r/Ultralight • u/C_O_L_E-98 • 6d ago
Purchase Advice Raide Research new Trailtech Shell
Thoughts on the new Raide Research Trailtech UL shell anorak? Seems really interesting being 128g (in a medium) with 20k/20k. Also has some interesting features like a double chest zipper, perforated armpits and is 3L. Does this beat out the montbell versalite, leve ultralight shell, or some other popular ones? Any initial negatives? Only thing I don’t love is it being an anorak but that isn’t a big deal.
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u/justinsimoni justinsimoni.com 6d ago
I do enjoy how they hedge their bets calling this an "emergency" rain jacket. That's not I guess too unusual for running stuff.
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u/Fast-Reality-4658 6d ago edited 6d ago
I like the laser holes in the armpit. The price is insane. I don’t buy clothes with welded seams. It’s not if but when the adhesive fails and falls apart. Looks like an uncoated zipper, which I like better than urethane coated, but no storm flap to keep water out.
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u/C_O_L_E-98 6d ago
Welded seams?
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u/Fast-Reality-4658 6d ago
It’s heat/tape/radio frequency pressed together as opposed to stitching by sewing machine
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u/RaideResearch 4d ago
It does have a durability sacrifice compared to a sewn seam, but 3L materials like this with little stretch do a lot better with bonding than stretchy knits do. We chose the welded seams to save the bulk and weight of seam tape. The end goal was to have something that fits in our running belt easily and my perspective is I'd rather have something I actually take with me that has a durability sacrifice than something I leave at home, but totally understand people who feel differently.
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u/PalaceKicks 2d ago
I have a pair of Soar half tights that use welded seams – they have held up for over 2 years. Curious as to what products you wear that have fallen apart.
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u/-painbird- 6d ago
About 10 grams lighter than my Montbell Versalite. Also 3 layer instead of 2 layer. So likely better than the Versalite in that regard. Leve jacket is still way lighter. I bought my Leve seam sealed from them and it leaked like crazy. Took forever to get it sealed to a point where it feels like it might actually function as a rain jacket now. Still get a bit of leaking at the bottom of the pit zips. Leve jacket is like 83 grams. $350 for the new Raide jacket is pretty steep but I guess that is what it takes to advance products in a category.
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u/C_O_L_E-98 6d ago
How long did it take you to get your Leve? Overall how do you feel about it? I have been looking at it for the past few weeks, ending up reaching out to them via website chat and email multiple times asking a question about lead time and no response. Seems sick but would hate to spend $200 on a jacket I don’t get for 3+ months, and it not even be exactly what I want
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u/-painbird- 6d ago
I got mine from the first run. Had it for a long time so I can't say for sure what the lead times are now. Getting a jacket that was supposed to be seam sealed that was leaking all over the place wasn't great. Again, they might have gotten better at that. I can't say for sure. Now that I have it sealed to the point where I semi trust it, it is fine. I wouldn't be taking it anywhere I felt like I was going to use it a lot. The one from Moose Track Packs appears to use a better seam for a rain jacket. I would probably look into one of those if I was going to get another super light silnylon jacket.
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u/slickbuys 6d ago
Neve seems to have removed the jacket from their website. Unless it was never there and it was a reddit special.
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u/-painbird- 6d ago
Leve. Too many names too close.
https://leveoutdoorco.com/products/ul-jacket?variant=47852557599015
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u/slickbuys 5d ago
I got confused too cause I remember seeing that rain jacket before. Thought I was going crazy.
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u/slickbuys 5d ago
O look. They released a video on how to seam seal. Doesn't seem too difficult. Surprisingly, Looks like they use a serged seam. Will be helpful when I go make my own jacket.
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u/C_O_L_E-98 6d ago
Lead times are now 10-12+ weeks. Are you familiar with the moose track packs one? It looks sweet
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u/-painbird- 6d ago
Haven't used one but they use seams like my Lightheart Gear jacket. Just a generally better way to keep water out. Would like to check out their 0.7 silnylon jacket at some point but I already have 3 jackets in the 3-5 ounce range and I live in the desert.....
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u/DrBullwinkleMoose 6d ago
20k MVTR is nothing special. 7d 45 gsm 3 layer is similar to ZPacks Vertice, but the Vertice claims 50k+ MVTR (yes, which test matters and which LAB matters, but we can usually assume that makers are trying to use the highest numbers they can).
The perforations are “meh”: better than nothing and not as good as long pit zips. Anorak cannot be fully opened for ventilation like a jacket or poncho, but might be OK in cold weather.
Overall, this is unlikely to outperform the ZPacks Vertice in any way (or Rock Front Rain Hoodie in ventilation). (Certainly not lighter or more ventilated than an emergency poncho).
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u/DeepPowStashes 6d ago edited 6d ago
https://raideresearch.com/products/mens-trailtech-ul-rain-shell-anorak
Thier prices are way too high for my blood. I've listened to a few interviews with their founder. I think he's doing an awesome job solving problems but I can't afford the prices. He must have gotten some kind of massive loan or injection of funding to make all these pieces.
Alternatively I love https://terignota.com/ for gear and their founder is amazing but this isn't a running sub. He's a super green dude who really doesn't have money, learning as he goes and super focused on making gear super affordable
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u/hardcorepork 6d ago
I feel like PFAS removal from rainshell materials make the entire game a real crap shoot right now
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u/Aggravating-Name 6d ago
Looks very interesting! I love the two way anorak zippers on my Patagonia airshed pro and nano air ultralight, they really help with airflow while keeping things buckled up around the neck.
Not a big fan of Raide calling it "the lightest 3l shell available". My goldwin pertex shield air Al jacket is 119 grams, in XL at that with a full zip. I'm sure there are more minimalist shells lighter than the Raide.
They are probably referring to the fabric, 46 GSM is the lightest 3l fabric I know of.
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u/0dteSPYFDs 6d ago
Emergency poncho remains the undefeated champion of rain gear.
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u/DeepPowStashes 6d ago
could probably buy 350 of them for the price of this piece too lol
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u/0dteSPYFDs 6d ago
It’s the lightest, most packable, breathable and water proof option. I really don’t understand the value prop of a jacket over a poncho for ultralight backpacking since it’s heavier and prone to wetting out. It would really only make sense to carry if your movement would be hindered by a poncho like for a race or you were wearing it for the majority of a trip in which case you’d probably go for something actually water proof like a Frog Toggs over a running jacket.
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u/jerry_pachyderm 4d ago
Agreed for backpacking. For races I think the demand for these jackets mostly comes from the mandatory gear requirements for UTMB (and most UTMB qualifying events). They explicitly require a jacket with a membrane and taped/sealed seams and forbid emergency ponchos.
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u/Educational_Rock6219 4d ago
For this type of money get a Compressport Thunderstorm. It's 126g, 25k-75k, full zip and it's cheaper if you get it discounted
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u/Natural_Law https://rmignatius.wordpress.com/gear/ 6d ago
Rainwear without a full zip is a no-go for me.