OCT 93 "An especially memorable rotten day ... unending wind-driven rain at a balmy 33F. After several hours of ice-climbing practice on the glacier, I was the only one who could claim any semblance of dryness." ---From a tester's field notes By DaveGetchell As anyone who has felt rain funneling from the back of his neck to the bottom of his boots knows, nothing puts a damper on a great time in a great place like a downpour. So you buy some storm gear and expect to stay somewhat dry. The problem is, no single storm suit suits all seasons and all occasions. A steaming, streaming Costa Rican downpour isn't the same as a howling Mount McKinley blizzard, and it's unreasonable to expect one garment to handle both extremes. For less exceptional climates, where most backpackers spend their time, the new breed of versatile foul-weather suits can keep you comfy come hail or high water. This midweight storm gear is warm and weatherproof enough for winter duty, yet sufficiently stuffable to earn pack space on go-light summer jaunts. Backpacker rounded up 11 multitalented suits to see how they weathered all sorts of storms. We sought year-round suits that will shed spring showers while you're hiking in the Smokies, beat the sleet that can pelt you on any summer high-Sierra day, ward off wicked White Mountain winds wailing above fall foliage, and block blowing snow while you're hut-skiing the Rockies in December. Our lineup embodies the fine art of compromise. Some tested suits trade off brush-busting durability in return for feathery weight and grapefruit-size packability. Other storm suits opt for the bombproof-if-bulky approach, while the rest of them tread midweight middle ground. Most of the test jackets are zip-fronts for ample ventilation. They're cut long enough to guard your waist while snow-groveling, or cover shorts but leave legs bare in balmy rains. All have visored hoods in a mix of integral, fold-down, and snap-off designs. The test pants are mostly full-side-zip models for ventilation and for tugging over boots. We also tested lighter, more packable pull-on models, but you'll still want to try before you buy to ensure the pants will slip over your boots. Some test pants sport strategic wear patches at the seat, knees, and ankles, while others feature single-thickness fabric to save weight and bulk. The fabrics employ a variety of waterproof/breathable (WP/B) materials in two basic constructions: two-layer and three-layer. This terminology can be confusing, but the differences are significant. For instance, three-layer fabrics (3L) look like a single thickness, but are actually a sandwich of outer shell, WP/B layer, and tricot inner facing. Two-layer types (2L) bond a WP/B laminate or coating inside the shell fabric with a separate liner. Most 3L fabrics are noticeably stiffer, yet generally lighter and more packable than 2L. Lack of a separate liner means 3L garments aren't quite as warm as 2L, though the difference is less pronounced when you're wearing wintry layers. Since 3L puts the WP/B layer closer to your skin, it's a bit more breathable than 2L. The 3L's bonded lining protects high-wear areas under pack straps, elbows, and knees; some whisper-light 3L fabrics can outlast heavier 2L. Typical 2L fabrics feel less crinkly and drape around you better than 3L. The liner adds noticeable warmth when you're wearing minimal layers, and cuts clamminess by separating you from condensation under the outer shell. Taffeta liners slip on and off easily and trap insulating air but impede breathability a bit. Mesh liners allow better breathing but aren't quite as warm and tend to snag on other clothes. Consequently, many garments use mesh in the upper body and taffeta elsewhere. There are some lingering misconceptions about waterproof/breathable storm gear's improbable mission: preventing weathery wetness from coming in, while letting body moisture out. Waterproofness and breathability were once mutually exclusive concepts. Then came Gore-Tex, which combined both properties and stood the raingear world on its ear. The trail to success has been long and lumpy, but now Gore-Tex and a host of competitors offer true waterproof performance. Breathability, however, remains the most stubbornly misunderstood concept in the outdoor world, and unrealistic expectations abound. WP/B fabrics are not immune to the laws of physics; none can process more than a limited amount of bodily generated water vapor in a certain time. Even at moderate activity levels, you will sweat in any of these suits. To blow off steam: 1) Open up ventilation features---front zipper, underarm or leg zips, pocket