Lightweight shell recs?

Try hitting up Costco. They usually have foldable shells for ~$15-20.

I'm looking for something a little different.

To the top!

Arcteryx Gamma LT Hoody meets them all. I have an Incendo and Norvan that tick the first three boxes but no traditional side pockets.

Working Harder wrote:

Arcteryx Gamma LT Hoody meets them all. I have an Incendo and Norvan that tick the first three boxes but no traditional side pockets.

Arcteryx has that jacket at 1 lb 3.2 oz. A bit heavier than 5 oz !

Like the OP, I know of a good amount of jackets that meet the first 3 but not the side pockets.

Can I ask WHY you are looking for one with 2 side pockets versus just a single chest pocket ie the Outdoor Research Helium II, Arcteryx jackets above or Patagonia Houdini?

Look at the Lululemon Lululemon Lite Speed Jacket

Not sure it meets the weight requirement but it's a nice jacket. My complaint was actually with the side pockets. Added weight. No "r Like the fabric though, but it might not have the better than okay DWR you are looking for either.

Yep, my bad, missed the 1 :)

I wonder about the side pockets too. I've never been left wanting them in a running jacket so long as there's an interior pocket.

Doesn't help much, but I have a Salomon jacket that fits your description. Unfortunately, it's several years old, and the ones on the website now don't have side pockets, and cost a lot more. I got mine for less than $50 on sale at REI (in store). Maybe you can find one on ebay (but I don't remember the model name...).

I also always like side pockets in addition to chest pockets. It's just more room for stuff like gloves or hat if it get's warm, or to keep a phone separated from keys to avoid scratches, or just to put my hands in. I also carry electronics (tracking GPS, electronic collar) for my dog if they don't bounce in the pockets.

Assuming you're in America it may not be easy to find, but the Montane Lite-Speed jacket weighs 5 ounces (they list it as 147g, so thereabouts anyway), and has a hood and zip-up side pockets. It've found the water resistance to be good as long as you're moving and wear an appropriate base layer (good enough for running on the west side of England where we get the worst of the English rain).

I found it on a couple of American sites if that's where you are (campsaver.com and moosejaw.com), and it costs a lot more than I think a shell like that that should (I only have it because I found it silly-cheap in T K Maxx which is the UK name for T J Maxx).

The reason I want side pockets is because I'll probably use this jacket more in hiking and travel than for running, and I like having pockets like that when I'm walking in the rain. I know they add weight, but I thought there'd be SOMETHING out there like this. Pretty disappointed to hear that it probably doesn't exist right now.

Scratch that -- the Montane Lite-Speed and Lululemon Lite Speed jackets (funny they have the same name) both look like what I have in mind.

Eurogear -- their website and you don't make it sound like it has much in the way of water resistance, but some reviews say it's not bad. if you were running in a light to moderate rain, how long would you say it takes before it starts to soak through?

Thinking of getting both to try out if their return policy is good...

Check out the Houdini shell from Patagonia. Seems to fit most (all?) of your requirements.

itdepends wrote:

Check out the Houdini shell from Patagonia. Seems to fit most (all?) of your requirements.

The Houdini is not 100% waterproof (I think) though it is highly water resistant. It'll keep you dry up to a point but standing in a downpour for an hour and you'll eventually get wet. It is, however, a great piece and is a steal for the price.

I don't need it to be 100% waterproof, just have some decent water resistance. I did look at that Patagonia jacket though and saw it doesn't have the side pockets.

Those side pockets might be hard to find in a superlight. Extra material and zippers are the first things to go when cutting weight.

But why pockets for hiking? For me having stuff in my jacket pockets is super annoying. And if I am doing any kind of hike where I might need to stash stuff (like a 2+ hour outing with temp/elevation changes), then I have a bag of some sort with me. If not, I'm running and just don't need pockets.

Just thought of this one.

Check out this guy/site. Made in USA by a vet.

Might be just what you are looking for.

lukesultralite(dot)com

Makes rain jackets using eVent and Pertex.

No, I don't know him nor have any products from him. Found the site when looking to get a puffy style coat/jacket about two years ago.

Really tough to find 1) Fully waterproof + 2) side pockets + 3) under 5oz

Side pockets add 3-6oz.

You can definitely find something in the 8-10oz realm

or perhaps not fully waterproof like the montaine lte speed

there is a great forum for this!

https://backpackinglight.com/forums/forum/gear/general-gear/

100% waterproof 6.7 ounces

The OP didn't ask for fully waterproof, just water resistant, which is the right approach in my experience and opinion. A lightweight wind shell (with a synthetic long-sleeve shirt underneath) will be more comfortable for running in the rain than the most breathable 100% waterproof jacket for running, even with the water repellant coating wetted out on the wind shell.

I just weighed my Salomon hooded windshell with side pockets as well as a chest pocket, and it's 5.5 oz. The side pockets are well worth the extra maybe less than 1 oz. to me. I avoid the ones without side pockets.

The problem with any waterproof shell and running is....relative humidity. While you will stay dry from the rain on the outside, you are going to be soaked from the jacket not breathing on the inside. Now, it's gotten better in recent years, via fabrics like eVent and DryQ (and a host of others), but you are still going to "wet in"

Andrew Skurka does a great job of explaining this on his site. You can read all about it (he rails on Gore Tex). It's actually a pretty good read.

OP, some good suggestions on here (that Montvale jacket and Lukes Ultralite site) are going to most closely meet what you are looking for. I *LOVE* my Patagonia Houdini, but it doesn't have the side pockets.

The shells on the Gulf coast might be pretty lightweight...unless it's just the white sand that makes them seem that way.