Ever since I bought my crimson REI Rhyolite Rain Jacket within the spring of 2015, folks have been asking me, “What sort of rain jacket is that? And the place can I get one?”
I suppose which means folks assume the jacket seems good. 🙂 Properly, let me inform you, it performs effectively too – each within the rain and on my bicycle!
As a result of I’ve obtained so many inquiries in regards to the REI Rhyolite Rain Jacket over the previous a number of months, I believed it might be helpful to put in writing up a fast overview of this light-weight and really compact waterproof rain jacket from REI.
However slightly than present you a similar boring product photographs of the jacket which you could simply discover on the REI web site, I believed it might be greatest to share images of the jacket in use on my current 3-month-long bicycle journey throughout Portugal, Spain, France, Andorra, Norway and Sweden.
Within the photograph above, you see me standing in entrance of the Farol Penedo da Saudade lighthouse in São Pedro de Moel, Portugal on the very first day of my bike tour in Europe this summer season. I anticipated Portugal to be sizzling and sunny through the summer season months, so I used to be a bit of stunned to be carrying my new rain jacket on the primary day of the journey. On the identical time, I used to be glad to have spent the cash on this high-quality waterproof rain jacket, because it definitely got here in helpful all through my biking journey in Europe this summer season.
The reality is, I’ve owned numerous different rain jackets up to now, however all of them, after some time, would lose their waterproof options and finally begin to leak – that means that when it rained, I acquired moist. Not one thing you need in a top quality rain jacket!
So, once I went searching for a brand new rain jacket this 12 months, I knew I wished to seek out one thing that was 100% waterproof and would retain its waterproof options over time. I additionally wished one thing that was light-weight (as a result of I’d be carrying the jacket with me on my bicycle and in my backpack at any time when I stepped off my bike on the finish of the day) and one thing that didn’t take up an entire lot of room. In other-words, I wished to seek out the perfect rain jacket I may discover… with out having to interrupt the financial institution.
The reality is, I appeared and I appeared for a rain jacket that I favored, however after a number of months of wanting, I nonetheless hadn’t discovered a rain jacket that may work effectively for my wants. Actually, it wasn’t till I used to be lower than per week away from leaving on my 3-month-long bike tour in Europe this summer season that I visited my native REI retailer (one thing I had completed a number of instances earlier than over the earlier 3-4 months) and I observed a brand new rack of rain jackets that hadn’t been there earlier than.
Whereas the REI Rhyolite Rain Jacket at present is available in 5 completely different colours (black, blueberry, quiet shade (grey), crimson sizzling and wild burgundy), my native REI retailer solely had two of the obtainable colours in inventory – black and wild burgundy. Whereas I cherished the look of the wild burgundy jacket, they didn’t have that coloration possibility obtainable in my dimension. So, I attempted on the black REI Rhyolite Rain Jacket, favored it, purchased it and went house. However earlier than I may even take away the jacket’s tags, I had a change of coronary heart and I made a decision to change the black jacket for the wild burgundy one I favored a lot on the retailer. It took a number of days to have the burgundy jacket despatched to me within the mail, however I arrived only a day or two earlier than my flight to Europe.
So, sure, the jacket you see me carrying in all these images is a dimension medium Rhyolite Rain Jacket from REI within the wild burgundy coloration selection. I do know it seems crimson, however it’s truly a bit darker than it seems, so the wild burgundy identify matches it effectively.
The issues I like most in regards to the REI Rhyolite Rain Jacket are:
The jacket folds as much as a brilliant small dimension. You’ll be able to stuff the jacket right into a nook of your backpack or the pocket of one in every of your panniers and you’ll hardly discover that it’s there. Not like so many different rain jackets on the market, the REI Rhyolite Rain Jacket is extremely compact when it’s not in use.
The REI Rhyolite Rain Jacket is light-weight. It’s eVent® DValpine™ material isn’t as thick as what you may be used to seeing on different outside rain jackets, however that’s an excellent factor, as a result of it makes the jacket gentle and straightforward to hold. The load of the jacket on a bicycle is nearly insignificant, and in a backpack you hardly discover that it’s there in any respect.
The Velcro straps on the wrists of the jacket help you push the sleeves as much as your elbows when the climate is heat, or buckle them down tightly to your wrists/gloves when the climate is very cool. That is nice for regulating your physique temperature as you cycle, stroll or climb.
The massive facet vents/pockets help you regulate your physique temperature as effectively, so that you don’t ever get too sizzling or too chilly. Open the vents up huge for a pleasant light breeze, or zip them to the highest in cooler/wetter climate circumstances.
Lastly, the Rhyolite Rain Jacket is definitely rainproof. Not like so many different rain jackets that declare to be completely waterproof or 100% waterproof, the REI Rhyolite Rain Jacket is absolutely constructed to resist severe downpour circumstances. I used to be capable of check this out for myself a number of instances this summer season, and every time it rained, I stayed dry beneath the jacket. Which, frankly, is what you really need while you spend cash on a rain jacket of any form.
If there are any downsides to this jacket, it might be that:
As a result of the jacket is so skinny, it’s not likely meant to be worn by itself in very chilly circumstances. The REI Rhyolite Rain Jacket is absolutely only a skinny rain shell that must be worn with a hotter fleece-like jacket beneath it in case you plan to be touring in areas the place the temperatures would possibly dip.
The jacket isn’t actually designed to be worn on a bicycle (it’s extra of a mountain climbing/backpacking jacket), so the hood on the again doesn’t zip up very effectively when used with a helmet. This isn’t a lot of an issue in small rain storms, the place it’s simpler and doubtless extra comfy simply to cycle with the hood of your jacket within the down place. However in heavy rain storms, while you would possibly wish to put that hood up, you’ll discover that it’s not very straightforward to slip the rain hood over your helmet and/or preserve it from blowing off your head as you journey.
The pockets on the jacket are virtually non-existent. Actually, the pockets are actually extra like vertical vents construct into the entrance of the jacket. You’ll be able to retailer light-weight gadgets in there, however it’s fairly awkward to put your palms inside, because the vented side-pockets are situated a bit increased than they might be on related outside sports activities jackets.
Lastly, as a result of the jacket is absolutely only a light-weight rain-shell (and never a whole 3-piece rain jacket like so many others you discover within the sports activities/outside trade), the REI Rhyolite Rain Jacket isn’t probably the most comfy jacket on the earth. Like so many different waterproof rain jackets, it’s material has a skinny, crinkly plastic really feel to it. The material works effectively to shed water, however most likely gained’t be used to win any awards for consolation anytime quickly.
General, I actually just like the REI Rhyolite Rain Jacket. Actually, it’s the most effective rain jacket I’ve ever owned and I’d wholeheartedly suggest it. The jacket not solely labored nice on my current three-month-long bicycle journey throughout Europe, however it completed the journey wanting like new and, most significantly, continues to be 100% waterproof.
Save
Save
Save
Save
Save
Save
Save