vents, and hood; 2) Adjust the amount of clothes you're wearing; or 3) Dial back your activity level. In functional, feet-in-the-mud terms, "breathability" means your body heat gradually dries out sweaty underlayers while you're wearing the suit, but only after your activity level decreases. Field testing foul-weather gear takes a certain unusual enthusiasm, so we turned to the mountain guides at American Alpine Institute of Bellingham, Washington. A half-dozen AAI guides obliged with their typically thorough gear-flogging, putting in 320 user-days through last winter and spring. Backpacker staffers added another 50 or 60 user-days for good measure. The testers skied and snowshoed in British Columbia, the Sierra, Cascades, Rockies, Tetons, White Mountains, and Maine. They climbed Patagonian peaks, where wind-driven rain pelted sideways for days on end. They slogged up Ecuadoran volcanos through freezing fog. They hiked Washington's Olympic Peninsula in dank, dripping drizzle. They canoed, mountain-biked, and sea-kayaked in cold spring rains. Between more exotic trials, testers wore the gear while digging out from the deepest snows in 20 years. All field observations were recorded on standardized forms, rating the suits for waterproofness, breathability, ventilation, freedom of movement, durability, detailing (hood, pockets, etc.), packability, and style. When things finally dried out, testers awarded each suit an all-things-considered (overall) score based on gut feelings. See our ratings chart for specific details. Before getting into the suit-by-suit reviews, there are some basic truisms our testers discovered while standing in the rain: 1) All these fabrics are waterproof, but. . . . If you hang out in rain or wet snow long enough, you will get drenched because even the best suit merely delays the inevitable. The speed of your soaking depends on interior condensation, which way you face the wind, and oversights like failing to wear gaiters or leaving pockets open. 2) Water repellency is crucial to waterproofing: A WP/B barrier is only part of a garment's weather defense. Equally important is the invisible water-repellent treatment on the outer surface, which tech-heads call Durable Water Repellent or DWR. Once the DWR wears off, water will no longer bead up and can saturate the outer fabric. You'll feel wet even though the WP/B barrier hasn't actually leaked. (See "Storm Gear Tune-Up," page 52, for more about DWR's effects on raingear performance.) 3) All these suits appear to "leak" under certain conditions: When it's cool outside the suit and you're producing lots of heat and moisture inside, you're likely to get wet. Water vapor condenses inside the shell and makes you feel as if the jacket is leaking. Worn-out DWR and saturated outer fabric can provoke enough condensation to soak you as thoroughly as any rain. The moral: To stay dry, maintain DWR and ventilate like mad. 4) The difference is in the details: No WP/B barrier does much good if a bogus hood design dumps water down your neck. Individual detailing differences may be subtle, but their cumulative effect separates frowning wetheads from smug, snug foul-weather hikers. Look for particulars like double storm flaps over front and underarm zips, ample pocket flaps, trim wrist closures, and a hood that cinches around your head (hat and all) without leaky gaps. Garments should fit loosely to allow layering and inside air circulation; if you're on the edge between two sizes, opt for the larger. Details often involve trade-offs. Elastic ankle closures seal out blustery winds and serve as light-duty gaiters over ski or mountain boots, but may sluice rainwater right into low-cut footwear. Straight cuffs let in more wind, but they will direct rain runoff around boot tops. 5) Light weight can, indeed, equal waterproof and breathable: The choice used to be either light and breathable or heavy and waterproof. Some testers were skeptical about the lighter-weight garments, but most came back from chronically wet climates such as Patagonia or coastal Washington singing a different tune. 6) There are no "loser" suits here: Remember, we chose some of the best gear on the market. Even the lowest-rated suits in this group offer a better foul-weather haven than anything available five or seven years ago. You'll have to decide for yourself about the price/value equations; the individual reviews will help you evaluate the trade-offs for your own all-season (mis)adventures. Helly-Hansen Pinnacle Jacket/Rotor Pants Although the Helly-Tech Ultra fabric was the heaviest in the group, one tester raved that it "worked amazingly