Rain gear

[carmen]

I guess I am somewhat of a casual outdoors gal when it comes to rain. I have a nice thick jacket to keep me warm with a pair of shoes that are waterproof but otherwise I keep it pretty simple. Does anyone wear full rain gear? What are you doing out in that weather besides enjoying it?

[ChadTower]

Gotta stay as dry as is reasonably possible if it's cold out. The challenge I always have with cold rain isn't staying dry from the outside. It's staying dry from the inside. I sweat like crazy even in good vented rain gear.

[Grandpa]

Casual summer thunder storms are not too bad but you really need protection from the rain when you are hiking at 10,000-12,000 ft. Like Chad, I sweat too much in the best of gear so I like to throw a tarp up and wait the rain out whenever possible. At those altitudes, summer thunderstorms usually throw a little hail into the mix. That stuff stings right through any rain gear so the tarp helps hold the hail off the body. My ears are cringing right now just talking about those hailstones stinging through a rain hood.

[Pathfinder1]

Originally Posted by ChadTower

Gotta stay as dry as is reasonably possible if it's cold out. The challenge I always have with cold rain isn't staying dry from the outside. It's staying dry from the inside. I sweat like crazy even in good vented rain gear.

Hi...


Same here...

[Cappy]

down here in bayou country we get like 70" of rain a year. During the vast majority of the time my only rain gear is qt zip locs for my phone and camera. My cold weather gear at work is the yellow suit ya see on the can of tuna. At home and campig if cold I use a big parka, and rubber boots. Parka has a hood and is big enough to go over pack, gun, etc. It greatly reduces the 'sweat factor' since it is loose.

[carmen]

Can you get something similar to the suits that bikers wear when they are on cycles during the bad weather? I know a few of them are advertised as waterproof and breathable, that might work.

[ChadTower]

Nothing is waterproof and breathable. Lots of companies claim it but there just isn't a material that lets water through one way but not the other. Some vent better than others but they either aren't entirely waterproof or they aren't letting air out.

[wvbreamfisherman]

I have a set of breathable rain gear, that works OK, if you're not exerting yourself too much in warm (say 65F+) weather. It's also pretty well vented and I bought it oversized so there is room for air to circulate.

I also bought a set of Frog Togs for backpacking. They "claim" to be breatheable, but aren't, very. I generally just try to wear a good fleece top and nylon or polypro pants and baselayer that keeps me somewhat warm even when it gets wet, when the weather is reasonably warm, then switch to dry clothes and rain gear in camp as needed.

For cold wet weather, you need to dress warm AND stay dry. Not always easy, I just try to slow down and rest often enough not to break a big sweat.

[Pathfinder1]

Hi...


I also have not found good, breathable rain gear.

However...when necessary...more than once I've made a 'skirt' from poly and fastened it around my waist. Worked fine, and costs practically nothing.

My reguler rain coat comes down to my hips, so the combo is workable, I've found.

[ppine]

I had plans to fish Alaska near Sitka in Oct the wettest month. Thirty inches in a month is a lot for an average. I spent time on the Alaska Outdoors Forum and bought a set of modern Helly Hansen rain wear the type used by commercial fisherman and hunters.

Forget Goretex and $600 jackets. You are still going to get wet unless you have waterproof rain wear.