Ultralite rain gear suggestions

I haven’t used one myself, but I’m surprised that the Gateway Cape didn’t provide enough ventilation, especially if you wore your backpack under it.  I’ve had the best luck with a poncho and accepted that my lower legs and feet would get wet.  I’ve never been successful with “waterproof-breathable” fabrics unless the outside air is very dry (so why did I need WP?) or my activity level is very low (then why did I need breathable?)

In vertical rain, an umbrella works great for staying dry and ventilated, but then you’re packing something else for windy conditions.  So I tend to take the umbrella primary for shade at elevation and secondarily for rain.

When its warm and humid and raining, you’re going to get wet from rain or sweat or both regardless of what you wear.  But at 45F or cooler, ambient air doesn’t have much moisture in it and if you can get any air exchange going through vents / openings, it should do a lot to keep you dryish.

look at the “time for a rain gear upgrade” thread

I own the Cape as well, and have never liked it as raingear (very fond of it as shelter, though). I think one of the things that it loses over a more basic poncho/tarp is that the arm slots are much smaller, so it doesn’t vent as well when you’re wearing it (especially if you’re using something to tie around your waist to minimize flapping).

I recently just picked up an MLD Simple Poncho/Tarp, and my initial thoughts are that it will make for much more ventilated rainwear just based on the airflow I got from the more open design. (I should add that this is just a snap opinion based on trying it on inside and exerting myself- I have literally zero experience with it as raingear.) I also wouldn’t be surprised if it’s not quite as protective in heavy rain for this reason, but I suspect it will be fine.

1. Thanks to everyone for the advice. My last trip I only used the gateway cape. I didn’t love it for hiking but it kept my tent warmer and dryer. I think I will try the MLD  and continue in search of rain pants. 

Michelle – Moisture transfer via the fabric or membrane can’t compete with a design that incorporates good ventilation. I hate rain pants. Chaps paired with a longer jacket work much better, IMO. Lighter, drier due to much better ventilation, and no restrictions in the crotchal region. A rain skirt should have similar benefits, but might get in the way on some terrain.

As Jerry said, this thread is worth a look.

Hi Michelle.  Have you considered a rain skirt for your legs?  I have a cuben fiber.  Very light weight.  Easy on, easy off.  I have a poncho, from Luke’s ultralight,  but it doesn’t cover much on my legs so pair the two together along with gaiters.  I do not find that the rain skirt gets in the way.  It could if it is to long.  Hope this helps….Vicky

In those sort of conditions the weight of my rain gear would be wayyyyyy down on my list of priorities.

Staying dry and warm would be my main worry, if the kit worked i don’t care how much it weighs.

In warmer weather it;s a compromise i’m willing to make mind.

Most event or neoshell kit should be good in those sorts of conditions.

I bought some Polartec Borah gear rain trousers earlier this year, was initially very disappointed as the cut is very tight, to the point where i can’t wear them as overtrousers, being as tight as a ducks arse i ended up wearing them as trousers rather than over trousers, it was a revelation, worked really really well.

Only tried these trousers so no idea how other shell trousers perform when work on their own, but that’s me sold now, i won’t wear rain shell trousers as over trousers anymore.

Thanks, I was thinking about doing as you are with the rain trousers. I will check out that brand. I am settling in on the idea of trousers and my gateway cape.  I have actually used the cape as a second rain fly on my tent for added warmth so I guess I need to keep it. I hear what you say about not sparing weight for rain gear but I will be heavily packed and there are a lot of very long dry stretches so I am trying to cut as much as I safely can.

Thanks again.

Chaps weigh less and ventilate better than full pants. If your cape is long enough, they’d work very well with it.

PNW hiker here. The thing with rain is you really just have to accept the fact you are going to be wet so the goal is to stay warm, not necessarily dry. I just did the Wonderland Trail in 4 days, 2 1/2 of the days were rainy and windy to boot with temps in the high 30’s to low 50’s while raining. I wore a long sleeve wool mid weight shirt, very light RAB waterproof jacket w/hood, light windproof (not waterproof) gloves, baseball hat, light running shorts, Zpack Possumdown socks and trail running shoes. I had waterproof pants with me but didn’t use them while hiking as there’s really no point other than to keep wind off my legs plus I was using compression sleeves which provided some warmth to my calves. Key with wet running shorts is to test them in advance to know that they don’t chafe when they are wet.

I encountered a couple using those cuben rain skirts which they liked a lot. Plenty of ventilation but might help with chaffing as they wouldn’t be so wet. Not sure I would bother with it personally but I see the potential.

Another PNW hiker. i continue to try new things, but really, Colin is right–wet is unavoidable. usually go for shorts and long socks, sometimes running tights to block the wind, and gaiters to keep the mud out of my shoes (again, i accept wet, but the war against mud continues…).

my latest rain pant purchase, however, is showing some promise. picked up some Rab Firewall pants earlier this year, mostly for urban adventures, basecamp, and as an emergency layer. but they are the new stretchy pertex, and have 3-way zippers that go up to the hip for venting, so i have been testing them bushwacking in cold, windy, wet conditions (if not raining, i vent hip to knee; if raining, just vent at the top). 20-50 degrees they have performed better than any other pant i have tried, but still not perfect. not super light at 11oz, but if you adventure in the cold and wet, i recommend them.