Review: Outdoor Vitals Tushar Rain Jacket
The Outdoor Vitals Tushar is an ultralight rain jacket that’s designed for hikers and backpackers.
Rated the “Best Lightweight Backpacking Shell” in Outside & Backpackers 2023 Summer Gear Guide, the Tushar is a minimalist-style rain jacket that does exactly what it needs to: keep you dry on trail. But it also has several features that make it a stand-out option, including a softer fabric feel inside and out, pit zips for ventilation, and a lightweight construction that packs down small for stashing in your pack.
Features
- ultralight: 6.5 oz (men’s small size)
- very light and packable for stashing in a backpack
- one chest pocket big enough for a phone or wallet (no hand pockets)
- pit zips under the arms for ventilation
- elastic sleeve cuffs and hood
Technology
The Tushar utilizes a 2.5 layer waterproofing technology that is bodymapped using two different types of waterproofing laminations (indicated by the different colors in the jacket) to provide more waterproofing in high pressure areas, and more breathability in other areas. A 3D printed half layer inside the jacket keeps the membrane away from your skin to provide a better feel as well as additional ventilation.
- Materials: Toray Torain® 3D 2.5 layer waterproof breathable lamination technology
- Face Fabric: 20D micro-Ripstop Nylon with mapped membrane application
- Lamination 1: Waterproof 28,500mm HH, Breathability 20,000g
- Lamination 2: Waterproof 15,500mm HH, Breathability 28,900g
- Seams: Fully Seam Taped w/ Torain® specific seam tape (designed for long term durability & resistance to wash cycles – engineered for best adhesion to Torain® laminations)
- Zippers: YKK Aquaguard zippers
My experience with the Tushar rain jacket
For hiking, I prefer the Tushar over other rain jackets I’ve used due to the comfortable fit, ultralight weight, and minimalist features. I especially like the elastic on the sleeve cuffs and hood. I’ve never been a fan of velcro on sleeves since it tends to get caught on things, and the elastic around the cuffs fits well without being too tight and works well with gloves.
I always wear a brimmed hat when I’m hiking so I like that the hood works well with it, and the hat helps keep the hood from being blown off in wind. I also appreciate that this jacket includes pit zips so I can wear it without sweating by opening to release heat.
The Tushar is only available in men’s sizing, and as a smaller woman at 5’1″, the fit is a little large on me but I like the extra coverage it provides as well as being able to easily layer under it.
Finally, it packs down small and doesn’t take up a lot of space in my pack.
About Outdoor Vitals
Outdoor Vitals is a small cottage-industry company based in Utah. Instead of selling their merchandise in traditional retail outlets, they use direct-to-consumer sales to make their gear more affordable.
Disclosure: this item was donated for the purpose of a review.