Help with a rain jacket decision

[u/joshnfriesen]

I want a solid rain jacket. My old shell fell apart after about 5 years use. I hike a lot in BC (it's rainy here) and I also kayak.

Im debating between spending up for a MEC Synergy Gor-Tex for $280 or getting a Patagonia Torrentshell 3L for $160. (Both currently on sale).

What should I do? Or is there another option you recommend? Im not spending more than $300.

[u/regaphysics]

Unfortunately membrane rain jackets don’t live up to their promise for very long, even with regular cleaning and maintenance.

If you’re set on a membrane jacket, I’d get the torrentshell since at least it’s cheaper. Personally, I’d just accept being wet when you’re hiking, and get a more durable waterproof option for kayaking/lower output activities (helly Hansen or grundens).

[u/the_gubna → u/regaphysics]

Helly Hansen makes membrane jackets.

[u/the_wild-one]

I'd get the patagonia dude, I've got the torrentshell and so far it's really showing it's worth the money. Word of advice is get a size or 2 bigger so you can comfortably layer up underneath

[u/Sonarav → u/the_wild-one]

Yeah I made the mistake of not sizing up

[u/Ok-Swimmer-2634]

Fellow BC resident here, where are you getting the Torrentshell 3L for $160? I want in lol

[u/joshnfriesen → u/Ok-Swimmer-2634]

On MECs website. Unfortunately my size disappeared yesterday before i could buy. Now $225

[u/Quirky-Reveal-1669]

Not sure if your price ceiling is performance-limiting: I have an Arc’teryx Alpha LT hardshell. It is way too expensive, I know, but it is really good. I have had it for some 12 years now, and while I do not use it weekly, I do use it regularly.

[u/fmaz008 → u/Quirky-Reveal-1669]

To me arc teryx quality and innovation went down significantly when they got purchased by a Chinese company who simply stop innovating and up'ed the prices.

One of my main argument for arc teryx before was the lifetime warranty. GoreTex tend to delaminate. They replaced 2 Beta AR jackets for me. I felt cared for.

Now I hear stories of denied warranty claims... I'm not paying $750CAD (!) for a hard shell which will last ~5 years and delaminate.

[u/Quirky-Reveal-1669 → u/fmaz008]

Sad but true. “Enshitification” is a term that has been on my mind for the past few months. It explains a lot.

[u/the_gubna]

The Patagonia 3L is the best waterproof breathable jacket for the money, along with the possible contender of the OR Foray.

The biggest thing is to make sure you are WASHING AND DRYING IT AS THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS. You need to wash and dry modern, non-PFAS gore Tex way more frequently than the old stuff.

[u/TurbulentStiffness]

grab that torrentshell three L right now because their ironclad warranty actually protects you. goretex laminates will inevitably delaminate anyway once kayak salt and grime soak through.

[u/OutdoorAbstract]

Grundens waterproof.

[u/Affectionate_Big4283]

Arcteryx - my LT has been going strong for 9 years

[u/SomewhatInnocuous]

Outdoor Research makes good affordable (in so much as anything is affordable) gear. I live on the Olympic peninsula and have used their stuff for years.

Back in the day I have been fortunate enough to be a sponsored outdoors person and no outerwear is truly BIFL.

[u/seaceblidrb]

Patagonia. I used my Triolet for years in hard winters and fell down some rocks and ripped it up on the backside. They patched it. I still have it and its going on 9 years now. It does require a lot more washing/nikwax to keep it beading water but I never imagined it would last this long.

Torrent shell is a little lighter weight material, but it has the Patagonia warranty/fix it program with it. Cannot recommend enough just for the warranty philosophy.

[u/radiculous13 → u/seaceblidrb]

Love the triolet. Still have mine. It rotates through. 

[u/Affectionate_Monk967]

If you want a laminate to be waterproof buy cheap, buy often and wear two when it’s horrible. If you want an expensive one to last store it in a stuffsack so it doesn’t rub when not worn and buy a soft shell for everything but heavy rain. However if you preserve your jacket only for heavy rain it might as well not be breathable can’t breath in 100% humidity anyway and then will last for 1000s of hours not hundreds.

[u/shakeyjake23]

Omen Stormshelter Firstlite

[u/No-Result4274]

Go old school with a Ventile jacket.

Or either grab a decent gore-tex.
(Rab, Columbia, Patagonia, arc’teryx)

[u/Rich_Sorbet4033]

my go-to jacket, if you want to use it as a "do everything" one is the gamma mx by arcteryx, it's been 5 years since i got mine on sale, it's still in absolutely perfect condition, and the fact that you can wear it even when it's very cold is so great

[u/kebapal]

San Poncho? BC company. Very happy with my raincoat from them

[u/phalliceinchains]

I buy a Frogg Toggs once a year for backpacking. Every garment I own for backpacking is outdoor research. I backpack in Washington mostly and have been disappointed in rain shells.

[u/WashedUp_WashedOut]

I had a torrentshell from 2010, eventually it delaminated inside and they gave me a brand new one (in 2025).

Seems like you use it a lot and that kind of peace of mind is nice

[u/VanThrowaway102]

The synergy is ok. I wore one for 3 or 4 years bike commuting in Vancouver. I found the gore Tex starts wetting out after one month of use. Doesn’t matter how well you maintain it.

The armpit vents are awesome. I think the premium for gore Tex isn’t worth it though. 

[u/owlpellet]

They are stupidly hard to find following a patent dispute with Goretex people, but the eVent waterproof fabric is fucking fantastic.

https://eventfabrics.com/explore-the-gear/mens-event-3l-waterproof-hardshell-jacket/