The Tsurugi Lite Jacket is Teton Bros.' spring/summer waterproof shell that you pull on over your head. What decides it: the Täsmä membrane that passes air along with moisture, and a diagonal zipper that opens from neck to waist. The spring/summer 2026 model (TB261-03M) is 240g in M and JPY 41,800, and the outer yarn got thicker from 20 to 30 denier. There is no waterproof rating on the official page.
The Shoe Nerd's top pick
This is not rain gear to stash in the pack but one to keep moving in while it rains. The membrane passes air itself, and the zipper that opens from neck to waist doubles as a vent. Stuffiness is let out by both the fabric and the opening and closing. So I would not choose it as rain gear to fill the mandatory gear slot; I would choose it as a piece to wear for mountain training on days I know it will rain.
Key points
- Same 240g and JPY 41,800 as the 2025 model. Outer yarn 20 → 30 denier, 1.5 times
- About JPY 174 per gram. 45g heavier than the Feather Rain Jacket from the same store, and JPY 9,900 more
- Most seams are ultrasonically bonded, with no thread. With a diagonal zipper that opens from neck to waist
Tsurugi Lite Jacket weight and fabric? The official numbers
Teton Bros.' Tsurugi Lite Jacket is a buy for people who keep moving in rain gear on mountain training days they know it will rain. What decides it: the membrane that passes air along with moisture and the zipper that opens from neck to waist. For a piece to fill the mandatory gear slot, the Feather Rain Jacket, officially listed at 20,000mm waterproofing, comes first.
The 2026 model (TB261-03M) kept the 240g weight while the outer yarn became 1.5 times thicker. The official store's product data carries the tags "2026SS" and "released Apr 10."
| Item | Tsurugi Lite Jacket (TB261-03M) |
|---|---|
| Release | Spring/summer 2026 (Apr 10 in the official store's product data) |
| Price (tax included) | JPY 41,800 |
| Weight | 240g (size M) |
| Fabric | 30D Täsmä (waterproof air-permeable material co-developed with Toray) |
| Outer and inner | Outer: 30-denier stretch nylon / inner: 10-denier plant-derived nylon knit |
| Waterproofing label | Waterproof air-permeable (official wording) |
| Shape | A pullover you put on over your head. Diagonal zipper from neck to waist (opens from either top or bottom) |
| Hood | Yes (cord adjustment) |
| Sizes and colors | XS–XL (unisex), 6 colors |
The Tsurugi Jacket the name comes from is a winter garment made for ice climbing. This Lite is it remade for spring and summer. Most of the seams use ultrasonic bonding, which uses no thread.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Teton Bros. Tsurugi Lite Jacket
Lowest price on Rakuten Ichiba: JPY 27,999 (as of 10/13). Some shops ask up to JPY 41,800. Prices change daily. For apparel, compare the maker's size chart (height, chest, waist) with your own measurements. If in doubt, check the shop's return and exchange terms.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanTsurugi Lite Jacket vs the 2025 model | 1.5 times the yarn
The page for the spring/summer 2025 model (TB251-03M) remains on the official store.
| 2025 model (TB251-03M) | 2026 model (TB261-03M) | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight (M) | 240g | 240g | 0g |
| List price | JPY 41,800 | JPY 41,800 | JPY 0 |
| Outer yarn | 20 denier | 30 denier | 1.5 times |
| Sleeve attachment | Raglan sleeve | Modified set-in sleeve | Different pattern |
| Hood cord lock | 2 on the front | Angle changed | Reviewed |
| Dimensions (M) | Same (length 78cm, chest width 58cm, sleeve length 88cm) | — | |
Thicker yarn normally makes a fabric heavier. Yet M stays at 240g. The official page says the 30-denier outer "improves durability and stretch," and describes the lining as a "10-denier plant-derived nylon knit backer."
The sleeve attachment changed
A raglan sleeve has a seam running diagonally from the neckline to the underarm. It moves the arm easily but tends to leave extra fabric around the shoulder. The 2026 model swapped it for a modified set-in sleeve. The official explanation is "keeps range of motion while removing bulk for a better feel on the body."
The collar height and the angle of the fittings that hold the hood cord were also reviewed. Adjusting on the move got easier.
A membrane that is "air-permeable," not "breathable"
A normal waterproof breathable membrane passes only water vapor. Täsmä is different. It is a membrane of micron-scale polyurethane fibers sprayed in many layers; the overlapping fine mesh stops water and passes air itself. That is why it is called "air-permeable," not "breathable."
Instead of waiting for it to become vapor, the damp air inside is swapped out as is. The logic is that it suits movement where you keep sweating.
vs the Feather Rain Jacket and Yari Jacket (sibling models)
Scroll the table sideways →
| Model | Weight (M) | Official price | Per gram | Who should pick which |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tsurugi Lite Jacket | 240g | JPY 41,800 | About JPY 174 | Keep moving in it in the rain |
| Feather Rain Jacket | 195g | JPY 31,900 | About JPY 164 | Mandatory gear for races. Usually in the pack |
| Yari Jacket | 265g | JPY 40,700 | About JPY 154 | Mountains where you wear a helmet. Want a front that opens fully |
The gap from the Feather Rain Jacket is 45g (240 − 195) and JPY 9,900 (41,800 − 31,900). The Feather has an official 20,000mm waterproof rating. If you picture being asked for a number at race check-in, the Feather Rain Jacket.
The Yari Jacket is 25g heavier (265 − 240) and JPY 1,100 cheaper (41,800 − 40,700). Of the 3, the highest per gram is the Tsurugi Lite, and where the price goes is the membrane and bonding build, not weight.
