No. 1 hiking rain jacket is the finetrack EVERBREATH Photon Jacket. It's 300g and ¥41,690, and publishes both water resistance and breathability with the test method. For people who look at price and ventilation first, I put the Millet Typhon 50000 Stretch, ¥6,490 cheaper, at No. 2.
The Gear Nerd's Pick
Read the name of the test method before the breathability number. JIS L 1099 has the A-1 and B-1 methods with different moisture absorbers, and even in the example results Kaken publishes there's a roughly 3x gap, 139 vs. 428. So I don't line 50,000 and 10,000 up in the same column to decide which is bigger; I put the model whose method is written officially higher.
Key points
- Of the 5 ranked, the only jacket whose stuffiness can be compared with the test method is finetrack's one (A-1). The 2 out-of-ranking mont-bell are B-1. For the other 4, the number has no test method named, or the number itself isn't given officially
- Price per gram spans about 1.6x, from ¥108.5 for the Alto Light HS to ¥177.5 for the Climb Light Jacket. The Climb Light, the lightest of the 5 at about 285g, is the most expensive, so lightness is built into the price
- The official pages say there are ventilation openings under the arms or on the back for 4 of the 5. The No. 1 EVERBREATH Photon has Link Vents running from the back to the cuffs
Breathability of 50,000 and 10,000: it looks like a 5x gap, but they can't be compared
Millet's Typhon 50000 has breathability of 50,000g/m²/24h, and finetrack's EVERBREATH Photon 10,000g/m²·24hr. It looks like a 5x gap. But only finetrack writes the test method. They aren't necessarily the same yardstick.
How I chose
The first thing I looked at was whether the breathability number has its test method written. Only 1 of the 5 did. Next came weight and price per gram, and last I split ranks by fabric layers and vents.
This ranking is made from what you can buy on Rakuten. mont-bell, sold only through its official shop, is shown as out of ranking, with its numbers listed.
Quick table of the 5 hiking rain jackets
Scroll the table sideways →
| Rank / model | Weight | Official price | Price per gram | Fabric layers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 finetrack EVERBREATH Photon | 300g | ¥41,690 | ¥139.0 | 3-layer (15-denier face) |
| No. 2 Millet Typhon 50000 Stretch | 304g | ¥35,200 | ¥115.8 | 3-layer (15-denier knit backer) |
| No. 3 The North Face Climb Light | About 285g | ¥50,600 | ¥177.5 | 3-layer (20 denier) |
| No. 4 Mammut Alto Light HS | 355g | ¥38,500 | ¥108.5 | 2.5-layer (50-denier face) |
| No. 5 Mammut Crater Light HS | 404g | ¥59,400 | ¥147.0 | 3-layer (75-denier face) |
| Out of ranking: mont-bell Storm Cruiser | 254g | ¥22,000 | ¥86.6 | 3-layer (30-denier face) |
| Out of ranking: mont-bell Versalite | 143g | ¥24,000 | ¥167.8 | 3-layer (7-denier face) |
No. 1 is the EVERBREATH Photon Jacket.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
finetrack EVERBREATH Photon Jacket
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥26,899 (as of 10/13). Prices vary by shop, up to ¥42,290, and change daily. For clothing, check the maker's size chart (height, chest, waist) against your own measurements. If unsure, check the shop's return and exchange terms.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanHow breathability is measured: A-1 and B-1 are different tests
Breathability is the weight of water vapor a fabric lets through in 24 hours, and JIS L 1099 contains separate tests, the A-1 and B-1 methods. In an example result published by the Kaken Test Center, A-1 gave 139 and B-1 gave 428 (g/m²/h), about 3.1 times. So A-1's 10,000 and B-1's 40,000 can't be said to be one above the other.
Lining up water resistance and breathability with test methods
| Model | Waterproof rating | Breathability (g/m²/24h) and test method |
|---|---|---|
| EVERBREATH Photon | 20,000mm | 10,000 (A-1 method) |
| Typhon 50000 Stretch | 20,000mm | 50,000 |
| Alto Light HS | 15,000mm | 15,000 |
| Crater Light HS | 28,000mm | RET<13 m²Pa/W |
| Out of ranking: Storm Cruiser | 20,000mm or more | 40,000 (B-1 method, reference value) |
| Out of ranking: Versalite | 20,000mm or more | 50,000 (B-1 method, reference value) |
Only the Crater Light uses a different unit for how hard it is for water vapor to pass, so it can't be compared with the others.
Why this order
| Rank | Model | Why it's ranked here |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | EVERBREATH Photon | The only one of the 5 with a test method attached to both breathability and water resistance, and it has vents too |
| #2 | Typhon 50000 Stretch | The breathability figure is large, but with no test method it doesn't reach No. 1 |
| #3 | Climb Light | It has vents on both sides, but ¥177.5 per gram is the highest |
| #4 | Alto Light HS | A 2.5-layer at 355g, and its 15,000mm water resistance is the lowest of those with a number |
| #5 | Crater Light HS | Water resistance is the highest, but 404g and ¥59,400 are the highest too |
No. 1: finetrack EVERBREATH Photon Jacket
Why it's my pick: it prints the A-1 number, not the B-1 number, which tends to come out larger. I buy that way of writing it. Water resistance has a test method too, and there's the "Link Vent," a vent running from the back to the cuffs.
