I noticed that the waterproof/breathability ratings on this jacket are blank on every website I've searched. Does anyone know the rating?

How does it compare to say, Marmot's Membrain Strata?

Ben, that was the best review i have ever read. keep it up. thank you for pointing out the complexity of quantifying subjective data...and the well worded bash at pseudo-tech. good stuff. thanks again.

Brad, I think you'll find that the Torrentshell is similar in waterproofness and breathability to other jackets in its general price range. From short afternoon hikes in the rain to summitting some of Colorado's Fourteeners in driving hail, I can tell you that the Torrentshell material is completely waterproof. The only weaknesses in its waterproofing are the front zipper and pit zips, which have storm flaps, but are not waterproof. So if you find yourself in genuinely torrential downpours for hours at a time, you may find that water enters in those areas. It's the cheaper storm flaps that put the Torrentshell in its current price range - the Patagonia Rain Shadow jacket is essentially identical to the Torrentshell, but at $60 more expensive, it also comes with waterproof zippers. From what I've observed, breathability ratings (even moreso than waterproofness ratings) are essentially manufacturers' attempts at objectifying things which are inherently subjective. 20,000mm and 5k certainly sound "sciencey." But the cute little lab tests they perform in order to ascertain their "ratings" are so far removed from practical application that they are next to useless except as very broad generalizations. There are dozens of variables that affect how well a given material will perform, from how well you clean and maintain them, to what the specific weather conditions are like, to your own personal "climate" in terms of the heat and moisture you generate and your personal humidity tolerance. For one thing, not all manufacturers use the same testing standards. Helly Hansen, for example, tests its materials after 5 wash cycles... which is nice for them, but sort of ruins their results as a measure of comparison. Gore, on the other hand, doesn't release waterproof or breathability ratings at all. Additionally, the manufacturers typically only test the waterproof membrane itself - not the fabric it is later applied to, much less the garment made from that fabric. The best that we, as consumers, can presume is that no material is both totally waterproof and perfectly breathable. And cheaper materials sacrifice breathability, or waterproofness, or both, to at least some degree. Aside from that, you will have to rely on the experiences of your fellow outdoor enthusiasts, as well as your own, to determine a jacket's breathability. Having said all that, I would still recommend the Torrentshell for a low-price rain shell. H2No is just as good as other brands' similarly-priced materials. But Patagonia's quality of construction, attention to detail, and dedication to the environment all contribute to a piece that compares very favorably to similar products from other manufacturers. I realize this is probably way more info than you wanted, and it doesn't directly answer your question, but in general I think you should avoid relying on a manufacturer's own ratings as absolute indicators of a product's quality or performance.

Brad. I do not know the exact rating but this shell is waterproof! Marmot's Membrane Strata is similar in build. Both have taped seams and venting. From personal experience the Torrent-shell is breathable and lightweight. I would say the jackets are almost the same, so the warranty and price should help you choose. Hope this helped!