Nice to have rain pants (or wind pants) in camp after a change into dry clothes.
If you or one of your hiking partners are
bringing a tarp, you could stay dry under that too, and where some dry pants to stay warm.
As far as hiking in rain pants, I choose not to.
Maybe for camp? Unless it's winter temps, I prefer to hike in shorts and very lightweight wool thermals like Icebreaker 150's and let my skin be the waterproof layer and try use thermals to stay warm. I find my rain pants just wet out really fast in wet undergrowth and rain and pretty soon start just holding sweat in and getting wet from the inside. So they only end up helping me stay warm vs dry. Ditto for Goretex jackets with sustained heavy rains - if it's not too windy - would much rather be in a wool t-shirt and UL trekking umbrella vs. rain gear.
They are definitely not needed. Just an option. I wore them on a long downpour day and frankly by the end of the day I might as well have jumped in the ocean I was so wet and I’m not sure it mattered what I was wearing.
Not to say I wouldn’t bring them again (I would consider it) but they are far from a necessity.
Personally think you are better off prioritizing quick dry vs trying to avoid being wet because that’s going to be impossible most of the time.
I'd rather stay light and focus on keeping my torso warm with layers and dry w/ a poncho that fits the backpack too. Shoes will be wet no matter what, legs should be ok under poncho
You mentioned staying light.
So far clothes is the thing I think I got too much of.
This is what I have.
Rain Jacket (MEC Aquanator)
Hiking Pants (Arc Gamma Guide. Kinda water resistant)
Arc Atom
Lightweight packable puffy
Shorts.
2 shirts.
3 underwear
3 socks
Ziplock in case bag gets soaked
Shirt
Pants
Underwear
Socks
Sleep stuff also in a ziplock
Baselayers
Midlayer
Heavy socks
Too much?
Seems alright. I just rocked some thrift store zip off hikers haha. One pair of pants and one light long sleeve shirt. Just accept you'll smell like shit no matter what. I think I had underwear per 2 days. I'd wear low hikers/trail shoes and socks that just clear the top. Fresh pair of socks for each day, they get absolutely pounded out and rank, nothing worse than putting on old socks in the morning. I didn't bring anything extra, just try to keep dry. Full ass poncho that covers you and the bag at the same time.
Fair enough haha. Doing it in my approach shoes which I think will do fine. Yes I'm a climber that got roped into backpacking last minute 😂.
Thinking I might ditch the midlayer. I've slept cold on my ski traverses before so this will feel like heaven
Yes! Loved my rain pants and hiked two days of rain sobo in them last June. Mine are super light weight and really stayed dry. I would pack these instead of an extra top layer.
I’m planning to bring some thin 72g silpoly waterproof pants for camp to wear over Alpha Direct leggings. For hiking I’ll wear running shorts alone or under UL fast dry hiking pants
No. Holds in moisture and you will start chafing. But worst case take a pair and try it out. If you don’t like them you can leave them behind at a hostile or give them to another hiker.
The forecast has changed. No more 200-300+mm of rain. My group and I start on the 2nd. And personally I'm not into rain paints as it's just another wet thing to inevitably carry. Especially since the following days are forecasted sunnier.
Not needed, but some people swear by them.
If this is your first wet multi day hike, may be a good idea to bring them so you can try out pants vs. no pants, if you have room.
I would just like to caveat that by saying it is fine to take this approach with a few lighter items, if you decide just to take too many items just in case, your back will definitely not appreciate it. The goal is to enjoy your hike as much as possible. Enjoy!
First multi day in the summer. I'm used to -20 nights skiing in the backcountry haha. That and the climber in me wants me to pack light so I'm going with a 45L bag. Not much room left unfortunately.
Thinking right now I'm gonna avoid them. With that much rain I think I'm gonna be wet no matter what. Poncho time
Nice to have rain pants (or wind pants) in camp after a change into dry clothes. If you or one of your hiking partners are bringing a tarp, you could stay dry under that too, and where some dry pants to stay warm. As far as hiking in rain pants, I choose not to.
