Anonymous 01/05/25(Sun)13:20:11 | 22 comments | 5 images
What's your rain gear setup?
I have the Rockfront rain hoody and Outdoor Research Helium pants. Both weigh in at 320g & I'm not even an ultralight guy. I prefer packable over lightweight. I'm happy to carry small but heavy things if they make my time /out/ more enjoyable.
I stopped using goretex because it doesn't breathe well in the wet anyway. My last Goretex was the OR Foray II and I got the Rockfront because it has the same side poncho zips which means it ventilates exceptionally well but weighs less than half the weight of the Foray and packs down well enough to fit in my pocket. I tried ponchos too but they're just too much to deal with in the wind.
I'll keep using my Foray jacket on windier days when a more substantial and structured jacket might be preferable but I can't see myself buying a membrane jacket again.
I also use a packable stormproof umbrella in the spring and summer when there's much less wind and the rain tends to come down more horizontal.
I have the Rockfront rain hoody and Outdoor Research Helium pants. Both weigh in at 320g & I'm not even an ultralight guy. I prefer packable over lightweight. I'm happy to carry small but heavy things if they make my time /out/ more enjoyable.
I stopped using goretex because it doesn't breathe well in the wet anyway. My last Goretex was the OR Foray II and I got the Rockfront because it has the same side poncho zips which means it ventilates exceptionally well but weighs less than half the weight of the Foray and packs down well enough to fit in my pocket. I tried ponchos too but they're just too much to deal with in the wind.
I'll keep using my Foray jacket on windier days when a more substantial and structured jacket might be preferable but I can't see myself buying a membrane jacket again.
I also use a packable stormproof umbrella in the spring and summer when there's much less wind and the rain tends to come down more horizontal.
Anonymous 01/06/25(Mon)11:25:52 No.2798582
>>2798407
Milsurp ECWCS Goretex.
Milsurp ECWCS Goretex.
Anonymous 01/06/25(Mon)15:52:40 No.2798613
Anonymous 01/07/25(Tue)04:26:40 No.2798698
Rab Kangri GTX in Winter (Or very bad weather)
Rab Downpour in Summer
Rab Downpour pants all year
Rab Downpour in Summer
Rab Downpour pants all year
Anonymous 01/09/25(Thu)06:12:25 No.2799061
Does non-PFAS goretex work as well as the O.G stuff?
Anonymous 01/10/25(Fri)01:58:35 No.2799258
I prefer wearing "waterproof" fabrics like nylon instead of putting excess weight on the backpack. I use a poncho for sheltering exclusively, you can use a packable waterproof vest as a backup, it's lightweight. A good hat is primordial if it's raining in my opinion.
Anonymous 01/10/25(Fri)04:30:07 No.2799266
>>2799061
idk but i doubt it
all the "PFAS FREE NOW EVEN BETTER" camping shit being produced now makes me very wary. if it wasn't shittier, they'd already be making it out of it.
idk but i doubt it
all the "PFAS FREE NOW EVEN BETTER" camping shit being produced now makes me very wary. if it wasn't shittier, they'd already be making it out of it.
Anonymous 01/10/25(Fri)11:20:36 No.2799303
>>2799258
Yeah that's why I got the rockfront rain hoody. I had been using a vented poncho with some success but it's just too windy around here to put up with. The hoody strikes a good balance between jacket and poncho as its cut long.
>>2799266
True. I'll be interested to see what material tech is developed now there's a drive to advance it as far as rainwear goes.
I'm happy af with my non-membrane, vented hoody however. I see no reason to try anything else at this point. Paramo gear holds some interest for me but given the rockfront hoody only cost me £50 the paramo stuff seems like a bigger ripoff than ever.
Yeah that's why I got the rockfront rain hoody. I had been using a vented poncho with some success but it's just too windy around here to put up with. The hoody strikes a good balance between jacket and poncho as its cut long.
>>2799266
True. I'll be interested to see what material tech is developed now there's a drive to advance it as far as rainwear goes.
I'm happy af with my non-membrane, vented hoody however. I see no reason to try anything else at this point. Paramo gear holds some interest for me but given the rockfront hoody only cost me £50 the paramo stuff seems like a bigger ripoff than ever.