well" in cruddy Cascades rain and fog. The jacket's short length, articulated elbows, and roomy shoulders offered outstandingly free motion. Testers liked the polypro handwarmer pockets, knit collar, and cushy hood lining, but not the awkward pockets, smallish hood, and fumbly front storm flaps. The Rotor pants fended off all kinds of weather, and the high-backed waist kept snow out of longjohns. If the name hints at a design emphasis on skiing, the pants' slim cut confirms it. The trim-fitting Rotors flattered slim testers but impeded high steps or knee bends for well-padded folks. L.L. Bean North Col Jacket and Pants Bean's suit fits into the more winterized end of the group. Its beefy 2L Gore-Tex Taslan fabric and full mesh/taffeta lining make it one of the warmest---and, alas, least stuffable---combos. The jacket features no less than nine pockets, which is great for storage but led to I-know-it's-in-here-somewhere searches for things like a wayward Swiss Army knife. The jacket trades off the ventilation of underarm zips in return for better waterproofing and a lower price. Styled in the traditional mountain-parka mold, it's equally suitable for trail or street---"sort of techy but not too techy," according to one tester. The side-zip pants, though sturdy and weatherproof, logged complaints about the droopy waist and restrictive cut. Lowe Alpine Robson Jacket/Alpine Flash Pants "This is simple, functional gear you could wear to the summit of Denali or Mount Washington in winter," reported one tester, "but it's sort of overkill for summer." Articulated elbows and knees free up the suit's range of movement, while the sturdy Triple Point WP/B-coated fabric shed weather and abuse alike. The Alpine Flash pants offer the smoothest waist closures of any side-zip pants we've seen, with sculpted Velcro tabs and zipper sliders set above pack-belt pressure points. The pants come with a zip fly much appreciated by male testers. The pants are also available in women's sizing, much appreciated by female testers tired of turning up the cuffs on unisex designs. Marmot Stormlight Jacket/Cloudlight Pants This suit combines minimal size and weight with enviable weatherproofing. Admiring comments peppered the test forms: "Most-used garments of our trip," and "Great hiking gear---give me the jacket, now!" Marmot's wispy 3L Gore-Tex ripstop proved surprisingly tough for its weight. Even so, too much butt-sliding and gravel-groveling would transform the concept of wear-and-tear into gaping reality. Water-repellency drew backhanded praise: "It even withstood being thrown up on---not all Chilean wine is good." Though totally waterproof, the pull-on pants didn't offer much ventilation, and the leg openings barely fit over midweight trail boots. MontBell Freney Parka and Pants Befitting MontBell's penchant for luscious fabrics, the Freney suit was the softest, least crinkly 3L Gore-Tex garment in the test. And it draped better than most 2L suits, making it the most stylish street-wear parka of the group, as well. Details like the full-function roll-up hood, fleece-lined collar, and cozy handwarmer pockets are welcome whether you're walking to work or hiking to camp. And don't let its good looks fool you; the Freney storm suit goes far beyond mere around-town gear. It rated high in waterproofing, packability, and ventilation. Only the recalcitrant Velcro flaps covering the pant zippers elicited a few grumbles. One guide summed it up this way: "This gear will get you through just about anything short of an expedition." Mountain Equipment Apex Jacket and Pants This cleanly executed gear was the most pleasant surprise of the test. The Apex suit seems like it was designed by people who tried it in wretched weather, then went back and fixed the glitches. The Apex's strength is its lack of weaknesses. It delivers great weatherproofing, ventilation, and freedom of movement. You won't find gaps in storm flaps, hood, pockets, or wrists. One tester didn't like the snap-on hood, but that about covers the complaints. Whether climbing Mount Rainier or skiing in Vail, the Apex can handle either. It is, however, heavier than needed for summer backpacking, so if you're counting ounces, make sure you expect really foul weather before taking the Apex along. Patagonia Super Pluma Anorak and Pants Patagonia's new Super Pluma suit reflects a minimalist approach. Built from a satiny 3L Gore-Tex ripstop, it's super-simple yet superbly detailed. In addition to being the group's lightest, most stuffable garment, the Super Pluma was one of the most stormworthy and most coveted outfits. A whole Super Pluma suit