Description
If you want a cost-efficient, lightweight, waterproof hiking rain jacket, grab the Black Diamond Treeline Rain Shell . At just under nine ounces, it’s a killer value proposition for only $140. Weight: 8.9 oz Price: $140 Fabric: 2.5L nylon with BD.dry™ waterproof/breathable membrane Pros: Very lightweight. Affordable. Great value. Back vent. Cons: No pit zips. Not 3-layer. Features The first thing to call out about the build is the use of a mechanical back panel vent, unusual in this day and age. It might not be at its most effective if you’re wearing a backpack over top, but with even a small gap between back and pack, it will help dump heat. Cool retro feature and we hope to see more of it from other brands. That, back vents still play second fiddle to pit zips, and we of course wish that Treeline had some. Aside from that, it has the usual adjustable hem/cuff/hood, and two zippered hand pockets. BD.dry has been a solid performer in the waterproof breathable membrane space, but it’s still not quite as premium as name-brands like Gore-tex or eVent, nor is it air permeably like OR’s AscentShell. It’s waterproof/breathable stats come in at 10k/10k, which is acceptable if not exciting. Verdict When scanning the marketplace for all the best new rain jackets, this one really stood out as a strong performer, statistically speaking. It only launched in 2021, and flew under our radar, so we look forward to testing it more this year. Very high potential and a clear front runner for best lightweight rain jacket under $150.
