REI Co-op Drypoint GTX Review

Updated: March 21, 2022
REI-Co-op-Drypoint-GTX-Review

The Drypoint GTX is one of the best overall rain jackets you will find in its class. It will keep you bone dry and warm while you're adventuring through the great outdoors or simply going along your daily commute. 

It features 3-layer Gore-Tex Active fabric and taped seams to make sure you stay completely dry in rainy weather. Its breathability is very impressive, so you can trek for hours on end without feeling clammy or uncomfortable.

The Drypoint GTX is a superlight rain jacket, weighing only 298g (10.5oz), which makes it extremely convenient to just pack away in your bag and remain unnoticed until needed.

The design of the rain jacket was focused on weighing as little as possible while providing excellent water resistance and breathability, and does just that. The Drypoint GTX is an ideal rain jacket choice for just about anyone.   

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REI Co-op Drypoint GTX

Manufacturer: REI

Pros

  • Lightweight and compact
  • Comfortable and functional
  • Premium quality design with excellent breathability
  • Adjustable hood and hems

Cons

  • No pit zips
  • Not helmet compatible
  • Doesn't fold up into one of its own pockets

Conclusion

The REI Co-op Drypoint GTX is a lightweight rain jacket that has been designed in a minimalist fashion, while still including all the necessary and important key features. It is highly functional and will keep you dry, comfortable and protected from the weather as you adventure through the outdoors.

The 3-layer Gore-Tex Active fabric and neatly taped seams ensures that the jacket is completely waterproof. Despite lacking pit zips, which are a popular feature to help improve ventilation and get rid excess body heat, the breathability of the Drypoint GTX is very impressive. You can trek around in this jacket for hours on end without feeling clammy or uncomfortable.

The Drypoint GTX has an adjustable hood with a built-in visor, which protects your face from rain and keeps your field of vision clear. While the hood fits comfortably around your head, it is not compatible with a helmet, which rules out using this rain jacket for activities such as cycling, skiing and climbing.

The hand pockets are well placed and easily accessible when wearing a backpack with the hip-belt. They are made from mesh, which promotes some air flow and helps to expel body heat and avoid condensation within the jacket. This helps to counteract the clammy effect from not having pit zips.

The fit of the jacket is nice and comfortable. Whether you're tall or short, the length fits well and  the sleeves cover the entirety of your arms. fabric isn't restrictive so you can move freely while wearing the Drypoint GTX. This makes it suitable for most outdoor activities as you have a full range of motion in it.

The Drypoint GTX can be compressed down to an impressively small size so it can be neatly packed away into your bag when not needed.

Unfortunately, the Drypoint GTX is not designed to pack away into one of its own pockets, which would keep it small and contained, but at least it can be easily stuffed away into small spaces. The performance of the REI Co-op Drypoint GTX truly makes it worth the money, and makes it the best overall rain jacket.

See Other Rain Jackets

Finding the correct rain jacket for hiking and adventures at altitude for your needs and budget can be a tricky task and sifting through the troves of reviews can be time consuming and confusing. To make things easier, check out our expert review on the best rain jackets for hiking here

Key Features 

Water Resistance

The Drypoint GTX performs well in bad weather conditions and offers good protection from rain and wind. The jacket is made from 3-layer Gore-Tex Active fabric with the Durable Water Repellent (DWR) finish and has taped seams to ensure maximum protection from water. Gore-Tex Active is very light, breathable and waterproof, which makes it a popular choice for rain jackets. While it may not be as durable as some other fabrics, it provides excellent weather protection.

The adjustable hood and hems allow the jacket to be tightened to fit your body, which prevent any water from getting under the fabric. Velcro wrist cuffs help to secure the sleeves around your wrists so that no water can trickle its way inside.

The Drypoint GTX features a storm flap behind the main zipper to make sure no water can get to your underlying layers. The DWR holds up very well so you can get a lot of use out of the Drypoint GTX. The jacket is also very easy to shake dry - any water droplets clinging to the fabric will fly off with barely any effort. The Drypoint GTX's design is highly functional and does what it's supposed to do very well.

Durability and Fabric

While the Gore-Tex Active is less durable than some of Gore-Tex's other fabrics, it is still suitable for most outdoor activities. The fabric was designed to be lighter and more breathable than other fabrics, which makes it slightly less durable. With 20-denier ripstop nylon, it'll still do well for hiking and many other activities.

However, you'll want to be careful not to store it next to any sharp objects or you might end up tearing right through it. As long as you're not climbing up jagged rocks or trampling through dense forests with many branches in your path, the Drypoint GTX's durability should suit you fine.

The fabric is high quality and holds up very well over time. For its class, it's durability is impressive and outperforms many other rain jackets of similar value. The Drypoint GTX is a premium quality build and doesn't disappoint.

Breathability

The Drypoint GTX, with its 3-layer Gore-Tex Active fabric, has excellent breathability. You can trek for hours on end or enjoy more high energy activities without feeling clammy inside the jacket. The Gore-Tex Active fabric is the most breathable fabric out of the entire Gore-Tex line. This makes the Drypoint GTX perform the best in its class for breathability.

The breathability of a rain jacket is very important, so most feature pit zips - to expel excess body heat and water vapor from perspiration, effectively and efficiently. The Drypoint GTX does not feature these pit zips, but make up for it with its mesh-lined hand pockets, which function extremely well.

Comfort and Weight

The fabric of the Drypoint GTX is actually fairly stretchy, which allows for a good range of motion and the ability to partake in more rigorous activities while wearing it. The cut of the jacket is quite trim and athletic, so it can be worn over some layers or simply over a T-shirt and won't be too baggy.

The Drypoint GTX is very light and weighs only 298g (10.5oz). This is extremely useful when going on long trips as it will fit neatly into your bag and won't weigh you down.

About the author 

Mark Whitman

Mark has trekked extensively in Asia, Europe, South America and Africa. He founded Mountain IQ in 2014 with the sole aim to be the best online information portal to some of the most popular mountain destinations around the world. When not writing for Mountain IQ, Mark is out exploring the outdoors with his wife!

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