weighs less than some other test jackets alone. But that much weight-shaving inevitably exacts trade-offs, which in this case came in ventilation and durability. "Venting options are pretty simple," said one tester, "On or off. No pit zips, no pocket vents, no nuthin'!" As for durability, this suit is more packable than it is bushwhackable. Super Pluma is for when you must go light but still be prepared for rain or snow. REI Backpacker Jacket/Gore-Tex Full-Zip Pants The REI suit embodies middle-of-the-road design. The jacket's light WP/B-coated taffeta shell provides decent waterproofing and tight stuffability. Long pit zips run clear down to the hem. "Ventilates so well, it's like not wearing a jacket at all," said one tester. Though the suit is basically sound, some detailing drew fire. The upper pockets are difficult to reach because they slope the wrong way, and lower pockets get covered by a pack waistbelt. The snap-on hood liked to hinge back off testers' heads, and a hood snap pulled out of one test sample. The Gore-Tex pants scored positives for the slim cut and ease of movement, though one tester found "the waist snaps sat right on my hipbones---ouch!---under a pack belt." Sequel Twilight Jacket and Pants Sequel squeezes weight out of the Twilight by supplanting all zippers except the front one with Velcro closures. The supple 3L Gore-Tex polyester fabric proved remarkably tough. One tester speared a dead branch hard enough to gouge his arm through three layers of clothing, yet the jacket was unscathed. The polyester shell also retained its water-repellency longer than any of the nylon fabrics. Testers liked the hold-open feature on the underarm vents, but worried about the security of Velcroed pockets. They praised Sequel's detachable hood that pivots on a webbing track like a turret. The pants slipped over big boots better than other pull-ons, and the web waist belt actually held the pants up under a pack. Consensus: "Rowdy four-season gear, ready to play as hard as you want." Sierra Designs Icelite Parka/Alpine Pants Imagine a classic 60/40 parka rendered in technoid WP/B ripstop. That's an Icelite. The jacket's pliant fabric and articulated joints allow full body contortions, while strategic wear-patches armor it for trail travails. A light mesh and taffeta lining lends warmth for winter. "It's really weathertight, exceptionally wind-resistant, and a bomber shell for snow," said one guide after a stormy week in the Cascades. The unlined Alpine pants were the lightest tested and as simple as it gets. They'll pull on over midweight trail boots, as long as the heel is not too blocky. The feathery fabric trades off brush-busting durability in return for balling up to fist size. Overall, this outfit emerged as the most versatile tested, and it is excellent for cross-country ski touring or backpacking or any place you'll need lightweight but heavy-weather-proof gear. Solstice Backcountry Jacket and Pants The Backcountry is an updated version of the Solstice Touring suit that starred in our 1991 "Packable Raingear Test" (June). The new Backcountry version retains a soft 2L Gore-Tex taffeta shell and tough Taslan shoulder yoke, but it now has longer pit zips, an integral hood, and internal drawstrings at waist and hem. While a comment like "waterproof as a typical rainsuit" might sound lukewarm, consider it a compliment from these fussy field testers. The suit offers a good compromise between packability and durability. "I wish all my raingear stuffed this small," noted one envious tester. The floppy hood bill and baggy pants waist weren't so well-liked, however. Bottom line: the Solstice suit sits right in the center of the storm-gear spectrum. All-Season Storm Gear Test Ratings - Summary See October, 1993 issue for more detail. Helly Hansen Pinnacle/Rotor: $240/$170, 30oz/20oz, Overall 3.5 Hi: waterproof, free-moving jacket Lo: tight, ski-oriented pants L. L. Bean North Col: $189/$129, 24oz/16oz, Overall 3 Hi: tough, warm, weatherproof Lo: heavy, bulky when packed Lowe Robinson/Alpine Flash: $215/$189, 28oz/20oz, Overall 4 Hi: great suit for mountaineering Lo: heavy for summer use Marmot Stormlight/Cloudlight: $275/$199, 18oz/10oz, Overall 4 Hi: extra light, packable, stormproof Lo: little ventilation (pants) MontBell Freney: $269/$209, 20oz/18oz, Overall, 4.5 Hi: street-stylish yet mountain-tough Lo: awkward storm flaps on pants Mtn. Equip. Co-Op Apex: $255/$185, 28oz/18oz, Overall 4 Hi: versatile, warm, weatherproof Lo: bulky for summer use Patagonia Super Pluma: $245/$165, 15oz/9oz, Overall 3.5 Hi: super-light, stormproof, well-detailed Lo: limited