Field Report: Integral Designs eVent Rain Jacket
Date: July 12th, 2005 Manufacturer Name: Integral Designs Website: http://www.integraldesigns.com/	Product Information Manufacturer: Integral Designs Model: eVent Rain Jacket Year of Manufacture: 2005 Color: Yellow Size: Large MSRP: $220.00 (US) Listed Weight: 9.5 oz (270 g) Measured Weight:            Jacket: 9.8 oz (278 g)           Stuff Sack 0.4 oz (12 g)

Field Review

I’ve had the opportunity to use this jacket while backpacking on several occasions, and as a wind breaker while bike riding.  To my surprise, it appears to breathe and transport moisture better than I had anticipated.  The jacket has no vents, thus the jacket relies entirely on the eVent™ fabric to pass moisture. 

Use of the jacket while backpacking has been that of a windbreaker and as a rain jacket.  The jacket is intended for high activity wet conditions, so it comes as no surprise that it performs well as a windbreaker while on the trail or in camp to stay warm.  I’ve used the jacket at least three times while on the trail in cold rain/snow conditions.  I expected to have moisture build up, but found that unzipping the jacket to about mid-chest allowed me to stay dry and not over heat while wearing a poly t-shirt.  Although it was cold, my experience with laminate jackets is that I would have been experiencing a clammy feeling on my arms.  Either the jacket is passing the moisture through or the tricot inner fabric is eliminating the clammy feel.  Since I experienced little sweating, I tend to think the fabric is breathing.   Temperatures were under 40F (4C), so the real test will come this summer while hiking in wet conditions at moderate temperatures.

As I mentioned in my Initial Report, the hood is fantastic.  Of all my jackets, this has to be the best hood design of any.  I’m able to retain my peripheral vision while turning my head and wearing a baseball style cap.  The hood is snug and tends to follow head movement without slipping over one eye and limiting peripheral vision.  Wearing a pack appears to influence the hood's function very little.

The jacket’s material is lightweight yet durable.  Several times I’ve worn it while bushwhacking through brush/trees and it never snagged despite rubbing against branches.

I wear a size 40 sports jacket, and according to Integral Design’s web site I should be in a medium.  I requested a size large due to my height and long arms, and it fits nicely.  The jacket is not overly large and I suspect a medium would have been confining while wearing a pack.  I’ve used it on numerous occasions over a down vest while in camp and it is a little snug. 

While backpacking, I find the jacket’s hem length to be short by at least 2 inches (5 cm).  As mentioned in my Initial Report, the hem is 28 in (71 cm) and is the shortest of any of my jackets.  It does not stay under my backpack’s hip belt, but readily works up.  This allows water to enter above rain pants if worn.

Using this jacket while bike riding to work in the morning has been a pleasant experience.  I’ve found it more breathable than my simple 2 ply/laminates, and every bit as breathable as my heavier 3 ply Gore-tex® jackets with arm pit zips. Riding temperatures were between 40 to 50F (4 – 10C), and I generally had the jacket partially unzipped.

As for the jacket’s stuff sack; I generally don’t use them for rain jackets, thus it has become a ditty bag.  I absolutely think it is the greatest ditty bag I have ever had.  The see through waterproof material, and zipper entry makes it perfect for small items that I frequently use.  I’ve never had a zipper entry ditty bag, and find it handy, because of the large secure opening.

Summary

Pros:

• Jacket appears to do well at passing water vapor

• Jacket hood is well designed

• Jacket is light weight

• Stuff sack is a great ditty bag

Cons:

• Jacket is too short

Test Plan

Summer trips include treks into Boise/Payette National Forests, Saw Tooth Wilderness, a week on the Wonderland Trail in rainy Mount Rainier National Park, and a trip into Glacier National Park.

Fall trips include Oregon Eagle Cap Wilderness for a week, Idaho Pioneer Mountains, Idaho White Cloud Mountains, and Idaho Frank Church Wilderness for early October. 

Tester Information & Background

Name: Andy Rad

Gender: Male

Age: 48

Height: 6 ft (1.83 m)

Weight: 165 lb (75 kg)

Email: aisrad@cableone.net

I started backpacking 21 years ago, most were short three-day trips, but are now generally five-day.  By backpacking, I’m referring to summer, winter camping, and fall hunting.  About half my trips are lightweight solo and the other half with my family.  I used to own a llama, thus allowing me to continue backpacking with my small children.  In recent years I’ve substituted a collie for the llama. When I’m not with the family I tend to take less-traveled trails or bushwhack the hard mountainous terrain in and around Idaho.  The majority of my trips are in central Idaho, with a few into northern Idaho, eastern Idaho, and eastern Oregon.