Best Ultralight & Lightweight Rain Jackets [2024]

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This is a gear review of the Best Ultralight Rain Jackets for 2024.

There are quite a few choices of very high-quality rain jackets on the market right in 2024. This year has seen an increase in the amount of rain jackets with pit zips with half the jackets in this review having them.

I compared the weight, durability, breathability, waterproofness, and design to determine the best lightweight rain jackets for 2024.

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How We Tested

All the lightweight rain jackets in this review have been extensively evaluated and researched by the expert author who has more than 30 years of experience in Thru-Hiking, Backpacking, and Hiking. Some of the rain jackets were purchased by the author, and some were supplied by the manufacturer. They have been rigorously tested by the author in all kinds of weather. The research, testing, and experience of the author have combined to come up with the best lightweight and ultralight rain jackets for 2024. Read the Review Policy for further details.

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Best Ultralight Rain Jackets 2024

The Best Ultralight Rain Jackets for Backpacking in 2024 are:

More High-Quality Backpacking Rain Jackets:

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The Zpacks Vertice Rain Jacket is a premium ultralight rain jacket that is possibly the most packable rain jacket you will find anywhere. This is an ultralight rain jacket best suited to backpackers and thru-hikers who want the maximum weight saving and most packable jacket possible.

The Zpacks Vertice weighs only 5.9oz / 168 grams. It comes with a good set of pit zips to assist in venting heat which is something that light and fast backpackers love. Not only does it have pit zips but the fabric is one of the most breathable in this review at 56000 g/m²/24-hour. Add to that the hydrostatic head waterproof rating of 20000mm and you have a good lightweight rain jacket that ticks a lot of boxes.

I tested and reviewed this rain jacket in both hot and cold weather and while hiking and mountain biking. I can confirm it has the best in class breathability, and with the addition of pit zips, this is the jacket to get if you want an ultralight, breathable, and packable rain jacket.

Overall, the Zpacks Vertice is the best ultralight rain jacket for 2024 and best suited to ultralight thru-hikers and backpackers.

The Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket is the updated version of the very successful Helium 2. I used the Helium 2 to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail so I know and love it well, but is this new jacket an improvement.

The upgraded Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket weighs in at only 7oz / 198 grams. This makes it one of the best lightweight rain jackets for thru-hiking and backpacking.

The OR Helium Rain Jacket is a minimalistic jacket with no hand pockets and a small chest pocket just big enough for smaller-sized phones or other items that the hiker wants to keep dry. The small pocket in the chest also doubles as the storage sack for the jacket.

I like the elastic cuffs, waist drawcord hem, and everything about the adjustable hood. It comes in a range of colors including my favorite, Bright Orange. A great color for a rain jacket for cycling and hiking in dull weather!

The Helium Rain Jacket is quite breathable but I always seem to want more breathability than any jacket seems capable of providing. Having said that, I’m a big fan of the 2.5 Layer construction made from Pertex Shield Pro outer material. The jacket has no pit zips to vent the heat but that helps keep the overall weight down.

The Durable Water Repellent Coating (DWR) seems to be just as good as the previous model, which was ok but not outstanding.

The upgraded 2.5 layer Pertex Shield Pro is 30 Denier and uses Diamond Fuse technology which essentially is upgraded ripstop nylon that is said to be 5 times stronger than the previous model.

Overall, the Outdoor Research Helium is one of the best thru-hiking rain jackets due to the increased durability of the material and resistance to abuse from the sharp sticks and branches that exist on many sections of the trail.

The updated Arc’teryx Beta SL Rain Jacket is part of their large range of jackets from the Beta family of rain jackets. It is rated as one of the best quality rain jackets on the market for 2024.

It is not as lightweight as some other jackets it is right up there with the Patagonia Torrentshell (which is cheaper) and the Patagonia Storm Racer as a premium rain jacket.

If you are looking for a good mix of durability and waterproofness then this could be the jacket for you. Add to that one of the best hoods of any of the jackets in this review which is also helmet compatible.

The Arc’teryx Beta Rain Jacket comes with hand pockets that are just below chest level which makes them easy to access when you are wearing a backpack with a sternum strap and hip belt. There is also an internal chest pocket and a new feature I ike which are pit zips under the arms to assist with venting heat when needed.

Despite being made with high-quality material it comes in at a premium price and is a little on the heavy side for some people wanting a lightweight rain jacket.

Overall, the Arc’teryx Beta Rain Jacket is the best rain jacket for backpacking and best suited for someone who wants a top-tier product that is durable and able to withstand most wet weather situations.