ventilation REI Backpacker/Gore-Tex Full-Zip: $278/$145, 24 oz/15oz Overall 3.5 Hi: excellent ventilation Lo: spotty detailing Sequel Twilight: $285/$135, 22oz/12oz, Overall 4 Hi: light, yet rough 'n' ready Lo: Velcro pocket closures Sierra Designs Icelight/Alpine: $220/$100, 23oz/8oz, Overall 4.5 Hi: versatile, light and warm Lo: pants won't pull over big boots Solstice Backcountry: $265/$185, 23oz/20oz, Overall 3.5 Hi: good balance of weight and durability Lo: floppy hood, baggy-waisted pants RESOURCES: Helly-Hansen U.S., 17275 NE 67th Ct., Redmond, WA 98073-9731; Lowe Alpine, P.O. Box 1449, Broomfield, CO 80038; (303) 465-3706. Marmot, 2321 Circadian Way, Santa Rosa, CA 95407; (707) 544-4590. MontBell America, 940 41st Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95062; (408) 476-2400. Mountain Equipment Co-op, 1655 W. Third Ave., Vancouver, BC Canada V6J 1K1; (800) 663-2667.. Patagonia, P.O. Box 8900, Bozeman, MT 59715-2046; (805) 643-8616. Recreational Equipment, Inc., P.O. Box 88125, Seattle, WA 98138-2125; (800) 426-4840. Sequel, P.O. Box 3185, Durango, CO 83102-3185; (303) 385-4660. Sierra Designs, 2039 Fourth St., Berkeley, CA 94710; (510) 843-0923. Solstice, 60 NW Davis, Portland, OR 97209; (503) 227-1039. STORM GEAR TUNE-UP How to maintain your raingear's repellent personality Chilly rain blasted in horizontal sheets as we slogged up talus slopes on Ecuador's Cotopaxi volcano, but I was fuming like the crater high overhead. My pricey Miracle-Tex jacket was letting me get soaked, and I ranted like King Lear about how I would have been better off wearing a 29-cent plastic trash bag. Subjecting yourself to wilderness meteorology often involves a bit of discomfort. But in this case, I was suffering from simple operator error. That's because waterproof/breathable (WP/B) clothing needs periodic maintenance--- like renewing the Durable Water Repellent (DWR) treatment on the outer fabric. Most modern DWRs belong to a chemical family called fluoropolymers, which coat each fabric fiber with a hydrophobic (water-hating) layer. On the molecular level, these fluorochemical chains protrude from the fiber surface like a row of short, straight hairs. Water's surface tension makes it bead up on the hairs like droplets on a freshly waxed car. The beading action lets water run off, leaving most of the fabric surface free to breathe as advertised. But if the DWR becomes soiled, dirt particles can wick water through the microporous WP/B coating or laminate. And once the DWR wears out from brushing against a heavy pack or repeated washings, the hairs lay flat, the droplets spread out, and a sheet of water saturates the outer cloth. The drooling-wet outer cloth looks like it's leaking, and the resultant evaporative cooling makes you feel like it's leaking. DWR treatments are every bit as important as miracle fabrics. For those who haven't been fully aware of this fact, it's fortunate that most DWRs can easily be restored. Here's how. Read the care label sewn inside, and follow directions. 1. Don't wash raingear any more often than necessary. The more you wash, the sooner you'll have to restore repellency. 2. Don't use bleach or fabric softeners. 3. Don't dry clean because solvents remove DWR. 4. Don't use liquid detergents because they contain surfactants designed to eliminate droplet surface tension---the last thing you want. Use powdered detergents only. 5. Machine-dry shell garments on medium heat, which brings most DWR treatments back to the surface and restores their function. (Double-check the care label---certain WP/B coatings do not like heat!) 6. Carefully iron the outer fabric. Don't heat the iron any hotter than you can touch for a one-two-three count. If you don't believe us, try ironing one shoulder, walk out in hissing rain, and see for yourself. 7. Wash WP/B garments separately from regular clothes. 8. Don't put raingear away wet. Not only is this slothful practice tough on the DWR, but mildew can creep in, delaminating the WP/B layer. 9. Restoration steps aside, most DWRs begin to give out after a season's wear 'n'tear and several wash/dry cycles. Then it's time to re-invigorate the finish by applying a spray DWR treatment such as 3M Scotchguard, DuPont Teflon Fabric Protector (formerly Zepel), Tecron or Kiwi Protect-All. Avoid wash-in DWR treatments, since they will ruin the wicking properties of the free-hanging liner found in many WP/B garments. These procedures are no problem for those who focus on short jaunts. For multi-week trips through rainy climates like coastal Alaska, forget breathability and pack heavy rubberized raingear instead. ---Steve Howe