Light weight, inexpensive rain gear?

peripatew

peripatew

Joined
Jul 31, 2007
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Just curious as to what you guys use for rain gear. I'd like to find something that is light weight and very packable.

L
 
I hate full on waterproofs as in goretex etc and always opt for more breathable soft shells.
My favourite packable one is a Fuera Windsmock made by Paramo, even though only classed as water resistant no rain has yet penertrated ,even in heavy driving rain !!!!
 
I use an army surplus poncho with the grommets and snaps. The miltiple uses make it great for casual backpacking and trail hiking. I can wear it like a ponch, and it covers my daypack. I snap it around my sleeping bag at night. And I've used my bootlaces to tie it up as an emergency shelter against serious mountain storms.

Not a good choice for off-trail hiking though; a poncho snags on everything.

I also have used various lightweight shells from Red Ledge, Campmor, and Sierra Designs. They all seem to work about the same, pretty good for the low cost.
 
#1 on the poncho, the more rugged the better.

Good rain gear, good make do shelter especially combined with a big contractor garbage bag, good ground cover. It will even keep you warm in the cold if rigged right and stuffed with dry leaves or moss.

Itchy though............:D
 
I used a super lightweight Sierra Designs jacket and pants set for a long time, until recently. A week of constant rain in the Smokies proved it was not the best choice. I just picked up a more substantial REI branded "waterproof" breathable jacket at their super clearance last week, so we'll see if that holds up any better. In colder weather, I usually have some sort of Gore Tex XCR jacket over my other layers when it is raining.

A lot of it depends on where you are spending your time. In the northwest, lightweight stuff is probably fine. If you are in an area that likes to have lots of torrential downpours like the southeast, you will probably need something more substantial. I prefer something at least relatively breathable, so I usually stay away from ponchos. I sweat like a fat girl in Arizona, so anything that helps get moisture away from my body is greatly appreciated.
 
I ride a bike and have a $200+ 2 piece HD rain suite.

The "Frogg Toggs Rain Suits" do a better job and are ~$50, if taken care of they'll last a season.


I couldn't believe something, that looks like it was made out of paper towels, could work in the rain, I was surprised, they work.
 
A big +1 on Paramo, it will keep you warm even if it does get soaked. Also +1 for Frogg Toggs for both rain and wind while backpacking if you don't travel into rough stuff.
 
Ramm9 said:
A big +1 on Paramo, it will keep you warm even if it does get soaked. Also +1 for Frogg Toggs for both rain and wind while backpacking if you don't travel into rough stuff.
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I'm glad someone else on here has heard of Paramo, nobody else ever mentions it !!!:D
 
DriDucks are cheap ($15) and as light as it gets, but forget about bushwacking in them. Marmot Precip is the best bland of price/weight/breathability. Buy a top with as many ventilation features as you can find-- like pit zips, etc. All the testing has shown that breathable garments really don't do the trick when you are working hard, but vents do.
 
I am trying a poncho (wads up to grapefriut size - very light) over a soft shell. So far, the soft shell keeps condensation on the inside of the poncho from penetrating to inner layers. The poncho keeps out the heaviest rain. The softshell by itself works in light rain.

The best softshells in terms of a combination of water repellancy and breathability (Schoeller) are mucho expensive, but I found one (Marmot) 75% off at a certain trading post known to many here. So it pays to Google.
 
I have a Stearns two piece rain suit that I got at Target about ten years ago that is still going strong. It cost $20 bucks and rolls up to about the size of a loaf of bread.
 
I have Columbia's omni- brand jacket and pants that I always carry in a pack or bag. The omni-brand is one of those Gortex knock-offs that can be had for 1/3 the coast. Jacket + pants cost about $75.00. They are quite packable (fold into their own pocket), wind resistant and provide some protection from cold when used over insulating layers. However, like Storl, I find that they are less than ideal in real downpour situations. Even though the tag claims full waterproof, they certainly don't appear to be. I suspect that it is poor DWR (durable water repellency applied to the outer surface) that lets the face material soak, cutting breathability, and letting you stew in your sweat. Just about everytime I wear them in a good rain I get soaked.

In cooler spring/fall weather, and when I know the rain is beating down, I opt for my true 3-ply gortex jacket/pip-pants (MEC-brand). These things always keep me bone dry, even when waves are washing over me in the back of the boat. They also weight about 3 times the omni-brand ones and don't conveniently pack into their own pockets. They provide a lot more insulative value when used as a shell though. When these things get wet, the water just beads and roles off.

As for those heavy duty yellow slickers - the old man in the sea can keep them. I sweat myself soaked in them after about 2 minutes.

While I haven't ever tried it, I suspect that Poncho's don't work on boats - too much wind and can interfer with your ability to find a handhold. I can see their use as a shelter though. Are their gortex ponchos? Seriously I'm in love with that stuff.
 
I find the Cabelas non-insulated rain gear to be excellent, and it is very affordable...packs down quite nicely, too.
 
Raskolnikov said:
I find the Cabelas non-insulated rain gear to be excellent, and it is very affordable...packs down quite nicely, too.
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I've had some of there packable nylon raingear for a couple years now,works great for me and like you said affordable and packs lite.
 
pitdog said:
I hate full on waterproofs as in goretex etc and always opt for more breathable soft shells.
My favourite packable one is a Fuera Windsmock made by Paramo, even though only classed as water resistant no rain has yet penertrated ,even in heavy driving rain !!!!
Click to expand...

Yep, we never hear of Paramo in the States. The softside approach is good for anyone that works up a heavy sweat (me). I've gone from mountain shirt to adding a smock and a jacket.
 
I always have a poncho or two lying around. I will put one away inside the back pack and every now and than I might were gortex. You can use the poncho for several things (shelter, litter, etc.) and in a worse case scenario you can even use it to get water if it is raining.
 
Hum....lightweight, packable and "inexpensive" well now...the North Face DIAD (Done In A Day) is right around 8.5 ozs (they don't get much lighter) and is very packable. You can find them on sale for under $100 if you do your homework. This jacket crunches up small enough to fit inside of a coffee cup. It is as breathable as they come and is designed to work with packs. Works well...with some wilderness and urban friendly colors to boot.

Already mentioned...is the Cabela's Gore Tex Pac Lite gear...it is inexpensive, fairly lightweight but is much bulkier although that is what I keep in my long term BOB for now. It will come out probably this winter in exchange for something lighter and more packable.
 
Anyone considering the breathability issue should look at this table:

http://www.verber.com/mark/outdoors/gear/breathability.pdf

Doesn't cover all brand names used, but instructive.

The Schoeller and Nextec listed are highly water-repellant, not waterproof, and used in "soft shells."

Most of the waterproof breathable fabrics rely on DWR finish to keep the shell fro "wetting out." A film of liquid water defeats breathability in these fabrics. The Schoeller and Nextec do not use spray-on or wash-on DWR.

Quirt, the North Face DIAD was selling as low as $68.xx at a certain co-op retailer of outdoor gear, but they are out of stock/no longer carrying.
 
It really depends what you are using it for. warm rains the ponchos are very breathable. Winter and colder climates the not so breathable Gore-tex works great. I've taken to using REI one softshell for my 3 season backpacking. It's breathable and sheds rain and snow very well. I've had Sierra Designs wet out and won't trust it anywhere I'm expecting cold and rain. Marmot Precip is supposed to be the STANDARd lightweight full waterproof breathable with venting and you can find these on sale for under $100.
 
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