If you are looking for a budget rain jacket then the REI Co-Op Rainier Rain Jacket is at the top of the list. Not only is this jacket priced very well but it comes with pit zips which is not so common on budget priced backpacking rain jackets.

At 11.3oz / 320 grams it is not the lightest rain jacket in this review but considering the price it ticks a lot of boxes. It comes with good hand pockets and a couple of internal pockets to keep things dry and accessible.

The 2.5 layer waterproof nylon is made with recycled material and provides a good level of water resistance and breathability.

Overall, the REI Co-Op Rainier Rain Jacket is one of the best budget priced backpacking rain jackets for 2024.

The Patagonia Storm Racer Jacket is one of the few jackets that have made the commitment to be made from 100% recycled materials and uses certified fair trade sewing in the manufacturing process.  

The Stretch Storm Racer jacket is an ultralight 7 Denier, 3-layer jacket made from a material called H2No. The shell fabric is made of 100 % recycled nylon fabric. The material also has a decent DWR coating.

The Patagonia Storm Racer Jacket is one of the lightest rain jackets from Patagonia which weighs only 7.2 ounces / 204 grams. Although there are other lighter jackets in this review there are few that can boast the environmental credentials for materials and fair trade practices. For this reason, the rain gear comes at a premium price.

The Patagonia Storm Racer comes with a small chest pocket only. This updated model has removed the hand pockets to shave a couple of ounces of the overall weight.

The Patagonia Storm Racer Jacket is breathability but like all the jackets in this review, it can get a bit clammy after a while. Some of the previous lightweight Patagonia Rain Jackets had pit zips to vent heat from the jackets but they are missing on this newer rain gear.

Overall, the Patagonia Storm Racer Jacket is a better option than the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L because it is a much lighter rain jacket. It ticks all the boxes as being one of the great rain jackets, I just wish it had pit zips to vent heat build-up. If it had them, it would be the perfect jacket. If you care about the environment and want a fair trade certified jacket made from recycled materials then this could be a perfect choice.

The Black Diamond Fineline Stretch Rain Shell is the new and improved version of the popular Stormline Stretch Rain Jacket. It is a good all-weather jacket for the active backpacker and the best lightweight stretch jacket for 2024.

The Black Diamond Fineline stretch jacket uses an improved 2.5-layer construction and pairs with a decent DWR finish. When Strech Rain Jackets appeared on the market a few years ago I loved the stretchy feel but felt they weren’t as good as normal hardshell rain jackets. Black Diamond have mastered the stretch rain jacket with the updated Fineline Stretch Rain Jacket.

One of the better things about the jacket is the use of pit zips. This adds another layer of breathability to the jacket.

It is also quite reasonably priced compared to others in the review. But at a weight of 11.2 oz / 320 grams, it puts this jacket at the higher end of lightweight jackets.

Overall, the Black Diamond Fineline Stretch Rain Shell is one of the best stretch rain shells on the market in 2024 and well suited to the active backpacker.

The Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Rain Jacket is the rain jacket you buy when you are confused by all the choices out there. You know it will be good because it is Patagonia.

The Patagonia Torrentshell 3L leans very heavily towards its eco-friendly heritage. It uses its own H2No 3-layer material which is a 100% recycled and fair trade sewn jacket. While it is a bit on the heavy side at 13.9 oz / 394 grams it is 3-layer material which most others in this review are not. It also comes with good hand warmer pockets, venting pit zips, and a decent DWR finish. And the hood has good coverage and cinches down well.

Overall, the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L rain jacket does everything well and is a good, honest jacket to pick if you are confused with all the choices. If you do, you will be happy.

The Enlightened Equipment Visp Rain Jacket has been updated and is now one of the lightest, most breathable, and most waterproof lightweight jackets available at the moment.

With its excellent protection against both rain and wind, it was best suited for ultralight thru-hikers only. The Enlightened Equipment Visp would be the best rain jacket for the Pacific Crest Trail or a similar long-distance trail.

The 3-layer jacket is made from ultralight 7D ripstop nylon. This is a paper-thin waterproof breathable membrane that is soft to the touch, comfortable, and weighs around 5.6 ounces or 159 grams.

Being such a thin material it will be more prone to getting holes while hiking in the backcountry. If going off trail or on trails with lots of sharps sticks I would avoid this jacket in preference to heavier duty.

With a claimed breathability rating of 83000 g/m²/24hour, this is the most breathable jacket in this review. They now come standard as a rain jacket with pit zips. The pit zips do a good job of venting heat when needed.

It has a waterproof rating of 28,000mm which is more than enough for any backpacking rain jacket.

