#052 Evolution of a Lightweight Backpacker - Raingear & Clothing
The dirty little secret about rain gear is that if you build up too much heat inside it traps your sweat. Most brands claim breathability, but backpackers know that when too much heat builds up....
Rain gear is an absolute must in the wilderness. It’s usefulness reaches far beyond protecting you from the inconvenience of wearing wet clothes, it’s purpose is to protect you from hypothermia by keeping you dry and by helping you retain your body heat.
Not all rain gear, or outer shell, is created equal. Though warm, my first choice in rain gear, which I picked up from Gander Mountain (25oz), could withstand a mild rain for a while but I’d be soaked through in heavy downpours. It’s redeeming quality was, even when wet, it could retain my body heat. I eventually demoted it down to work clothes, it became my outer shell when power washing homes on cooler days.
I graduated to better gear. North Face Rain pants (9.1oz) and jacket (13.9oz) did a much better job at keeping me dry in heavy rain, but didn’t have as much insulation as my first set. However, when climbing Mt. Washington in New Hampshire several years ago, I put them on to protect me from high winds, light rain, and cold temperatures. This 23oz duo, coupled with two layers of clothing, allowed me to retain my body heat, which is key to surviving in the wilderness, and to stay dry.
The dirty little secret about rain gear is that if you build up too much heat it traps your sweat inside. Most brands claim breathability, and some styles have zippers under the arm pits for ventilation, but backpackers know that when too much heat builds up, we wet ourselves anyway…wait, what? That didn’t sound right.
I borrowed my son’s Frogg Toggs Poncho (8.5oz) for my 2017 Appalachian Trail section hike to reduce pack weight, though I think I had the poncho on me more often than it rode in my pack. I’ve always heard about the excessive rain in the Smoky Mountains and found the rumors to be accurate, at least in this case.
Switching over to the poncho took a little getting used to. I liked that I could drape the back of it over my pack for extra protection, but I couldn’t see my feet when maneuvering over rock or roots. My knees would get tangled with it when going up steep hills. My lower legs had no protection, which was fine, my legs aren’t affected by cold or wet conditions. A stiff wind periodically unsnapped the side buttons causing the poncho to blow open, thus allowing cold wind and rain in, and my body heat to be stolen.
Over time I adjusted to poncho life. My next goal was to drop even more weight from my load. For my 2021 section hike I purchased a Frogg Toggs Emergency Poncho (4.1oz). The buttons were weak and it blew open even when there wasn’t any wind, but it was nothing a little duct tape can’t handle.
I was amazed at how water resistant this $5.00 poncho was. I trudged through several heavy downpours over the course of a couple of weeks and stayed comfortably dry.
My choice in clothing hasn’t changed much over the years. Simplicity is key. For me, inexpensive is also key.
Though I once owned two pairs of North Face Pants which convert to shorts by unzipping the detachable legs, it was a short lived experiment. I brought them before my 2010 Maine hike, then carried them in my pack more than I wore them.
I found that lightweight gym shorts were far more comfortable, lighter, and would breath better. In cooler temperatures I’d wear thin nylon base layer “leggings” under my shorts. My overly expensive North Face hiking pants proved useful in cold conditions, but eventually became expensive work pants.
My first hiking shirts came from K-Mart. They were ugly, a little heavier than I wanted, and always felt a little like they were on backwards, but for two dollars each from the Blue Light Special rack I had no regrets.
I continue using the same type of Walmart/K-mart level gym short (6.5oz) for backpacking throughout the years, but have changed my shirts to a better material. Most of my shirts now are participation shirts from runs or bike rides over the years. Some have long sleeves (6oz), some short sleeve (5oz), and all are made of lightweight moisture wicking material. And yes, all fit like they should.
The key to staying warm in cooler temperatures is layering. It is easier to regulate your heat while hiking if you’re wearing a few layers. If you have one layer and a heavy coat you’ll burn up, then when you shed the coat you’ll lose all your retained heat and freeze from the sweat accumulated in your clothing.
When wearing several layers you can avoid sweating. As you become hotter simply remove a layer to adjust your temperature by a smaller increments. When you get cold, simply add a layer.
Layering correctly, coupled with proper rain gear, will help you stay warm and dry when it’s cold and raining.
We are learning week by week in this series that dependable gear can make an outdoor experience more enjoyable. Trial and error is just part of the process.
Join me next week where we talk about water filtration systems.