If you dislike pullover forms or take your rain gear on and off repeatedly while running, either of the 2 with fully opening fronts is easier.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Teton Bros. Feather Rain Jacket
Lowest price on Rakuten Ichiba: JPY 19,140 (as of 10/13). Some shops ask up to JPY 31,900. Prices change daily. For apparel, compare the maker's size chart (height, chest, waist) with your own measurements. If in doubt, check the shop's return and exchange terms.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanWhat I like
It kept the weight and made the yarn 1.5 times thicker. The weakness of light rain gear is the thinness of the outer fabric. If the yarn gets thicker at the same 240g, the only reason left to choose the 2025 model is price.
The diagonal zipper is used cleverly. A pullover is usually hard to put on and take off and does not release heat well. A zipper that opens from neck to waist removes the hassle of dressing and, since it opens from either top or bottom, doubles as a vent. With no zipper down the middle of the chest, the front panels move freely.
At 500km a month, mountain training in the rain is unavoidable. On those days you spend far more time wearing rain gear than stowing it. So I think of a piece for wearing days and a piece for carrying days separately. The Tsurugi Lite is clearly the former.
Holding the price is worth praising too. It changed the outer fabric and the sleeve pattern and added parts behind the collar, and the list price stays at JPY 41,800.
Things to watch
Care is hand washing. No washing machine hand-wash course, no dryer. And on the day I checked, the official store showed SOLD OUT.
Does the Tsurugi Lite Jacket pass mandatory gear? Who does it suit?
| Scene | Enough? | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Winter road training | Enough, but too much | What you want to stop is wind. A roughly 56g water-repellent piece does the job |
| Rainy full marathon | Heavy | Twice the weight of a roughly 120g rain piece. A pullover form that cannot open the front fully |
| Trails up to 50km | Depends on the scene | Fits if you wear it out on days you know it will rain. If you only carry it, 97g heavier |
| 100km trails | Depends on the scene | The 30-denier outer is reassuring. Whether it counts as mandatory gear depends on the entry guide |
| As mandatory gear for a race | Check the entry guide | Has a hood. Read it next to the entry guide's conditions |
- It suits: people who go into the mountains in the rain too and spend long periods moving in rain gear
- It suits: people who want one piece to cover both running days and walking days
- It suits: people who want to release stuffiness through the zipper's opening and closing, not just the fabric
For a piece to fill the mandatory gear slot, or a garment whose front opens fully, the Torrent Flyer or the Feather Rain Jacket fits better. The 2025 model has the same weight and dimensions, so you have time to use it up.
Price and where to buy
| Model | Official price | Rakuten price range |
|---|---|---|
| Tsurugi Lite Jacket (2026 model) | JPY 41,800 | JPY 27,999–41,800 |
| Tsurugi Lite Jacket (2025 model) | JPY 31,350 (sale, SOLD OUT) | — |
| Feather Rain Jacket | JPY 31,900 | JPY 19,140–31,900 |
| Yari Jacket | JPY 40,700 | JPY 24,420–45,650 |
The 2025 model was on the official store at JPY 10,450 off list price (41,800 − 31,350), exactly 25% off (10,450 ÷ 41,800). Weight and dimensions are the same, so if it remains at a shop, the difference is the price you pay for "20 or 30 denier" and the sleeve pattern.
To tell the models apart in a shop, look at the item number and the material label. TB261-03M with "30D Täsmä" is 2026; TB251-03M with "20D Täsmä" is 2025. Colors differ too: if you see Light Gray, Chocolate, Forest Green or Emerald, it is the 2026 model (Black and Wine Red exist in both years).
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Teton Bros. Tsurugi Lite Jacket
Lowest price on Rakuten Ichiba: JPY 27,999 (as of 10/13). Some shops ask up to JPY 41,800. Prices change daily. For apparel, compare the maker's size chart (height, chest, waist) with your own measurements. If in doubt, check the shop's return and exchange terms.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping Japan
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Teton Bros. Yari Jacket
Lowest price on Rakuten Ichiba: JPY 24,420 (as of 10/13). Some shops ask up to JPY 45,650. Prices change daily. For apparel, compare the maker's size chart (height, chest, waist) with your own measurements. If in doubt, check the shop's return and exchange terms.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanFAQ
How does the Tsurugi Lite Jacket fit? Is the same size as the Feather fine?
You can choose the same size, but the garment is built 3cm larger in length and chest width. The body-size guide is the same table for both (M is height 165–175cm, chest 88–96cm). Garment dimensions differ. In M, the Tsurugi Lite is length 78cm, chest width 58cm, sleeve length 88cm, and the Feather Rain Jacket is length 75cm, chest width 55cm, sleeve length 89cm. The Tsurugi Lite is 3cm bigger in length and width and 1cm shorter in sleeve.
Does the Tsurugi Lite Jacket pass trail race mandatory gear?
Read it next to the entry guide of the race you enter. The official page has 2 points: a waterproof air-permeable fabric and a hood. If the guide says "waterproof rating ○mm or more" or "taped seams," read the guide and the product tag side by side, and ask the organizer if it falls short.
What is the difference between Täsmä's "air-permeable" and waterproof breathable?
Where a normal membrane passes water vapor, Täsmä passes air itself through a mesh made of finely sprayed fibers. Water is stopped at the mesh. The comparison of 9 pieces with numbers is in the article on 12 outer layers.
Gear in this article
Ads and images: Rakuten IchibaSources
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