Finding the perfect mix of features in a lightweight rain jacket can be daunting. Emily and I tested eight top-rated rain jackets a couple of years ago, and we still use a few of them regularly, but something always seems missing. Whether it’s a poorly fitting hood, a missing vent, or fabric that wets out too fast, there’s always room for improvement.

A few months ago, the folks at Hyperlite Mountain Gear reached out with an exciting new product: an ultralight rain jacket. I was interested for two reasons. First, Hyperlite traditionally doesn’t make technical outdoor apparel, and second, I was curious how a brand obsessed wth Dyneema fabrics would design a rain jacket. I’ve been using the new Hyperlite Gridline Anorak on and off throughout the fall, including a surprisingly wet seven days on the Arizona Trail and on day rides back home in the Pacific Northwest. While this isn’t a long-term review, I’ve logged around a dozen soggy days with serious rain, it came bikepacking, and I keep cramming it into whatever bag I bring on day rides.

Hyperlite Makes Rain Jackets?!

Although Hyperlite is best known for its Dyneema shelters and backpacks, they released a jacket called The Shell about nine years ago. They stopped making it when the fabric was no longer available, but four years ago, they found a roll while cleaning out the R&D room and made as many as they could. They sold out in a day. The Shell was made from a Dyneema fabric laminated to an eVent membrane, pairing impressive durability and waterproofness with a low overall weight. It weighed between 132 and 162 grams (4.68 to 5.74 ounces) and cost a cool $549 USD.

The Hyperlite Gridline Anorak isn’t The Shell reimagined. It’s an entirely new jacket. The most obvious difference is that the Gridline Anorak isn’t made from what most people imagine when they think of Dyneema fabrics. Instead of a full Dyneema construction, the Gridline Anorak uses a three-layer Dyneema ripstop face fabric. According to Hyperlite, the Nylon/Dyneema blend outperformed a standard 20-denier nylon ripstop in multiple lab tests, including propagation (how far a tear spreads once the fabric is nicked) and tear strength (the force needed to tear the fabric in the first place). Their tests showed the Dyneema hybrid fabric was nearly three times tougher and stronger than nylon ripstop alternatives. The resulting fabric is 80% nylon, 13% Dyneema, and 7% polyester, with a 10-micron non-porous PU membrane finished with a C0 (PFAS-free, non-fluorinated) water-repellent coating. The fabric is backed with a soft nylon tricot layer.

The Gridline Anorak, as its name suggests, only has a partial zipper that extends about halfway down the front. For ventilation, Hyperlite added two large underarm zippered vents, plus a two-way chest zipper. It has adjustable shockcords at the hem and hood, hook-and-loop wrist openings, a spacious chest pocket, and reflective details for added visibility. A small plastic hook on the hood cinch lets you roll the jacket up and keep it bundled when not in use. The medium I’ve been testing weighs just 212 grams (7.5 ounces), about 24 grams heavier than the popular Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket, which costs $225.

As for the specs, the Gridline Anorak has a 20,000+ g/m² breathability rating and a 20,000+ mm waterproof rating. If you read my rain jacket roundup, then you’ll recall that anything with a rating of 20,000g/m² or higher is considered very breathable, and waterproof ratings over 15,000mm are best for heavy rain. Looking at the specs and features alone, the Gridline Anorak is impressive. It’s available in men’s and women’s fits, and a good range of sizes.

Gridline Anorak versus The Wet

I snuck away to Arizona for a week in October to find solitude and warmth in the desert. I found both, but I also found something else: rain. Lots of it. Larger storms south of Arizona surprised everyone in the state with unexpectedly wet, windy conditions. Racers in the Arizona Trail Race were stopped dead in their tracks by mud, and riders on the 300-mile route faced intense winds. I found myself right in the middle of it all. I started my week-long ride with three days of rain and low temperatures, and ended my trip with gale-force winds. In between, I had beautiful, sunny days.

I brought the Gridline Anorak as an emergency layer, not expecting as much rain as I encountered. It has a comfortable, articulated fit that feels good on and off the bike. It’s noticeably roomy, and I’d encourage anyone interested to compare Hyperlite’s size chart to a jacket they already own. I tested a size medium, and I can’t recall the last time I wore anything smaller than a large, especially in a jacket. Still, I could easily slip it over my helmet and whatever layers I wore underneath without it feeling bulky or baggy.

The three-layer Dyneema ripstop fabric is lightweight and feels more like a wind jacket than a waterproof shell. For breathability and ventilation, the lightweight construction and underarm vents make it one of the most effective waterproof jackets I’ve used while traveling through changing conditions. I found myself tossing it on with all the zippers open on cool mornings, starting my ride wearing it, and then opening all the vents before eventually removing it. In heavy rain, which I encountered on my Arizona Trip and again back home over the last few weeks, it kept me dry, but it didn’t offer the same comfort as heavier hardshell jackets. On cold, wet days, I was happy to have a long-sleeve shirt on underneath to stay warm. I also found that rain didn’t bead off the jacket as effectively as other jackets I’ve used, and it wetted out quicker than I’m used to.

Although I’ve only used the jacket on one bikepacking trip and a dozen wet day rides, it seems to be holding up quite well. In Arizona, I snagged it on prickly bushes and cacti multiple times, and I was constantly surprised not to see any punctures. I’m eager to continue testing it this winter to see how it holds up.

So far, my only fit-related complaints are that the jacket isn’t cycling-specific. In size medium, the arms were a touch short, and the hood could have been slightly larger. I do wonder whether a larger size would have addressed these issues. The YKK waterproof zips on the front and under the arms do an excellent job keeping the elements out, but they are stiff, which can make them tricky to use while riding. I had to stop riding to use the pit zips, and usually grabbed the collar with my teeth to use the main zip. I also noticed the Velcro wrist cuffs kept loosening over time, and the basic Velcro closure didn’t have as much bite as I wanted.

Choosing a Rain Jacket

Priced at $450 USD, the Hyperlite Gridline Anorak is the second most expensive rain jacket I’ve ever used, topped only by the 7mesh Guardian Air Jacket released last year. Both jackets use premium materials and tech; the Gridline has the Dyneema logo, and the Guardian Air features the new Gore-Tex ePE PFAS-free membrane. Although I’ve used the 7mesh jacket a fair bit more, I prefer the Gridline’s added ventilation and fit. I’m not sold on the pullover design over a standard full-length zipper, but it’s growing on me. Hyperlite chose an anorak design to save weight, but not having a lower main zipper means it works nicely with backpack hip straps or hip packs.

It’s hard to ignore the value of $200 two-layer rain jackets compared with something double the price. Most rain jackets have a lifespan, even when you care for them properly, so you have to be mindful about washing and maintaining your high-end jacket if you want it to last and keep performing. The Gridline Anorak has some promising features, and the Dyneema ripstop construction seems well-suited for a lightweight, waterproof layer, but whether it has the right mix of features to justify spending $450 is up to you.

For a detailed look at all the specs and Hyperlite’s design choices, they put together an informative overview video led by Ethan Engemann, Hyperlite’s Product Designer. Watch that below.

• Material: Dyneema Ripstop
• Weight: 212 grams (7.5 ounces)
• Place of Manufacture: Mexico
• Price: $450 USD
• Manufacturer’s Details: HyperliteMountainGear.com Men’s Women’s

What do you want from your ideal rain jacket? Let me know in the Conversation below!

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