Here is a tip sent in from one of our customers, John Potter. It is the deluxe version 
“Here’s the “Deluxe” ($16) version of Will Rietveld’s Hooded Tyvek Rain Jacket. I replaced the non-separating coverall zipper with a 30″ separating zipper and storm flap, and added inside pockets for
storing gloves, etc. The donor Tyvek coveralls came from Lowe’s. 4.0 ounces before seam sealing”
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Nice. What are you using to seam seal the Tyvek?
Pretty sweet digs (and mods). I have always thought a Tyvek leisure suit would be the kind, but only if it includes a butterfly collar.
For about $20 ($25 with tax and shipping) you can use a #3 waterproof zipper (no storm flap required) and omit the pockets, to make an SUL model. Mine came in at 3.6 ounces before seam sealing, 3.8 ounces after careful, judicious application of SilNet.
Be careful. My boyfriend bought a tyvek raincoat to bring on a week long trip. It wetted through after a day of heavy rain and hail and we had to hitch into town to buy him a real coat.
I’ve used tyvek house wrap for a bivy and and rain pants and haven’t had any problems (besides the seam of my pants ripping out…
) but I also haven’t gotten much rain on trips I’ve brought those on.
Check the comments here:
http://gossamergear.com/wp/tips/tip-of-the-week-make-a-hooded-tyvek-rain-jacket-and-chaps-for-under-10
for several users’ experience in the rain. Wet-out appears to typically happen in 2-4 hours, depending on which Tyvek fabric, weather and quality of seam sealing. “Your mileage may vary”.
I carry “real” rain gear for those nasty days, and use this jacket for drizzle, brief showers and short trips out from under my shelter.
Also, see Glen’s “Sub 5 in the Weminuche” trip report, where he reports wet-out in about 1 hour. As noted above, these jackets work best for wind and brief showers. Real rain demands real raingear. I take both on most trips, and still manage to be sub-4.
Call Me Ishmael