Anonymous 01/10/25(Fri)12:43:39 No.2799324
Work-provided high vis rain jacket.
Tough, thick shell, big pockets, and I can remove the hood without a pair of scissors, so my vision and hearing are unimpeded.
Biggest flex is that it's free.
Heavy and bulky tho, and breathes like shit
Tough, thick shell, big pockets, and I can remove the hood without a pair of scissors, so my vision and hearing are unimpeded.
Biggest flex is that it's free.
Heavy and bulky tho, and breathes like shit
Anonymous 01/10/25(Fri)14:38:32 No.2799339
>>2798407
I use the cheapest membrane jackets I can find on sale.
Lightweight for summer.
Thick outside material for heavy backpacks.
Larger cut for winter.
Pants can be lightweight 2 layer unless you are dealing with heavy snow. Then you need a bib.
I use the cheapest membrane jackets I can find on sale.
Lightweight for summer.
Thick outside material for heavy backpacks.
Larger cut for winter.
Pants can be lightweight 2 layer unless you are dealing with heavy snow. Then you need a bib.
Anonymous 01/11/25(Sat)08:47:22 No.2799475
>>2798613
same, love them. nikwax as needed. top and bottom were 50 bucks all in
same, love them. nikwax as needed. top and bottom were 50 bucks all in
Anonymous 01/11/25(Sat)10:10:01 No.2799489
Packa. It’s a hybrid jacket/poncho. It fits loose and billowy like a poncho, and hangs fairly low past the waist. It’s designed to fit over a backpack. It has sleeves and a front zipper. Lots of nice features too. It works great in my local environment for a good chunk of the year (snow is rare, winter temps are mild). It was really designed for the AT specifically and the East Coast in general, according to the manufacturer. And it really does fit the weather in that part of the country most of the time.
They’re not mass produced, so their popularity isn’t very wide spread. You can’t even order them online and pay with a credit card. You can’t go to the website, browse a little, click “add to cart,” fill out the ordering form, and so on. You have to email the guy who makes them, see what he has in stock, then pay via PayPal. Despite this absolutely ridiculous ordering process and the Baby Boomer manufacturers absolute refusal to accept his place as a manufacturer (he was hoping to sell the design to a larger company) its still has a certain level of popularity.
Even the pics you find online are subpar because there’s no marketing effort.
They’re not mass produced, so their popularity isn’t very wide spread. You can’t even order them online and pay with a credit card. You can’t go to the website, browse a little, click “add to cart,” fill out the ordering form, and so on. You have to email the guy who makes them, see what he has in stock, then pay via PayPal. Despite this absolutely ridiculous ordering process and the Baby Boomer manufacturers absolute refusal to accept his place as a manufacturer (he was hoping to sell the design to a larger company) its still has a certain level of popularity.
Even the pics you find online are subpar because there’s no marketing effort.
Anonymous 01/11/25(Sat)10:19:04 No.2799494
Anonymous 01/11/25(Sat)13:28:26 No.2799516
>>2798407
Wool clothes and not giving a fuck. I've got a few ponchos, but always ended up sweating so much in them that I was just as wet as if I'd just let myself get rained upon, and the warm and sticky sweat was even more uncomfortable. On the other hand, There'd been a few imes when I'd be hiking or working in a slight drizzle or fog an not realize that my clothes were soaked until I'd come home. So eventually I stopped using rain gear altogether when I'm moving under my own power, and it's a lot more comfy, no matter the season (Yes, even in cold weather. My pullover might get wet, but I hardly notice).
When I'm going by bike, my "rain gear" is a long, waxed leather jacket that reaches to my knees. On my dirtbike, that's enough to keep me completely dry. On my streetbike (which has much smaller fenders), the very bottom of my pants will still get wet, but that's on top of my boots, so I don't care.
Wool clothes and not giving a fuck. I've got a few ponchos, but always ended up sweating so much in them that I was just as wet as if I'd just let myself get rained upon, and the warm and sticky sweat was even more uncomfortable. On the other hand, There'd been a few imes when I'd be hiking or working in a slight drizzle or fog an not realize that my clothes were soaked until I'd come home. So eventually I stopped using rain gear altogether when I'm moving under my own power, and it's a lot more comfy, no matter the season (Yes, even in cold weather. My pullover might get wet, but I hardly notice).
