Advice from Gatewood Cape or Poncho owners

you could try rain chaps .

I don't see why rain pants defeats the multiple use features of the Gatewood, or any poncho for that matter. THe Cape or a poncho replace a rain jacket, but IMHO, you still need rain pants. No free lunch!

I use rain pants and chaps are an option– until you sit on something wet. Rain pants are perfectly usable as wind pants if you need an excuse ;) Many times I have walked brushy trails wet with dew and rain pants were helpful. Rain pants and silkweight long johns are my favorite all-day rain option.

Another option would be highly water resistant wind pants. Many runner's pants have lightly coated fabric that is just a little short of all-out rain pants (less the seam sealing). Unlined models run about 6oz and are easy to find in discount stores like Ross and Marshals, and thrift stores usually have a good supply.

Waterproof gaiters will save your socks, but won't do much for your wet shorts.

We just get wet. It's normal.

Cheers

Wear thin synth underwear and synth socks for quick drying

Carry an extra set .. In heavy continous rain you WILL get wet

;)

I often wear my ground cloth as a skirt when the rains are cold.
If i'm not cold, then the dampness isn't an issue.

Wind pants help and because they breath better than rain pants, you can wear them more often. They also have other uses.

Thanks for the feedback. I kind had a hunch that a pair of rain pants were about the only option. I would go with a pair of wind pants but the kind of rain I was hiking through the wind pants would wet out fairly quickly.

My only other thought was hiking in my boxers and using gaiters to avoid those articles of clothing wicking the runoff, but that doesn't hep protect your legs if there is a lot of overgrowth on the trail, could be creepy walking in boxers even if covered, and doubles back to the idea is the poncho/cape really multiple use gear.

Unfortunately as Dale said, no free lunch…sigh. Oh, and I never really thought about it, but Dale, your right a poncho/cape is a jacket, not a rain suit.