Iconic backpacking brand Hyperlite Mountain Gear has won legions of fans for its ultralight packs and tents, and soon it will seek to win over customers in another market: apparel.
The brand is launching a new rain jacket on Nov. 10, which is eliciting plenty of stoke among Hyperlite loyalists online.
Amidst the sea of rain jackets available on the market, Hyperlite stands out for its featherweight profile and material choices. For thru-hikers and weight-conscious backpackers unwilling to sacrifice either protection or weight savings, the brand’s new shell might just be the next big thing.
What is the Jacket?
The Gridline Anorak Waterproof Shell ($450) consists of 3-layer waterproof-breathable fabric with a Nylon/Dyneema ripstop face. The brand widely uses Dyneema across its products.
The official stats break down as follows: 80% Nylon, 13% Dyneema, and 7% Polyester, with a 10micron, non-porous PU membrane and a PFAS-free, durable water-repellent coating.
Hyperlite promises it will be both fully waterproof and breathable, a combination that’s often hard to achieve, even for high-priced rain jackets. In high-output activities like backpacking, it’s easy for a waterproof jacket to turn into a sauna, leaving you a sweaty mess. We haven’t tested the claims yet. Non-porous membranes function differently than better-known Gore-Tex. Instead of using microscopic pores, they move water through hydrophilic (water-loving) polymer chains inside the polyurethane, which absorb water vapor molecules from sweat on the inside and pass them through the solid layer via molecular diffusion.
That’s why the Gridline includes zippered armpit vents to help improve airflow. The jacket claims to offer both a 20,000+ mm waterproof rating and a 20,000+ gsm breathability rating. This number measures how much water vapor can pass through one square meter of fabric in 24 hours. A rating of 20,000+ gsm is the kind of breathability you’d find in products for high-output activities like mountaineering.
Other features include a helmet-compatible hood with drawstring adjustment on the crown, adjustable cuffs and hem, and a large, protected chest pocket. As an anorak, the jacket’s zipper extends about halfway down the chest, between the ribcage and belly button. It also packs down into its own hood for easy, compact storage.
In an email to GearJunkie, a Hyperlite representative explained why they chose to make a rain jacket.
“We approached this design with an ‘apparel as gear’ mindset. Rather than building a full clothing line, we’re focused on creating our own take on the items that already live in your pack. A rain shell is one of those items. It’s the layer you reach for when conditions change, so it’s where we wanted to start,” the spokesperson said.
How Does it Stack Up?
For backpackers and thru-hikers, the most important stat is weight, and the Gridline is no slouch.
A men’s medium clocks in at 7.2 ounces, which is almost half the weight of our favorite rain jacket from 2026, the Patagonia Torentshell 3L (13.9 ounces). It’s also significantly lighter than Arc’teryx’s flagship shell, the Beta SL (12 ounces).
With a price tag of $450, the jacket is certainly not cheap, but it’s also not surprising, given a look at many other outdoor brands. Many of Arc’teryx’s waterproof jackets sell for more than $400, and options from brands like The North Face and Mountain Hardwear top $300.
With a price tag of $450, the jacket is certainly not cheap, but it’s also not surprising, given a look at many other outdoor brands. Many of Arc’teryx’s waterproof jackets sell for more than $400, and options from brands like The North Face and Mountain Hardwear top $300.
Why Does It Matter?
Hyperlite is one of many outdoor brands to expand their offerings beyond the niche that made them famous. Just last month, Austin, Texas, brand YETI — long beloved for its coolers and drinkware — also entered the apparel market with some similarly pricey jackets and other outerwear.
Hyperlite already has strong brand loyalty, and its continued foray into apparel may present a challenge to other high-end, performance brands. In 2017 and 2022, it released a Dyneema shell, and it sold out quickly.
The brand posted a brief teaser for the new jacket on Instagram, and if we can believe the comments, people are hyped. Hundreds of commenters responded with fire and heart-eye emojis, as well as pleas for Hyperlite to save them one.
The brand has mainly focused on packs and tents, and further growth in the apparel market could represent a major financial opportunity. Hyperlite may launch additional products in the future. “As we see fit, we’ll continue adding pieces that belong in your pack,” a brand rep said.
How Do I Buy It?
The jacket goes on sale Nov. 10. Its available sizes run from S to XXL for men and XS to XXL for women. Many of the brand’s drops sell out fast. So if you want to get your hands on this jacket, be sure to get your order in early on the site.
