There is a new option for raingear in the new "permanently beading” surface fabrics. Columbia Sportswear was first to market with their OutDry Extreme line of raingear, followed quickly by Gore with their GoreTex Active products. These new products have moved the waterproof/breathable membrane to the surface of the garment, and eliminated completely the durable water-repellant layer. This eliminates the wet-out problem of the DRW layer, which renders the membrane in traditional 3-layer shell useless.
I have been using a Columbia Sportswear OutDry EX Diamond shell for several months as foul weather gear on my sailboat, and it has never wetted out, period. Water beads on the surface, and I haven't been wet at all. The jacket is fully seam sealed and would seem to be extremely durable. I cant speak to the jackets breathability, as I have not done any hiking in the jacket, but I take any manufacturers claims of breathability with a large grain of salt. I rely on open pit zips and venting to get rid of interior water vapor.
The OutDry EX is too heavy for lightweight backpacking, but the new OutDry EX Light shell is just under 11 oz. in a men's medium. I may try this shell for my upcoming backpacking trip in SEKI later this summer:
http://www.columbia.com/mens-outdry-ex- ... 2#start=16
NorthFace also has a lightweight GTX Active shell:
https://www.thenorthface.com/shop/mens- ... tionId=JK3
For my legs I use an MLD Rain Kilt, at under 3 oz., which doubles as a waterproof mini ground sheet:
https://mountainlaureldesigns.com/produ ... rain-kilt/