Rain Chaps vs. Kilt

Eric:

I work for Sierra Designs, so this advice is biased, but I would check out the Cagoule and Chaps from Sierra Designs. The cagoule essentially combines a jacket and rain skirt in one, allowing ventilation up the front of the garment by placing the pack waist belt UNDER the front of the "skirt". There is another thread going here discussing these…….

Good luck on the Wonderland Trail! I have done it 3 times and each time was unable to escape some significant "rain events", so a good rain plan is essential……

Eric, I'm surprised you haven't gotten any public feedback on your post. I too wonder about the kilt vs chaps question for those who use a poncho and want leg coverage for off/on heavy rains in the mountains, possibly with windy conditions. Maybe you've gathered feedback not posted in this thread…Beuller?

>"I like them but they do not breathe well."

When I hear "chaps", I think of two separate, one-legged pieces. With ventilation in the bottom cuff at your ankle and out at the top opening from your crotch to your hip. I would want fully waterproof fabric in such a garment, and wouldn't want the weight, cost and bother of "water-proof / breathable" wonder fabrics.

Even more so in a kilt – fully waterproof due to all the ventilation from underneath.

For me chaps vs kilt would boil down to warmth. The chaps could be part of a system to help keep me warm (while hiking and while in camp). But if I might be over-warm while hiking in the rain, I'd prefer a waterproof kilt.