapping the heavier waterproof materials over the shoulders the place sturdiness is essential and the extra breathable materials on the torso.
That comes right down to a 28.5k hydrostatic head and 20k breathability within the grey panels and 15k HH on the coloured panels with 29k breathability (i.e., the gray panels are extra waterproof however much less breathable and the coloured panels are the reverse). The seam-taping is top of the range.
Match
I’m 5’7” and 140 kilos, so I attempted a medium. Although it solely is available in males’s sizes, the match felt good for me with lengthy sufficient sleeves and loads of girth round my booty. Although for a extra curvaceous girl than I, this might show troublesome, since even with a reasonably flat bottom, the waist crawled up as I moved alongside.
Adjustability
Whereas the chest zipper is adjustable, OV provides solely the smallest quantity of elastic on the cuffs, waist and hood, which lacks a structured invoice. In heavy rain, a hiker utilizing trekking poles, as I do, might wish to put on mitts to maintain water from leaking down the sleeves. The hood match me completely when carrying a baseball cap. However even when zipped all the way in which to the highest, rain leaked in and gave me a V-neck of dampness. I additionally query the sturdiness of elastic to maintain its form over time.
Breathability
Breathability may be a very powerful consider a rain jacket meant to be worn whereas shifting. Pit zips improve this. At seven inches, the one-way zips felt tiny to me and may need been a bit simpler had they been longer.
Inside, the jacket is fabricated from a 3D-printed materials that protects the waterproof-breathable laminate from scuffs and pores and skin oil and prolongs the lifespan of the shell. I discovered it had a barely plastic really feel towards my pores and skin, however since I had no intention of carrying the jacket towards my naked chest, that mattered little to me.
Pockets
The Tushar doesn’t have aspect pockets (boo) and just one (very handy) chest pocket the place I saved my telephone in the course of the worst of the downpour. It stayed completely dry.
However did I say dry?
The quick reply isn’t any. I used to be strolling on largely simple terrain in essentially the most soaking rain on the Arizona Path and never overly sweating, but once I took off the jacket, water had saturated my shoulders alongside the backpack straps.
Oof.
Out of doors Vitals Tushar Professionals
Contoured Match/Drop Waist
The jacket has an athletic form to it with vast shoulders narrowing to the waist. It simply seems so rattling good. And whereas the colours don’t have anything to do with its efficiency, they’re hanging in two tones of blue or pink.
Ultralight
At just a bit over seven ounces, this jacket is a gram weenie’s dream. I actually favored carrying it versus the cumbersome rain coat I used on the soggy Te Araroa.
Pit Zips
Though the one-directional pit zips felt tiny to me at solely 7 inches, I rely them as a professional being provided on this jacket in any respect. I think about in additional arid situations with passing storms and high-intensity exercise, these may actually assist steadiness the moisture inside.
Out of doors Vitals Tushar Cons
Unisex/Males’s Sizing Solely
I debated whether or not to attract consideration to the sizing for the reason that jacket, for essentially the most half, match me nicely. I ought to level out that I’m a breast most cancers thriver. Lately, I’ve the form of an adolescent boy. A extra buxom girl might discover sizing tough.
Modest Sturdiness
I additionally debated whether or not to categorize sturdiness as a professional or con. The outer feels prefer it may deal with an off-trail thorn-fest, but the interior – even after modest use – is starting to interrupt down.
No Hood/Waist/Cuff Adjustment
The Tushar makes use of a modest quantity of elastic to carry the hood, waist, and cuffs in place. I ponder in regards to the sturdiness of elastic, however extra importantly, the truth that rain discovered its manner in.
Not True 3L (See Above)
OV has skipped a real third layer as a substitute utilizing a 3D-printed inside, which really makes the jacket a 2.5L somewhat than 3L. This provides it a plastic really feel and will account for why I had seepage on the factors of wear and tear from my backpack straps.
Conclusion
Whereas the jacket seems nice, match decently, and managed gentle rain, on the finish of the day, I didn’t keep dry on the strain factors or the place the hood joined my chin. It may be a perfect shell for day hikes and quick rain bursts in additional arid areas somewhat than heavy showers on multiple-day backpack journeys.
Store the Out of doors Vitals Tushar
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The Out of doors Vitals Tushar rain jacket was donated for goal of evaluate
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