However, it’s not all that breathable. The pit zips are necessary to vent steam, and I found that during a truly hard hike in the rain it was not enough to move the sweat off my body, so I got soaked from the inside. Adjustments are notably spartan, with simple pull strings on either side of the hood and hem, and velcro cinches everywhere else. That includes the depth adjustment for the hood, which while it looks laughably simple, worked just fine in the field and offered an agreeable amount of adjustment for each of our testers. Marmot NanoPro lamination utilizes advance technology that balances the best in performance of breathability, waterproofness, and water repellency with excellent durability The hood on the Rab Kinetic Alpine 2.0 is of special note because it features an internal elastic band designed to ride directly on the forehead and turned out to be comfortable and effective, maintaining top-notch peripheral vision. Face fabric is bonded to a PU membrane and has a very thin layer printed on the interior. Further explanation in our Guide.

Sleek, sharp, two-toned teal blue, and bearing an abundance of teeth with all these zippers, it didn’t take long before my inner shark spirit animal began to surface. Offered in many colors, there’s likely a PreCip for you. REI XeroDry GTX: A budget-friendly way to get into GoreTex protection, but not the most breathable. Read our full test and review… Latest PreCip Eco includes a recycled nylon fabric and PFC-free DWR coating without an increase in price. Membranes like this one found on the Precip tend to work well for awhile, but then slowly degrade over time and lose their effectiveness. Worn directly against the skin felt nearly as clammy as the bottom of the Boston harbor — i.e., not great. But it was quite cozy with a thermal or fleece between my skin and the interior 2.5-layer. Durability

Top 18 Product Ratings

Product Care: Machine Wash Cold, Use Liquid Detergent, Gentle Cycle, Do Not Use Powdered Detergent, Tumble Dry Low, Do Not Iron, Do Not Bleach, Do Not Dry Clean, Do Not Use Fabric Softener, Rinse Twice, Do Not Store Wet Quality hood design with plenty of adjustability, and you can stow the hood away under the collar when not in use. Not quite high enough for a hip belt, not quite low enough for casual comfort. A hybrid that falls a little flat. Simple yet effective, the Marmot Precip Eco has kept its fair share of budget-concious hikers dry over the years.

The Precip Eco is a great buy for anyone on a budget, but between the basic liner and comparatively simple fabrics, we don’t expect it to last too terribly long.

Although I adore hiking these hills the rest of the year, it’s something special to experience this unique environment once the rains hit, and having the right gear for wet conditions makes a huge difference in my ability to enjoy that experience. Yes, it’s still awesome if I’m drenched to the bone, but I find that it’s much more pleasant to stand out in the pouring rain when my core remains toasty and dry. From there we found the fabric started to slowly wet out, and the usual cold and clamminess associated with 2.5 layer shells began to set in. We’ll give credit where credit is due here though: Despite the unpleasant sensation of “plastic on skin” the NanoPro liner did its job well, and we have yet to experience any issues with the Precip outright failing in the field.