Deluge Jacket from Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) [Review]

So here at Zaphu, we didn’t get the bailout that we were expecting after seeing all the money that everyone else was getting, but we decided to take a company retreat anyway. Of course, instead of golden toilets we had the backs of Oak trees and instead of 2,000,000 thread count sheets we had sleeping bags, but hey, we deserved it! Anyway, the important thing about the trip was that it rained. And guess what? Good ol’ Billy didn’t have a rain jacket. Oh, he had a “water-resistant” jacket and a bit o’ bourbon, so it wasn’t super important, but he did notice the wet stuff. So the I went looking for a rain jacket. After looking for several months, and focusing a lot on price, I went with the Deluge Jacket from Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS). I’ve used it as an outer layer over a fleece for hikes in the snow with the dogs, stuffed in the tote bag on the way to work and also as a rain jacket in a torrential down pour. I’ve stayed dry throughout and it has held up to the wear and tear. I give it a 4.5/5.0 . The only thing keeping it from getting a 5 is that I don’t have enough information for long term use. Also, the hood is a little bulky when it’s rolled up, but honestly, if it’s raining, I’m going to have the hood on. Read on for the full review and specs.




The jacket is SYNC compatible - meaning that it can be snapped/zipped in with other SYNC gear from EMS. It’s waterproof and the seams are fully sealed. At first it seems a little difficult to get the main zipper closed, but after you do it a couple of times it is no problem. Articulated elbows - yes, I can understand them every single time. It’s got adjustable cuffs and a hem cinch cord. The underarm venting is key on hikes. One thing I really like this feature is that the vents have two way zippers. So depending on your preference, you can have it so that you pull away or towards you to open the vent without having to stop your hike. It’s also got the fixed hood and three external pockets. Two on the breast and one on the shoulder. The jacket also has Gore-Tex^® PacLite^® technology, so it’s designed for use when space and weight are critical. If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative, check this jacket out. It’s a great buy and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.