10/11/2008

Helly Hansen tries to keep me dry The Drayco Jacket reviewed Cam McRae

The rainy season has arrived.  This year our summer was great but it was abbreviated at both ends.  For about the last four rides in a row I have ridden in weather that would have pleased Noah.  Sure it rains in Vancouver but it's generally more of  a persistent drizzle than a deluge.  Lately the rain has taken on an angrier tone and drops the size of pregnant honey bees have been the norm - and they seem to grow and become more numerous over the course of the ride. 

Usually when things get really wet here we're being victimized by the Pineapple Express - a warm  mass of moisture shipped via air freight from Hawaii.  You might think the warmth that comes with with the delivery is a blessing but it's a pariah for those of us with a passion for snow and it also makes the choice of wet weather gear tricky.  Generally if you wear a rain jacket the warm temperatures have you stuffing it in your pack by the first switchback on Fromme and you end up soaked to the bone.

This move is called 'Semi Retarded' and you'll find it on Upper Skull on Mount Fromme. Photo - Gabe McDermid.

This season I have a leg up on the weather - a Helly Hansen Drayco jacket.  I've known the Helly name for years and I'm a big fan of their Lifa line of synthetic base layer clothing.  The Drayco jacket looks trick right away.  All the seams are welded and sealed and the zippers close tight keeping out the wet.  Something I really appreciated was the inside of the nylon fabric that's placed against your skin.  Instead than the slippery surface I was accustomed to, the inside of the un-lined Drayco has a soft texture that feels great and resists that slimy feeling smoother surfaces get when they become sweat-soaked.

The Drayco in Crimson.

The jacket has long pit zips, velcro wrist enclosures and a hood with a moldable visor to preserve clear vision.  The articulated elbows are ideal for riding - the jacket seemed roomy in all the right places without being bulky.  I was cautiously optimistic before I braved the weather.  Once out on the trail I became very impressed.  I've been wearing Gore Tex and other 'membrane' jackets for years but I've never worn anything that breaths like this jacket. Every time I've worn the Drayco on wet days I've been able to keep it on for the entire ride - and I stayed amazingly dry as a result.  Helly calls the membrane fabric used in the Drayco eVent - and it's a three layer laminate.

Ladies Only on a hardtail. Old School indeed. Photo ~ Rob Plato.

This is also a jacket that would be ideal for cross country skiing or a day of skiing or boarding - as long as you have lots of insulation underneath.  It packs up small enough to fit into your hydration pack but the hood doesn't stow.  If I was designing the ideal jacket for riding I would start with the features and fabric of the Drayco but I'd lose the hood.  For a riding specific jacket (which this isn't) a hood is just unnecessary bulk and weight.  In this case though it makes for a more versatile addition to your wardrobe.

Having a company like Helly Hansen making clothing for riders is a great development and their signing of  Andrew Shandro and Matt Hunter is an indication that they hope to be in it for the long haul.

The Drayco is not meant for the budget rider.  In Canada full retail will knock you on your ass for $450 - or $300 in the US.  I received the jacket in the late spring so I didn't get to really test it in the nasty weather until this fall.  It seems like the closest replacement

I love riding in the rain.  The trails are more challenging and there's nothing like a little two-wheel drift to get the heart pumping.  Best of all the beer tastes that much better once the riding is done.

Bring on the pineapple.