GoLite Tumalo Pertex 2.5-Layer Storm Jacket

A lightweight, compressible rain jacket for dryer climates and warmer weather.

My relationship with raingear is...well it is strained. A good deal of the time raingear takes up a chunk of space in the bottom of my pack and never sees the light of day until I get home and put everything away. With that said...I once found myself shivering midday in July on the side of the Ocoee River with nothing but a PFD and a pair of swim trunks...grateful for the warm splashes of water coming off the road from passing vehicles. The lesson I took away from this experience was simple...always bring a rain jacket!

Without question…I prefer the full-protection of 3-layer fabrics like Gortex and E-vent in cold and wet conditions. However…in warmer weather or when rain is not in the forecast…I prefer the smaller lighter package of the Golite Tumalo Storm Jacket.

Like all 2.5 layer raingear…the Tumalo Storm will wet-out in sustained heavy rains...but can provide enough insulation to keep (mostly) dry in scattered showers and chores around camp…or to keep you warm when hiking through heavy rains in early and late summer. Stuffed inside my pack I find it provides a necessary measure of insurance against foul weather at the cost of very little in terms of real estate and weight.

In regards to construction…the Golite Tumalo Storm jacket is a very basic design...but the features it does have leave it perfectly suited for the light-duty rain protection I ask of it. The jacket has a fixed hood with fabric cord-locks...elasticized cuffs on the sleeves...and shock-cord running through the bottom hem of the jacket. The front zipper is a waterproof two-way zipper...with waterproof zippers on the two hand-pockets as well.

Overall…the jacket provides a fairly complete shell....and ventilation is provided by way of the front zipper…hand pockets…plus two 9 inch pit-zips running underneath the arms.

(pictured: pit-zips)

I have used the Tumalo Storm jacket for more than two years…and in that time I have dragged it along on many adventures…but as with any 2.5 layer jacket durability is not a strong point. The factory DWR treatment was lost on this jacket a long time ago…and subsequent treatments have helped to prevent the jacket from wetting-out quickly…but have failed to bring the jacket back to its earlier level of performance.

The membrane inside the jacket is also very delicate…a rogue piece of duct-tape making short-work of several sections of the membrane in my jacket…where ironically…duct-tape also remedied the problem for the most part.

(pictured: repaired membrane)

Overall then…I highly recommend light raingear like the Tumalo Storm Jacket for summers in wetter climates…and I think it is a viable option all year in drier climates. Like all 2.5 layer raingear the Tumalo is subject to many of the same weaknesses (wetting-out and lack of durability)…but the attention to detail in the form of waterproof zippers and pit-zips make the Tumalo one of the best 2.5 layer jackets available. Moreover…the Pertex Shield fabric is surprisingly flexible…making it a wonderful piece of kit when the trail calls for scrambling and climbing.

Ultralight 9oz. for a waterproof, windproof, breathable outer layer = AMAZINGNESS!!!

So I had a Goretex army issue jacket weighing in at over 2lbs. I came across this GoLite Tumalo shell at the REI garage sale for $30 and had to give it a go. I couldn't believe the weight I shaved from my pack weight by swapping just these two rain shells. I gave it the hose test and it passed with flying colors.

I've been using it for 2 years now as my outer layer and it keeps me warm layered with fleece and a decent base layer in snow and temps down to 20 degrees so far. I have the large and at 5'9" and athletic build, it allows me to layer up without any issues. Recent hike was at night in snow and with the pit zips open, I never suffered from any build up of sweat etc.

Drawstrings at the waist keep the drafts out, and same with the hood. I also carry it on day hikes just in case, and it's well worth the extra 9oz.  I would gladly pay $100 for this jacket if I had to, but I don't. :)