Showers Pass Syncline Jacket

A durable hardshell rain jacket for road or trail. Lightweight breathable fabric with cross core ventilation.

Disclosure: The reviewer received a sample of this product from the brand or its representatives in exchange for a review.

The Showers Pass Syncline is a lightweight (12.3 oz for a medium) rain jacket that works well for a variety of outdoor activities. Comprised of their 2.5 layered Artex fabric, it pairs a durable waterproof layer and a waterproof breathable membrane that incorporates a state of the art printed interior face, hence the .5 layer. The printing is used to wick moisture from your skin while taking the place of an inner liner to reduce bulk and weight.

All seams are taped and the zippers are water resistant. Two zippered front pockets are also accessible from the inside of the jacket. The back of the jacket is cut long for coverage while biking and there is reflective striping on both the front and back for night time safety. Two pit zips provide additional core ventilation. The attached hood is drawstring adjustable.

Once fall rainy weather showed up in California testing was begun. Initially, I wore the Syncline Jacket during my day-to-day activities whenever it was raining. I consider these outing a pretest so I would have some idea of the jacket's waterproof capabilities before using it hiking or biking. The jacket did fine during these outings. It was comfortable, fit well, and rain beaded up and ran off of the jacket.

The next step was testing on my mountain bike on a wet messy day. The jacket performed really well as a wind jacket, and the long hem fully covered my back while riding. The pit zips did an adequate job of releasing body heat during my rides. I found that while mountain biking I could wear the hood either under or over my bike helmet.

For the ultimate waterproof test prior to deciding if I would take this jacket on a long distance backpacking trip, I did a shower test. With the jacket fully zipped and hood up I stood under the shower for 20 minutes. After about 5 minutes I started to feel a clammy feeling on my exposed arms and was concerned that the jacket may have been wetting through. At the same time, the color of the coat started to darken which usually confirms that the jacket had failed the test. The zippers performed properly and the hood provided excellent coverage when the front was fully zipped.

After leaving the shower and taking off the coat, I wiped down the inside of the Syncline Jacket with a paper towel and found it to be completely dry. Apparently, the temperature differential had made the inner liner clammy feeling, but it wasn't wet. With a quick shake, the exterior of the jacket was water free and dry to the touch within minutes.

As far as I am concerned the jacket did its job keeping me dry and I feel confident on packing it for my next trip, in addition to local hikes and rides.

Product details: 

• Size: Small- Xlarge
• Colors: Red, Rust
• Price $125

Keeps you dry!

This jacket has great long sleeves that don't fall short when on the bike. The longer tail keep your backside free of muddy splashes. The pit zips are easily managed while riding with great zipper pulls. The jacket is designed to wear the hood under the helmet and that will take some getting used to.

Kept me dry in light rain. Light and packable. Can't wait to put it to a tougher test!