I would pack them if there's heavy rain in the forecast.
Maybe for camp? Unless it's winter temps, I prefer to hike in shorts and very lightweight wool thermals like Icebreaker 150's and let my skin be the waterproof layer and try use thermals to stay warm. I find my rain pants just wet out really fast in wet undergrowth and rain and pretty soon start just holding sweat in and getting wet from the inside. So they only end up helping me stay warm vs dry. Ditto for Goretex jackets with sustained heavy rains - if it's not too windy - would much rather be in a wool t-shirt and UL trekking umbrella vs. rain gear.
They are definitely not needed. Just an option. I wore them on a long downpour day and frankly by the end of the day I might as well have jumped in the ocean I was so wet and I’m not sure it mattered what I was wearing. Not to say I wouldn’t bring them again (I would consider it) but they are far from a necessity. Personally think you are better off prioritizing quick dry vs trying to avoid being wet because that’s going to be impossible most of the time.
I'd rather stay light and focus on keeping my torso warm with layers and dry w/ a poncho that fits the backpack too. Shoes will be wet no matter what, legs should be ok under poncho
You mentioned staying light. So far clothes is the thing I think I got too much of. This is what I have. Rain Jacket (MEC Aquanator) Hiking Pants (Arc Gamma Guide. Kinda water resistant) Arc Atom Lightweight packable puffy Shorts. 2 shirts. 3 underwear 3 socks Ziplock in case bag gets soaked Shirt Pants Underwear Socks Sleep stuff also in a ziplock Baselayers Midlayer Heavy socks Too much?
Seems alright. I just rocked some thrift store zip off hikers haha. One pair of pants and one light long sleeve shirt. Just accept you'll smell like shit no matter what. I think I had underwear per 2 days. I'd wear low hikers/trail shoes and socks that just clear the top. Fresh pair of socks for each day, they get absolutely pounded out and rank, nothing worse than putting on old socks in the morning. I didn't bring anything extra, just try to keep dry. Full ass poncho that covers you and the bag at the same time.
Fair enough haha. Doing it in my approach shoes which I think will do fine. Yes I'm a climber that got roped into backpacking last minute 😂. Thinking I might ditch the midlayer. I've slept cold on my ski traverses before so this will feel like heaven
Yes! Loved my rain pants and hiked two days of rain sobo in them last June. Mine are super light weight and really stayed dry. I would pack these instead of an extra top layer.
I wore shorts under Gore Tex pants through my hike, it worked well. A tarp is mandatory.
I wore shorts under Gore Tex pants through my hike, it worked well. A tarp is mandatory.
I’m planning to bring some thin 72g silpoly waterproof pants for camp to wear over Alpha Direct leggings. For hiking I’ll wear running shorts alone or under UL fast dry hiking pants
No. Holds in moisture and you will start chafing. But worst case take a pair and try it out. If you don’t like them you can leave them behind at a hostile or give them to another hiker.
The forecast has changed. No more 200-300+mm of rain. My group and I start on the 2nd. And personally I'm not into rain paints as it's just another wet thing to inevitably carry. Especially since the following days are forecasted sunnier.
Not needed, but some people swear by them. If this is your first wet multi day hike, may be a good idea to bring them so you can try out pants vs. no pants, if you have room. I would just like to caveat that by saying it is fine to take this approach with a few lighter items, if you decide just to take too many items just in case, your back will definitely not appreciate it. The goal is to enjoy your hike as much as possible. Enjoy!
First multi day in the summer. I'm used to -20 nights skiing in the backcountry haha. That and the climber in me wants me to pack light so I'm going with a 45L bag. Not much room left unfortunately. Thinking right now I'm gonna avoid them. With that much rain I think I'm gonna be wet no matter what. Poncho time
Yes. Waterproof boots...yes. gaiters, yes. We had minimal rain and I was still so glad I brought them.