Watertight II Rain Jacket

For the money this is one of the few genuinely waterproof jackets rather than a water-resistant one pretending: 2-layer Omni-Tech with fully sealed seams, an adjustable storm hood, and a drawcord hem. It stuffs into its own hand pocket, which means it lives in the lid of your pack and only comes out when it rains. For a first kit, that is the right trade at the right price. Breathability is where it gives up. A 2-layer shell with a hanging liner is clammy, and with no pit zips there is no way to vent, so a sustained climb in rain leaves you wet from the inside regardless. At 340 grams it is also 100 to 150 grams heavier than lightweight shells, the hood brim is soft enough to collapse in wind, and the DWR will wet out after a season or two and need re-treating. Fine for showers; frustrating in an all-day storm.