Be aware that at the time of writing, there may be supply issues with this jacket which has pushed this jacket down in the ratings. It is the only jacket to give the Zpacks Vertice a challenge as the best ultralight rain jacket. Click the link below and check if they are in stock.

Overall, Enlightened Equipment’s Visp Rain Jacket is one of the best waterproof breathable rain jackets for thru-hiking. With class-leading light weight, best-in-class breathability, and the option of pit zips for better ventilation there is little to dislike about this rain jacket.

The Marmot PreCip rain jacket has been around since about 1999. This latest upgrade gives the Marmot Precip an eco-friendly conscience.

The Marmot PreCip Eco is made from recycled nylon face fabric and uses a PFC-free DWR which is one of the rain jacket’s best features.

The Marmot PreCip Eco costs less than $100 at some retailers which makes it one of the cheapest rain jackets for hiking, only the Outdoor Research Helium 2 is close in the quality vs price category. For those wanting a budget backpacking rain jacket and wanting something environmentally friendly, it ticks all the boxes.

This 2.5-layer jacket is not the most breathable rain jacket in this review and hikers will wish it was a little more breathable during hikes with long uphill climbs. To address this the Marmot Precip Eco has pit zips to vent heat and there is a mesh lining for the hand pockets.

The Pit Zips and the pockets pit zips with mesh do a good job at regulating body heat and transferring moisture outside when needed.

Weighing in at 10.5oz / 293g, it is just light enough for hiking and backpacking, multi-day hikes, and cycling. Thru-hikers and ultralight hikers will look elsewhere as there are better options for the weight.

The fixed hood is adjustable with velcro tabs so you can easily wear it over a baseball cap or a hooded-down jacket. It also has two cord adjustments so you can quickly cinch it closer to your face to keep the rainwater out.

Marmot uses a unique name for the design of this jacket. It has a built-in “Angel-wing movement” design. When you reach overhead the sleeves will not want to move all the way up the lengths of the arms. A well thought out feature that appears to work well.

For the price, this is the best rain jacket for budget backpackers and hikers. If you are in the market for rain gear that is environmentally friendly and is a fan of circular economy, you can’t go wrong with the Marmot PreCip Eco Jacket.

The Mountain Hardwear Exposure/2 rain jacket is still lightweight at 9.1oz / 258 grams but there are still some jackets a bit lighter.

Made with Gore-Tex Paclite it is not only breathable due to the quality lightweight material but very waterproof. The build quality is also very solid and due to the high quality, it will last a long time.

This model lacks some of the features that were on previous models such as side zips to help with venting heat when climbing up a rainy but sweaty hill.

Overall, this is a good quality lightweight rain jacket. It has been discontinued so at the moment it is a bargain compared to the normal retail price. Check the prices below to see just how good the prices are at the moment, but hurry, they may not last for long.

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More Rain Jackets

Below are some backpacking rain jacket worth a look:

• Frogg Toggs – Frogg Toggs are very cheap and do a good job. Despite the very cheap price, it is a waterproof breathable jacket used by many backpackers on a budget.
• Montbell Versalite – The Montbell Versalite is being reviewed at the moment and may be added to this review in the future. The best features of this ultralight rain jacket are the weight or lack of it, the pit zips, and the best quality DWR.

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Rain Jacket Comparison Table

Brand	Weight	Breathability (g/m2/24-hour)	Waterproof Level (mm)	Hand Pockets	Storage	Pit Zips
ZPacks Vertice Rain Jacket	5.9 oz	56,000	20,000	No	Hood	Yes
Outdoor Research Helium	7 oz	20,000	15,000	No	Pocket	No
Arc’teryx Beta SL Rain Jacket	12 oz	Not Specified	Not Specified	Yes	Hood	Yes
REI Co-Op Rainier	11.3 oz	Not Specified	Not Specified	Yes	Pocket	Yes
Patagonia Storm Racer	7.2 oz	15,000	15,000	No	Pocket	No
Patagonia Torrentshell 3L	14.1 oz	Not Specified	Not Specified	Yes	Pocket	Yes
Black Diamond Fineline Stretch	11.2 oz	10,000	10,000	Yes	Pocket	Yes
Enlightened Equipment Visp	5.6 oz	83,000	28,000	No	Hood	Yes
Marmot Precip Eco	10.3 oz	17,000	10,000	Yes	Pocket	Yes
Mountain Hardwear Exposure/2	9.1 oz	15,000	28,000	Yes	No	No

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Best Ultralight Rain Jacket for Thru-Hiking

All the best rain gear in this review could be improved, whether it be shaving off a couple of ounces in weight, having a better DWR or they could be cheaper. There is no such thing as the perfect rain jacket.