What to watch: the price is ¥6,490 more than the No. 2 Typhon, and there are no hand pockets at the waist. Here's the weak spot. It suits people who want to choose by how certain the numbers are.
No. 2: Millet Typhon 50000 Stretch Jacket
Why this rank: its breathability label of 50,000 is the largest of the 5, and it's ¥6,490 cheaper than No. 1. The inside of the pocket is mesh, and opening it makes a vent.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Millet Typhon 50000 Stretch Jacket
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥28,710 (as of 10/13). Prices vary by shop, up to ¥52,535, and change daily. For clothing, check the maker's size chart (height, chest, waist) against your own measurements. If unsure, check the shop's return and exchange terms.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanWhat to watch: the 50,000 has no test method named, so I can't say whether it means the same as a B-1 50,000. The weight gap to No. 1 is 4g. For a hot-running person who doesn't care about test-method labeling, this one is No. 1. I wrote about the difference from its sibling model in the Typhon 50000 review.
No. 3: The North Face Climb Light Jacket
Why this rank: a GORE-TEX 3-layer with underarm vents and a water-resistant zipper pocket, about 285g in size L. It's light.
What to watch: having no water resistance or breathability number lowered its rank. It's about 15g lighter than No. 1, but ¥8,910 more. It suits people who need the underarm vents and a hood that goes over a helmet.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
The North Face Climb Light Jacket
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥31,900 (as of 10/13). Prices vary by shop, up to ¥50,600, and change daily. For clothing, check the maker's size chart (height, chest, waist) against your own measurements. If unsure, check the shop's return and exchange terms.
RecommendedSee it at L-BreathSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanNo. 4: Mammut Alto Light HS Hooded Jacket AF
Why this rank: it's ¥20,900 cheaper than Mammut's own Crater Light, with underarm vents and 2 waist pocket. It works for town use too, so it suits people who wear it in town as well.
What to watch: it's a 2.5-layer that skips the backer fabric, yet it's heavier than the top three 3-layer jackets. Here's the weak spot. Its breathability label is also the lowest of those with a number, at 15,000.
No. 5: Mammut Crater Light HS Hooded Jacket
Why this rank: the 75-denier face is 5 times the No. 1 EVERBREATH Photon's. It's a jacket for people who look at fabric toughness before weight and price.
What to watch: it's 104g heavier than No. 1 and ¥17,710 more. Ranked by fabric thickness, its rank would be quicker to count from the back.
Out of ranking: mont-bell Storm Cruiser and Versalite (bought at the official online shop)
The Storm Cruiser Jacket is 254g and ¥22,000. Its breathability of 40,000 comes with the B-1 method (reference value) as the test method, and ¥86.6 per gram is lower than any of the 5 ranked. The Versalite Jacket is 143g and ¥24,000, with a 7-denier face and no pockets.
Who is it for?
This suits people who want to assemble rain gear for outside snow season on a top-and-bottom total budget.
If a 3-layer jacket has simply stopped repelling water, you could first try the care the maker advises. What's listed here is for outside snow season, so for a snow-season jacket there are other ways to choose.
For a light jacket that stops wind rather than rain, I compared them in wind shell rankings.
For winter rain pants, I judged them in the Typhon Warm Pants review.
FAQ
How many grams of breathability does a hiking rain jacket need?
Without matching test methods, you can't draw a line. The A-1 method rule of thumb cited by the Kaken Test Center is 125g/m²·h or more, which is 3,000g over 24 hours.
Is 2.5-layer or 3-layer rain jacket better?
In these 5, it's 3-layer. The 2.5-layer Alto Light is 55g heavier than the 3-layer EVERBREATH Photon. Looking directly at weight is more reliable than the number of layers.
Does a bigger breathability number mean less stuffiness?
Only when the test method is the same. In an example result from the Kaken Test Center, A-1 and B-1 differ by about 3.1 times. Among these 5, only the A-1 EVERBREATH Photon has its test method written officially.
Gear in this article
Ad · Images: Rakuten IchibaSources
- mont-bell official online shop: Storm Cruiser Jacket Men's
- mont-bell official online shop: Versalite Jacket Men's
- finetrack official store: EVERBREATH Photon Jacket MEN'S
- finetrack official: EVERBREATH Photon (water resistance and breathability labels)
- Millet official online store: Typhon 50000 Stretch Jacket (men's)
- The North Face official store (Goldwin): Climb Light Jacket (men's)
- Mammut official online store: Alto Light Hardshell Hooded Jacket Asian Fit
- Mammut official online store: Crater Light Hardshell Hooded Jacket
- Kaken Test Center: breathability test (JIS L 1099)
- Kaken Test Center: water resistance tests (JIS L 1092, AATCC TM127, ISO 811)
