Zpacks Vertice vs EE Visp: Ultralight Rain Jackets
How we did this: we compared what Zpacks and Enlightened Equipment publish on their own product pages, checked on 29 Sep 2026: weight, fabric, test ratings, vents, hood, pockets and price. We have not field-tested these jackets.
The Zpacks Vertice and the Enlightened Equipment (EE) Visp are the two lightest full-featured rain jackets most thru-hikers consider. They weigh almost the same: 5.4 oz against 5.58 oz. The real differences are what each maker publishes about waterproofing and breathability, the pocket, and a $49 price gap.
Zpacks Vertice vs EE Visp: the verdict up front
Buy the EE Visp if you want published test numbers and to save $49: EE rates it at 83,000 g/m²/24h breathability and 10,000 mm waterproofing, at $250. Buy the Zpacks Vertice if you want a chest pocket that doubles as a stuff sack and a helmet-compatible hood, at $299.
| Spec | Zpacks Vertice (men’s) | EE Visp |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 5.4 oz (152 g) | 5.58 oz (158 g) “to start” |
| Price | $299 | $250 |
| Fabric | Vertice waterproof-breathable, 1.50 oz/sq yd, PFAS-free DWR | 3-layer: 7D ripstop nylon, hydrophilic non-porous PU membrane, tricot lining |
| Breathability | Not published | 83,000 g/m²/24h (JIS L1099 B-1) |
| Waterproofing | Not published | 10,000 mm without restraint; 28,000 mm with restraint |
| Vents | Waterproof armpit zippers | YKK Uretek pit zips |
| Hood | Fitted, visor, rear adjustment, fits a helmet | Fitted, stiffened visor, front and back adjustment |
| Chest pocket that doubles as a stuff sack | None listed | |
| Cuffs | Elastic | Velcro adjustable |
| Sizing | Men’s and women’s | Unisex |
Sources: Zpacks Vertice Rain Jacket page; Enlightened Equipment Visp Rain Jacket page.
Why some listings say the Visp weighs 8.29 oz
The Visp’s store listing shows a weight field of 8.29 oz (235 g). EE’s own description says the jacket weighs 5.58 oz (158 g) to start. The 8.29 oz is most likely the store’s shipping weight, 2.7 oz more than the jacket EE describes. Use 5.58 oz, and expect larger sizes to weigh a little more.
Zpacks Vertice
- 5.4 oz, the lighter of the two
- Chest pocket flips inside out to hold jacket, pants and mitts
- Helmet-compatible hood; separate men’s and women’s cuts
- $49 more than the Visp
- No waterproof or breathability numbers published
- Elastic cuffs, no Velcro adjustment
Zpacks builds the Vertice from its own 1.50 oz/sq yd waterproof-breathable fabric with a PFAS-free DWR and fully taped seams. In Zpacks’ words, the fabric
“boasts an incredible breathability rating that blows away most other rain gear.”
Zpacks, Vertice Rain Jacket page
Zpacks does not print that rating on the page, so the claim cannot be compared with EE’s number. The jacket has a full-length waterproof front zipper with a rain guard, waterproof armpit zippers, elastic cuffs and hem, and a fitted, visored hood that adjusts at the back and fits over a helmet.
Check price →Enlightened Equipment Visp
- $49 less than the Vertice
- Breathability and waterproofing published with test methods
- Velcro cuffs and a hood that adjusts front and back
- No pocket listed
- Unisex sizing only
- Store listing shows a confusing 8.29 oz weight field
EE makes the Visp from a 3-layer fabric: 7D ripstop nylon, a hydrophilic non-porous PU membrane and a soft tricot lining. It publishes a moisture vapor transmission rate of 83,000 g/m²/24h (JIS L1099 B-1) and waterproofing of 10,000 mm without restraint and 28,000 mm with restraint. The Visp has full-length and pit zips from YKK’s waterproof Uretek line, Velcro cuffs, a stiffened visor, and fully taped seams.
Check price →Which should you buy?
- Lowest weight and a stuff-sack pocket: Zpacks Vertice, 5.4 oz.
- Published breathability and waterproof ratings: EE Visp.
- Budget: EE Visp, $250 against $299.
- Climbing or cycling with a helmet: Zpacks Vertice, whose hood Zpacks says fits a helmet.
FAQ
Zpacks Vertice or EE Visp: which is lighter?
Is the EE Visp waterproof?
How breathable is the Zpacks Vertice?
Do both jackets have pit zips?
Is there a good alternative to the Zpacks Vertice?
The bottom line
At 5.4 oz and 5.58 oz, weight does not separate the Zpacks Vertice and the EE Visp. The Visp gives you published ratings and costs $49 less; the Vertice gives you a stuff-sack pocket and a helmet-ready hood.
Related guides
Keep building your system with these closely related guides.
- Outdoor Research Helium vs Zpacks Vertice: Rain Shells
- Montbell Versalite Jacket vs EE Visp: Rain Shells
- Enlightened Equipment: Revelation, Enigma and Lineup
- Zpacks: Duplex, Altaplex, Vertice and the Full Lineup
- Outdoor Research Echo vs Black Diamond Alpenglow: Sun Hoody Comparison
- Zpacks Sleeping Bags: Classic, Zip Around and Mummy Compared
