What's the best breathable, water proof shell/jacket for $200-250 CDN? I value rugged build, waterproofedness and breathability (ie the fabric and some god damn vents) over tons of pockets, hood etc. Although, I suppose a hood that can be pulled over top of the helmet when it's skipper and gilligan's 3 hour tour level rain might be a handy feature.
The race face stuff seems to get shite reviews for breathability and quality. Something from Sugoi or Endura or ??
Don't want to spend made in Canada/Trumpland prices.
Edit: I think waterproofedness is ranked below durability and breathability (and windproofedness) as I hate over heating and generally wear merino base layer to stay warm even when wet. Should make the price of 200 a lot easier to attain too.
In that price range, you're going to sacrifice either breathability or waterproofness - there just aren't membranes that really do both well at that price. Retail, that is - you could find a deal on a more expensive jacket for sure.
The Race Face Chute is great for waterproofness and durability IMO. Not so great for breathability. Pit zips help. But you're saying waterproofness is less important, in which case I would advise you to seek out a lightweight shell. Referred to more as a windbreaker. I'll have a review out in a bit, but look at Patagonia for example - the Houdini is a great lightweight riding shell IF the fit works for you. I'm 6'1 / 190 and wearing a Medium and it isn't tight, so you have to size carefully. Arc'teryx has a good lightweight shell called Squamish. There are others. But that is the jacket that I think you're after - and you can probably find one for less than 200. It's not going to keep you dry when it starts raining hard but it'll breathe well, keep you warm when you're riding fast down a hill (ie Mtn Hwy after a ride on Fromme) and packs up well.
In an upcoming jacket review or article I'm going to write about owning two jackets. You could argue for spending 200 x 2 vs 400 x 1. One jacket that is waterproof but sacrifices some breathability for torrential "why are you even out here?" days, and one (which you'll use more often) that will keep the windchill off and mild amounts of rain, but won't hold up for more than an hour if it's really raining on you.
There are always sacrifices if you don't want to spend 350+ on one piece (which I totally understand), but there is wisdom in having multiple jackets and tagging in the one that works best given the current conditions.