A couple of the jackets stood out from the pack like the Zpacks Vertice, and Outdoor Research Helium. All of these are ultralight, very packable, and full of everything a lightweight thru-hiker would need.

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Best Overall Rain Jacket

Overall, my choice of the Best Rain Jacket for 2024 is the Zpacks Vertice. This is a great rain shell and easily one of the best backpacking rain jackets on the market right now. If you want the best waterproof and windproof jacket for ultralight hiking then this is your jacket. The best option for ultralight thru-hikers. The Outdoor Research Helium is also one of the best ultralight rain jackets for backpacking.

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Best Rain Jacket with Pit Zips

Rain jackets with Pit zips are proving to be a very popular option with more and more manufacturers adding them as standard to their jackets.

Pit Zips are the underarm zips on rain jackets used to shed heat quickly. Rain jackets with pit zips are great for reducing the build-up of heat and sweat when active. In most cases, they are a great idea but there are downsides to pit zips.

Pit zips on the best lightweight rain jacket can fail quickly due to the fact that they are in a very high-wear area. They also add weight and cost to the rain jacket.

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Best Environmentally Friendly Rain Jackets

For those who want the most environmentally friendly rain jackets, the choice is clearly either the Patagonia Storm Racer, Patagonia Torrentshell 3L, REI Co-Op Rainier, or the Marmot Precip Eco. These environmentally friendly and eco-conscience jackets will help you feel like you are doing something good for the environment while hiking and backpacking.

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Best Budget Rain Jackets

The best budget option is the REI Co-Op Rainier Rain Jacket which is priced under $100. The Marmot Precip Eco is another option that is priced under $120.

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How to Choose a Lightweight Rain Jacket

There are 5 things you must take into consideration when purchasing Backpacking Rain Jackets.

• They must be waterproof, of course.
• They must have a quality DWR Coating, this is super important.
• They must be breathable, the more the better.
• They must be packable, the smaller the better.
• They must be lightweight, preferably ultralight.

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Waterproof Rating of Rain Jackets

The waterproof rating for rain jackets is often called the Hydrostatic head, rated in millimeters (mm). It refers to the amount of water pressure needed to leak through the rain jacket material.

A rain jacket with a hydrostatic head rating of 20000mm is the equivalent of placing a cylinder of water 25mm (1 inch) round on a jacket and filling it with 20000mm of water before it will leak through.

For a hiking rain jacket to be waterproof while wearing a backpack it is generally accepted that it must be rated at 15000mm or above. Only rain jackets being worn in the city and not in the backcountry should be rated lower such as 5000mm.

A good waterproof membrane is essential to keep the water out. The best waterproof breathable fabric is also lightweight such as Gore-Tex, Pertex, and ePTFE.

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DWR Coating: Almost as important as the Fabric

A DWR Coating, also known as Durable Water Repellent Coating is arguably the most important feature needed for a rain jacket.

It is a chemical coating on the face fabric of a jacket that caused the water to bead and run off the surface of the rain jacket. All the Best backpacking rain jackets have a good DWR.

Think of it as similar to the way water runs off the surface of a car after it has a layer of wax applied.

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How long does a DWR Coating last?

A DWR coating will not last forever. It will usually last for several backpacking trips before it wears off and needs to be reapplied. Hikers and backpackers will need to take note of when the DWR treatment is starting to wear off.

Without a quality DWR, your rain gear will ‘Wet Out’. The water will sit on the surface of the jacket instead of beading and running off the jacket making the waterproof breathable membrane useless.

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Rain Jacket Wetting out

When the jacket ‘Wets Out’ it will not allow the waterproof and breathable membrane of rain gear to allow the transfer of moisture from the inside of the jacket to the outside.

This leads to a build-up of moisture inside the waterproof jacket and the feeling of clamminess. Some hikers will think the jacket is no longer waterproof when in fact, it is just the sweat and build-up of moisture inside the jacket.

This feeling is made worse if hiking uphill as the build-up of moisture is not able to transfer through the fabric anymore. It can be prevented by reapplying a new chemical layer of DWR, but more about that later.

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Is DWR Environmentally Friendly?

Many years ago waterproof raingear used the non-environmentally friendly C8 DWR. It was long-lasting, durable, and did an amazing job at repelling the water for a very long time.

When the C6 environmentally friendly DWR was developed it was much better for the environment but honestly, it was not as durable and long-lasting as the old C8.

