Bill Budney

Engineer, lifelong hiker: Most of the US and Canada; many national parks. A water-resistant and breathable windbreaker is better than any rain gear most days. I keep a front-zippered poncho in the pack for hard rain. The ventilation cannot be beat, and it can never wet out. If DWR sucks so much, where are the permanent water resistance treatments like EPIC? I like light gear as much as the next engineer, but I add water bottles to my pack and go rucking some days.