No easy question to answer...

I’m used to do a lot of outdoor activities in different climates here in south America (from Amazon to Patagonia), and I’m a little obsessed with raingear…like some others here are with knifes and flashlights…

I have already tested some configurations, but didn’t found an ideal solution for every situation. So, I carry a little bit more of raingear for each trip. I generally have in my pack:

Goretex or similar Rainjacket
Big garbage bag, space blanket and/or a plastic poncho in one of the jacket pockets, as a last resort, totally impermeable barrier.
Lightweight nylon Poncho
Goretex or similar rainpants
Coolmax underwear
Dry clothes in a plastic bag

During rapid showers with no wind while hiking in the Brazilian central savannas, I most often just throw the poncho over myself, covering also the pack. I think it is the most practical solution in open terrain and no wind.

For sustained wet & cold conditions (Patagonia), I use the coolmax underwear and the goretex jacket and pans (with the poncho over everything, if wind and terrain permits!).

And for sustained activity in wet and hot conditions (Amazon!) I use only the Coolmax t-shirt. I just accept that I’m going to be wet anyway! But I change for dry clothes as soon as I stop the physical activity.

The jacket that I use more often is a Marmot Precipice Jacket (my EDC jacket). I also trust very much the Goretex Packlite Foray Jacket from Outdoor Research. For more demanding situations, like mountaineering, I use a tough Ansilta (Argentina made) Goretex XCR jacket. And I’m also experimenting with the idea of using an impermeable lightweight jacket under a BDU shirt, smock or windbreak, to protect the impermeable barrier from abrasion.

Fabio



No easy question to answer...

I’m used to do a lot of outdoor activities in different climates here in south America (from Patagonia to Amazon), and I’m a little obsessed with raingear…Like some others here are with knifes…

I have already tested some configurations, but didn’t found an ideal solution for every situation. So, I carry a "kit" of raingear for each trip. I generally have in my pack:

Goretex or similar Rainjacket
Big garbage bag, space blanket and/or a plastic poncho in one of the jacket pockets, as a last resort, totally impermeable barrier.
Lightweight nylon Poncho
Goretex or similar rainpants
Coolmax underwear
Dry clothes in a plastic bag

During rapid showers with no wind while hiking in the Brazilian central savannas, I most often just throw the poncho over myself, covering also the pack. I think it is the most practical solution in open terrain and no wind.

For sustained wet & cold conditions (Patagonia), I use the coolmax underwear and the goretex jacket and pans (with the poncho over everything, if wind and terrain permits!).

And for sustained activity in wet and hot conditions (Amazon!) I use only the Coolmax t-shirt. I just accept that I’m going to be wet anyway! But I change for dry clothes as soon as I stop the physical activity.

The jacket that I use more often is a Marmot PreCip Jacket. It is my EDC jacket, that lives im my day bag.

I also trust very much my Foray Jacket from Outdoor Research.The Goretex Packlite is outstanding during storms! On the other hand, I don't think the side "poncho transformer" zippers are realy practical.

For more demanding situations, like mountaineering, I use a tough Ansilta (Argentina made) Goretex XCR jacket. And I’m also experimenting with the idea of using an impermeable lightweight jacket under a BDU shirt, smock or windbreak, to protect the impermeable barrier from abrasion.

In general, I'm quite satisfied with PreCip, Goretex Packlite and even with the older Goretex XCR.

Fabio