Proper Rain Protection

It’s pretty close to my basic setup I’m bringing on my weeklong high Sierra trip in a few weeks. I am going with GG Spinchaps and I think it’s an ID poncho tarp (but mine weighs closer to 8.5 ounces so not sure if it is ID or some other). Haven’t decided yet what my windshirt will be – either a Micropore top or more likely a Patagonia Houdini which is one of my favorite clothing items.

I like the cape idea for weight, but for my trip, I’ll need more pack coverage & I like having the extra usable tarp for creating a lounge area for cooking/etc or just as a backup shelter.

You have picked very effective rain protection. Ponchos and capes are quite waterproof and ventilate well and they cover your pack too. Your 5oz cape weighs as much as many pack covers.

The weak point is wind, so you might find it less than friendly for coastal hikes. A cape has little less exposure than a poncho, so you have a step up there. A cord around the waist will help in windy conditions, but that also cuts down on ventilation — no free lunch. Looking at the”diamond” cut of the ID cape, you might try running a cord to that back corner so it tucks up under your pack or at least keeps the tail town in the wind. If you go too far with that, your chaps may leave a gap. I prefer regular rain pants as you can sit on something wet — rock, log, ground without getting your bum damp.

I just returned from a 6 day hike in the smokies with two days of heavy rain; I have never been more comfortable in the rain than I was with my ID silnylon poncho tarp + rain hat. The ventilation is so good that I felt like I wasn’t wearing any rain gear, and I really did enjoy hiking in the rain. (Setting up camp in the rain, not so much :().

I wasn’t in a lot of wind and so didn’t find “flappiness” to be a problem, but I discovered that running the hipbelt of my pack on the outside of the poncho made it more manageable and didn’t interfere with ventilation. (Interestingly, my hiking partner and I both independently adopted this method at the same time).

My poncho also comes with a shock cord that you can use to wrap around your waist – it cinches the poncho up under the bottom of the pack and around your waist. But I found that I preferred to have the poncho hang free in the back – this made the rain drop straight off the back, rather than ending up on the back of my thighs. But maybe this system would be worthwhile in heavy winds.

So I think that this is an excellent system.

I also set the poncho up one night as a cooking area, which was very handy.

Thanks for the input. I read that the cape that I purchased has a draw string at the bottom. Don’t quote me on this though. My memory……. I also on a pair of Montane wind pants, and I might keep this in mind, especially since reading Dale’s response. Got me thinking again.

also coastal hikes (Santa Cruz Mountains, Point Reyes, Big Sur etc.) I won’t go out if the weather report has a storm coming in. I tend to hike on the coast Nov.-March, then off to the lower parts of the Sierra’s until the melt. Just wanted to throw that in. Thanks for all the responses, it is appreciated.