Eddie Bauer has made a budget rain jacket for the recreationalist who also spends most of their time running around town. The Cloud Cap Stretch does not come overly featured but uses a very strong DWR and Eddie Bauer’s proprietary WeatherEdge waterproofing. These ingredients combine to create a good waterproof jacket for travel or local hiking. The 2.5L design does add concern over the longevity of the waterproofing and overall jacket durability. With easy use and care, it will handle moderate weather well.

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Eddie Bauer is a well-known brand, and even if they have fallen into the shadow of larger brands like Patagonia or Arc’teryx for performance-based equipment, they can still produce quality products. The Eddie Bauer Cloud Cap Stretch jacket doesn’t have all of the bells and whistles that we are seeing in other jackets, but it will keep you dry. For only $100, that’s a pretty good deal. At the time this article was written, the jacket was even on sale for $75! Eddie Bauer does sales well and often, so keep your eye out.

Weather-Proofing

The Cloud Cap is a 2.5-layer jacket that uses Eddie Bauer’s WeatherEdge waterproofing. It is fully seam-sealed and has StormRepel Super DWR (durable water repellent), Eddie Bauer’s longest-lasting finish. The question is does it work? Well, yes—yes, it does. As a 2.5L jacket, it is not the most waterproof of the jacket options in this review, but again, the cost does help to outweigh the drawbacks.

Weight and Durability

Eddie Bauer is known for its well-made products, so while the build quality is not in question, the problems arise when it comes to the lifetime of a 2.5-layer jacket. Thinner layers at a lower price will often lead to issues with durability. The Cloud Cap Stretch was not really designed for the hardcore outdoors person; in fact, most of the jacket reviewers on the Eddie Bauer website list walking or leisure as their main activity. That should give you a good idea of this jacket’s target consumer.

At around 9.6oz (272g), the Cloud Cap is a very lightweight 2.5L jacket. The lifetime of the fabric is a worry as with all 2.5L jackets, but Eddie Bauer has an excellent return policy, and their gear is fabricated quite well.

Features

The Eddie Bauer Cloud Cap packs down quite small into one of the handwarmer pockets. The hood on the jacket is large with a sturdy laminated brim to keep the rain away from your face. The zippers tuck away, and all of the zippers are water repellent. There are also pit zips to help with the expulsion of heat, and the adjustability on the hood is a nice feature. It’s not an overly flashy jacket, but all the included features serve a purpose and do it well.

The Bottom Line

The Cloud Cap Stretch was not made for alpine adventures, and it doesn’t advertise itself as a jacket for those kinds of excursions. The water-repellent zippers are unfortunately too low, so they would be blocked by a hipbelt. However, for local hiking or traveling, it would make a great companion. The design and features make it a great jacket for casual hikers and people who just want a good lightweight jacket to get around town. If you are planning some longer camping trips or backcountry adventures, I would look for something more durable like the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L.

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