I'm interested in using the shell as a rain coat for hiking in mild weather. Think it's suitable for this? Compact enough to pack into a backpack?
11745
It wouldn't be the best, but it might work. Its not very packable. I have a Columbia Men's Glennaker Lake Rain Jacket for a windbreaker/light rain when I go fishing and think it would probably be better for you. Its VERY packable, actually has a pocket you can shove the whole jacket in to. Plus is has Omni-shield too.
11746
I'd only use the shell as a rain jacket in colder weather. Since it has a full liner it's a bit heavy, would be overly warm, and more bulky than a normal rain shell for backpacking.
824784
It was not that heavy and rolls up into a small pouch. It is not waterproof. I think you can get away with it for backpacking, but the rain???
524001
The back of it is made of neoprene or something like it so I'm not totally sure, but I personally would use it in a light rain!
237329
I live in the Pacific Northwest... not too cold, but LOTS of rain. It is made out of water repellent canvas (not rubber)and quilted material underneath, so unlike the former respondent... I'd say, "Yes, it IS breathable", or it'd be WAY to warm to wear in our mild winters. I like this coat, and bought a second one so the first one can dry out on rainy days.
1216477
I carried it up a steep hill when we used it and it was light enough to carry in the bag it came in that way. Not sure how well it'd be in a backpack but you could probably do it though it might be awkward. I was surprised at how roomy it was with 2 people yet packed down rather small. It has several internal pockets inside too which was really nice since we camped out in the pouring rain and I was worried about things getting wet. With that said, we were very dry during the night :)
2210802
I tried it before but I imagine you'd like to have some visual proof of this. Yes, it is possible (if you don't mind wrinkling your clothes a bit). http://imgur.com/CRCw3Di (1.5 L water bladder + jeans + shirt + track jacket + rain coat) http://i.imgur.com/f4smFV9 (All in the bag! You have to roll up your jacket and put it in the sleeping bag pocket.) http://imgur.com/Vv73KLU (While on my back)
702423
It's for typical car camping, not ideal for hiking. As for the built in rain fly, I don't know as it hadn't rained when I had to use it. There was some slight mist and it was fine.
15412
This is a raincoat only. A shell. IT works very well in the rain but wouldn't keep you warm beyond a 50 degree day. My husband loves it! Just not fur winter.
490446
Its a very lightweight cover. You should be able to fold up fairly small and put in a pouch. It won't be tiny, but it should be manageable!
2158548
Unfortunately, I also can't say much about its ability to withstand rain. I can say that after two nights of camping, when I went to pack it up, there was some condensation on the bottom of the tent under my sleeping bag, but nothing major. As for backpacking, it depends what you are looking for. I'm fairly certain you can't beat the price, and although I haven't personally owned any backpacking-specific tents, I can compare it with what I've seen in stores. It's a bit less compact than a lot of typical backpacking tents, but it's by far the smallest "normal" tent I've seen, and likewise, while there are backpacking tents that are designed to be super-light that have this beat, it's got to be the lightest tent I've camped in. When I went camping, I brought along a small tarp. That way, if it started raining heavily and it turned out the tent wasn't up to the task, I would have some extra protection from the rain. Depending on how much you want to bring backpacking this may not be an ideal solution, but for the money, I'd recommend it. You can always decide to upgrade to a pricier tent later, and this one won't set you back much.
700984
I found that it actually ran a bit big in the chest and belly area, I would imagine it would accommodate body armor without much issue. I wouldn't recommend it for hot weather use though! the vents that are on it don't work all that well but for a basic budget jacket it is pretty good
1897758
I'm not really sure, but I think a light sprinkle might not cause a problem. It has a zipper, which might let in some water. If I were taking it somewhere and it was raining, I'd put it in my waterproof backpack. But that's just me.
183663
I have never used it in rain. Would be ok in light rain. I would keep a water proof bag handy inside backpack for camera
25195
By itself, probably not very well. Outer shell is a canvas material and not waterproof, so a bivy sac (I don't think you can find one that large) or a tarp would be required.
566641
It's an average sized poncho so will cover a backpack as well as any. I think it's pretty well made and although I haven't had to test it in super strong wind I'm pretty confident it will be tough enough. It's definitely waterproof. I've even used it as an provided shelter and it worked well
2274434
Yes. The rain cover looks to be a decent waterproof material (like a tent rain fly) and has an adjustable cinch strap to adjust the size according to how much stuff you have crammed in your pack. There's also a zip pocket specifically made for the cover....it stuffs right in.
860859
I only use the case for transport while traveling, and have not taken it out in the weather. However, since it is neoprene, I believe that it would be water resistant.