As a result, the DWR coating on all new jackets needs to be reapplied more often to keep the jacket waterproof and prevent ‘Wetting Out’. It is super important on an ultralight rain jacket to have a good DWR treatment.

Fortunately, it is possible to add a new chemical coating of DWR by using products such as Nikwax to make the jacket breathable again and keep you dry.

In conclusion, the DWR Coating is incredibly important to the function of the rain jacket and easily fixed. The video below will help explain how more.

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How to restore a DWR Treatment Video

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Breathability

Breathability is measured by the amount of moisture that transfers through the fabric in grams per square meter of fabric (g/m²) in 24 hours. The minimum standard of breathability of a high-quality rain jacket is 15000g/m².

The highly breathable fabric on a rain jacket will allow 15000 grams of water vapor to pass through a square meter of fabric in a 24 hours period.

The Backpacking Rain Jackets Breathability is one of the key features to staying warm and dry when hiking or backpacking.

For the jacket to be at its best it needs to be used in combination with a good DWR. In this review, I rate breathability as more important than the waterproof rating of the jacket. The higher the breathability rating the better the backpacking jacket will be.

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Features

There are a couple of important features to look out for on lightweight rain jackets. Apart from the obvious ability to keep the hiker dry, there are some things that set one jacket apart from another. There are 4 important features to consider when purchasing a high-quality rain jacket:

• Pockets
• Hood
• Waist Cinch Cord
• Pit Zips
• Waterproof Zipper

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Rain Jacket Pockets

Pockets are a great feature but they add a bit of weight to the rain jacket. Most ultralight rain jackets do not have hand pockets, usually, the chest pocket is as complicated as it gets.

Having used a jacket without pockets for many years I don’t feel they are important, others feel they are super important.

Most backpacking rain jackets pack into an internal pocket for storage, some have a stuff sack, and some roll into the hood for storage when not in use.

The compressed pack size of the jacket when not in use is important for an ultralight hiker.

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Rain Jacket Hood

It should make sense that an adjustable hood is designed to keep the water off the head and prevent it from running inside the jacket.

Hooded rain jackets come in so many designs with some that are simple elastic and that pull the hood tight over the head.

Rain Jackets with an adjustable hood often use a cinch cord and toggles to prevent wind or water from entering the body around the head and neck much better than simple elastic hoods.

When things turn nasty and the wind is blowing hard with sideways rain the toggles or cinch cord are worth the extra weight.

The toggles and cinch chord add weight and the backpacking rain jackets that use simple elastic on the hoods will be much lighter.

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Helmet Compatible Hood

For those who spend time in alpine areas and require an Alpine rain jacket then they may also need a helmet compatible rain jacket.

The helmet-compatible jacket is usually heavier but this is not always the case. Most of the jackets in this review would not be recommended for climbing in Alpine areas. Better to look at heavy-duty 3-layer Gore-Tex Jackets or similar which are much more abrasion-resistant.

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Rain Jacket Waist Cinch Cord

A cinch cord on the bottom of the jacket is used to restrict the amount of cold air entering the jacket from the weight and provide the best fit. Not all jackets have this feature. Some jackets use simple elastic stitched into the jacket to provide a tight fit around the waist or hood.

The cinch cord does add a small amount of weight and cost to the jacket but for the most part this is considered well worth it. It is also important that the hip belt of the backpack does not dig into the waist cinch cord of the rain jacket or it will be too uncomfortable to wear all day.

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Rain Jacket Cuffs

The Rain Jacket cuffs come in several options. There are elastic cuffs which are the most common on most waterproof and breathable jackets. Most full-featured jackets use adjustable cuffs. The adjustable cuffs use velcro or similar.

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Pit Zips on Rain Jackets

Pits Zips are under the arm or sometimes zips in the chest area of the jacket that can be unzipped to vent heat. This is a useful feature when climbing up hills on warm days when there is just enough rain to warrant the use of a rain jacket but not enough that having the jacket opened up a bit will get you wet.

While they are good at venting heat they are in a high wear area and can fail a lot quicker than normal zips. While most people will not experience this issue, if you own and use a rain jacket with pit zips long enough you may experience this kind of failure.

Pit zips also add to cost and weight.

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Waterproof Zippers

All the rain gear in this review uses a quality water-resistant zipper. YKK is the current gold standard for quality waterproof zippers for outdoor use.

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Conclusion

All the Rain Jackets Tested in the Ultralight Rain Jacket Gear Review are great and worth buying. But the ultralight ZPacks Vertice Rain Jacket and Outdoor Research Helium are the two best choices.

Frequently Asked Questions

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