Waterproof Jacket Is Light, Flexible
Product: VersaLite Jacket
Description: A 8.5-ounce waterproof/breathable jacket made of Tensilite nylon fabric with twolayer DryTec coating. Available in blue, black and green and in unisex sizing, small through extra large.
Pro: The roomy VersaLite Jacket is the lightest, most flexible and most stuffable of all the waterproof/ breathable jackets I have had the pleasure of testing over the last year and for those reasons one of my overall favorites. The VersaLite performed admirably in wet and windy conditions keeping me dry and happy when it had to. The tricot-lined collar is a nice touch and also serves as a stash-pocket for the ultra-light hood. VersaLite uses a high-strength nylon skin, designed especially for Mont-Bell, that is as strong as the taffetas other jackets use at half the weight. I had my doubts about the durability of the proprietary waterproof/breathable coating, which is not protected by a liner, but despite my best efforts to abrade it with use, it showed no appreciable wear.
Con: The trade-off for keeping the jacket light is that it is stripped - no ventilated chest pockets and no underarm pit-zips meaning that the jacket has no ventilation options. Minimalism also means that the jacket is cut short, leaving me wishing it was cut just a tad longer - without rain pants, I got soaked from the waist down while crashing through dripping underbrush.
Comments: Waterproof/ breathable jackets won’t remain either waterproof or breathable unless you care for them. To keep your jacket functioning like new, begin by reading and adhering to the guidelines printed on the care label sewn into the inside of your jacket. Then refer to the following suggestions as additional support:
Only wash your jacket if you can’t stand the dirt - the more you wash, the sooner you will have to restore its repellency (see below). Never use bleach or fabric softeners as they can damage the coating and never dry clean your jacket as dry cleaning solvents will strip DWR (durable waterproof repellent) treatments completely. Powdered detergents, such as Ivory, are recommended as they are easier on the DWR treatment and don’t contain surfactants which destroy water droplet surface tension of the fabric - a major bummer.
Tumble dry the jacket on medium heat (low if it is a commercial dryer) since this brings the DWR treatment back up to the surface of the fabric. Grab your iron. No, you are not trying to create a wrinkle-free jacket. The fact is, most DWR coatings can be restored by ironing the surface of the jacket using a warm/steam setting. This revitalizes whatever DWR is left in the garment.
After a year of wear-‘n-tear, it is probably time to think about reapplying a DWR finish. You have a choice between spray-on (convenient but short-lived) and wash-in (longer-lived and more even application) treatments. I especially like Nikwax TX-Direct, which is a wash-in. Keep in mind that with a wash-in treatment, you will lose some wicking ability in your liner. Spray-on alternatives include 3M Scotchguard or Tecron.
Suggested Retail: $159
Company: Mont-Bell, 940 41st Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95062; 800/683-2002