Outdoor Vitals Tushar Rain Jacket
The Tushar rain jacket from Outdoor Vitals is a solid ultralight choice for rain-soaked trails and windswept peaks, combining water and wind protection with breathability in a coat that packs small.
Outdoor Vitals Tushar Specs
MSRP: $229.97; membership price, $206.97
Weight: 7.4 ounces (Men’s Large)
Fabric: Laminated water repellent, breathable layers with a 20D ripstop nylon face fabric.
About the Tushar
The Tushar strikes a balance between ultralight and good-to-have features. There’s a chest pocket, but no hip pockets. The pit zips are a plus in a coat this light. And though the hood doesn’t have a cord to adjust its fit, the hood and high collar wrap comfortably around my head to keep rain off my face.
Tushar Features
Waterproofing: The Tushar has a durable, waterproof and breathable hydrophobic membrane on top of the shoulders and arms and across the back, areas where a backpack rubs and creates pressure. The hydrophilic membrane, with a higher level of breathability, covers the rest of the jacket. A 3D printed interior half layer keeps the membrane off your skin and clothing so the inside of the jacket doesn’t feel clammy. The seams are fully taped.
Hood: The hood, combined with the high collar, envelops my head, keeping rain off my face. The hood is not adjustable.
Zippers: Water-resistant Aquaguard zippers. Zipper garage, but no zipper flap.
Fit: I’m 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weigh 160ish; the large Tushar is a good fit for me, with room for insulating layers underneath.
Cuffs: Elastic halfway around the cuffs.
Hem: Elastic on the sides, but no draw cord. The rear of the coat drops to below the hips.
Chest Pocket: Large. Fits a cell phone and snacks.
Colors: Cherry mahogany, North Atlantic.
Durability: The 20 denier fabric is a moderate weight for a rain jacket, and Outdoor Vitals warns that it will not withstand extreme abrasion.
Packability: The Tushar stuffs easily into my backpack’s outer mesh pocket. The coat can also be folded into the chest pocket.
Caring for the Tushar: Details here from Outdoor Vitals.
Origin: Made in Vietnam
Warranty: Outdoor Vitals says it will work with consumers to ensure that gear performs as promised. More warranty information is available here.
Outdoor Vitals’ Commitment: 1% of revenues goes toward protecting natural resources and connecting people to the outdoors.
What’s in Name: The Tushar Mountains are near Cedar City, Utah, home base for Outdoor Vitals.
About Outdoor Vitals
Tayson Whittaker started Outdoor Vitals in Southern Utah in 2013 with the goal of providing lower-cost, high-quality lightweight gear. Outdoor Vitals keeps prices down by skipping retailers and selling backpacking gear direct to consumers; gear discounts are available after paying $10 for a Live Ultralight Membership. Outdoor Vitals explains its direct-to-consumer approach here.
Outdoor Vitals Tushar Pros
Water Protection: The Tushar does a good job of repelling wind and water.
Pit Zips: A plus on a coat this light, although apparently at the cost of hip pockets and draw cords.
Hood: The hood wraps around my head for good rain protection.
Ultralight: 7.4 ounces, making it a solid contender among ultralight rain coats.
Outdoor Vitals Tushar Cons
Loose Cuffs: Elastic only partially surrounds the sleeve cuffs and hem, and water can get in under the cuffs.
Overall Value
The Tushar’s price falls in the midrange of ultralight, lower-cost rain jackets. The pit zips are a nice feature of the Tushar, but it does not have hip pockets or an adjustable hood. At this price range few coats have all three features.
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This product was donated for purpose of review.