When I'm going by bike, my "rain gear" is a long, waxed leather jacket that reaches to my knees. On my dirtbike, that's enough to keep me completely dry. On my streetbike (which has much smaller fenders), the very bottom of my pants will still get wet, but that's on top of my boots, so I don't care.
Anonymous 01/11/25(Sat)17:43:52 No.2799551
>>2799489
OP here.
I have a poncho a lot like this but it has large pit zips and slots in the front so you can use your hip belt to sinch it down.
It's still too much to cope with in the wind and it tends to be windy a lot where I live. It's great to use on wet days in the spring and summer when the wind tends to be a bit more subdued but any other time it's just annoying af.
OP here.
I have a poncho a lot like this but it has large pit zips and slots in the front so you can use your hip belt to sinch it down.
It's still too much to cope with in the wind and it tends to be windy a lot where I live. It's great to use on wet days in the spring and summer when the wind tends to be a bit more subdued but any other time it's just annoying af.
Anonymous 01/11/25(Sat)20:27:48 No.2799569
>>2799551
Here’s a full review of the Packa: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sXao8pqLtk4
It has huge pit zips as well. There’s a cinch cord for the waist. The way it fits around the pack keeps it from blowing around as much.
Here’s a full review of the Packa: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sXao8
It has huge pit zips as well. There’s a cinch cord for the waist. The way it fits around the pack keeps it from blowing around as much.
Anonymous 01/11/25(Sat)21:50:23 No.2799582
>>2799569
Ah ok. The one I have doesn't have a full zip on the front. Still quite similar however.
Ah ok. The one I have doesn't have a full zip on the front. Still quite similar however.
Anonymous 01/12/25(Sun)08:55:21 No.2799627
>>2799582
The major difference other than the zipper is that the Packa is shaped to fit over a backpack. It’s more like a loose fitting jacket that had an extra piece sewn to the back for that purpose (in fact that’s what the first prototype was).
The major difference other than the zipper is that the Packa is shaped to fit over a backpack. It’s more like a loose fitting jacket that had an extra piece sewn to the back for that purpose (in fact that’s what the first prototype was).
Anonymous 01/12/25(Sun)09:08:53 No.2799630
>>2798613
Shit rips way too fast. I ended up spending as much on two pairs as I would have on a single pair of somewhat decent rainwear. But I'm hiking through dense pine groves, it probably would have been fine on a more open trail
Shit rips way too fast. I ended up spending as much on two pairs as I would have on a single pair of somewhat decent rainwear. But I'm hiking through dense pine groves, it probably would have been fine on a more open trail
Anonymous 01/12/25(Sun)17:59:55 No.2799714
>>2798407
My favorite setup is an umbrella. It’s the best solution to rain in mild temperatures on well worn, established trails or road walks.
My favorite setup is an umbrella. It’s the best solution to rain in mild temperatures on well worn, established trails or road walks.
Anonymous 01/13/25(Mon)20:55:52 No.2799922
>>2798407
>rain proof wind proof jacket with hood
>raincover for my pack
>waterproof fjalraven pants
Always dry in rain and snow, no need for poncho :)
>rain proof wind proof jacket with hood
>raincover for my pack
>waterproof fjalraven pants
Always dry in rain and snow, no need for poncho :)
Anonymous 01/14/25(Tue)11:55:09 No.2800020
Anonymous 01/14/25(Tue)13:21:29 No.2800037
>>2798407
Light rain / snow? ECWCS Gen 3 L5 usually gets by
Hard rain? ECWCS Gen 3 L6 (basically goretex)
Yes I look like a goof ball wearing army camo, but it works extremely well, has a ton of mechanical ventilation, and is designed to pull moisture out, and you can find them very cheap from surplus. Just be sure to not get a shot up one.
Also they pack down pretty damn well.
Light rain / snow? ECWCS Gen 3 L5 usually gets by
Hard rain? ECWCS Gen 3 L6 (basically goretex)
Yes I look like a goof ball wearing army camo, but it works extremely well, has a ton of mechanical ventilation, and is designed to pull moisture out, and you can find them very cheap from surplus. Just be sure to not get a shot up one.
Also they pack down pretty damn well.