I used to take a rain poncho in my kayak for sudden showers, but the wind would whip the poncho up and I would get soaked. I tried regular raincoats and they were hot and sticky. I was happy to find this jacket.
It is soft and breathable and lighter weight than a typical raincoat. It is also more comfortable and softer than some other rain jackets I tried that were supposed to be breathable. The zipper cover and Velcro fasteners on the front prevent blowing rain from getting in the front zipper. The front zipper comes all the way up to cover the lower part of your face and the hood draws tight and has a slight bill on the front to help keep rain out of your face and eyes. It has large pockets with zipper closures and flaps over them to keep the rain out. It is also good to wear as a light jacket or windbreaker on gusty days.
I bought a size larger so it will fit over my PFD. The best thing about this jacket is that it's packable and can easily be stored in a hatch or dry bag.
