Backcountry Basics: Rainwear Selection

Bringing the wrong rain jacket on a big trip can be miserable. Wet and cold is not the preferred way to backpack. In a wetter climate you will want more resilient rain gear (like a GORE-TEX), and in a presumably drier climate you may go with something lightweight and more packable. That being said, I have been caught in more than one storm with my GORE-TEX shell left behind in the truck at the trailhead. All because I wanted to cut a few ounces and the forecast looked great. Turns out though, sweating it out in GORE-TEX on a hot humid rainy day is also fairly unpleasant. 

Rain gear is the  first installment of our Backcountry Basics series for a reason, it is super important. Being wet and cold becomes dangerous very quickly when in the backcountry. Fortunately, there are a lot of options when it comes to rain gear, and a lot of rain gear that’s versatile enough to use in multiple climates. It’s always a balancing act of waterproofness vs. breathability. And, here’s an important pro-tip: Make sure that old rain jacket is still waterproof before it’s too late.  

Rain gear varies greatly with lots of options between ultra-lightweight and 3-layer hard shells. In addition, waterproofing technology has come a long way, and there are almost countless types of breathable waterproof technologies available from different manufacturers. So what then are the crucial features to consider when deciding on rain gear: 

 

2, 2.5 and 3 Layer Rain Shells

Do you want a 2 layer, 2.5 layer, or 3 layer shell? This will tell you how the jacket was constructed. Most waterproof breathable technologies consist of a face fabric treated with a DWR (Durable Water Resistant) coating, this layer is more for durability and attaching the waterproof membrane (the second layer). 2.5 and 3 layer jackets will additionally have a liner material attached to the back side of the membrane, making them more comfortable and sometimes a bit warmer. Over the years, GORE-TEX has been the gold standard for waterproof, breathable membranes. GORE-TEX is available through a lot of incredible manufacturers, making it a great option to look for in your hardshell jackets. That being said, most outdoor manufacturers have developed their own waterproof, breathable membranes, providing you with many options when shopping for a rain shell. 

 

Seam Sealed

Next, make sure the rain gear is seam sealed or seam taped.  Seam sealing rain gear will increase the durability of the garment.  Most importantly, a seam taped or sealed shell will be drier.   

 

Hard Shells Vs. Ultralight Rainwear

This would lead you to think that a heavy-duty, 3L, seam sealed, GORE-TEX hardshell is the perfect option … While it can often be a great option, especially in particularly harsh weather, it can also be fairly warm, heavy, bulky, and pretty expensive.

At the other extreme, ultralight rain gear can perform really well at keeping you dry while keeping weight and bulk to a minimum. Ultralight rain gear does have its downsides. Lighter weight fabrics are typically more prone to snag and tear. For most backpackers the answer lies somewhere in the middle — a more versatile rain gear set up that performs well in a variety of situations. Others (like me) will choose to have a few rain gear set ups for varying weather and climates, and sometimes we regret bringing the wrong one.

 

Stay Warm

Now that we’re staying dry, let’s quickly cover staying warm. Picking the right insulation piece for a trip is equally important, with very similar considerations for climate and weather. Most people have their favorite ‘puffy’ jacket, and they’re great for staying warm while being lightweight and packable. This style of puffy jacket will generally either come with a down or a synthetic type of insulation.  

 

Down insulation offers a good warmth to weight ratio and can be extremely packable when compressed. Its downfall happens when it  gets wet. Down can be very hard to dry and its insulation value drops drastically when wet. There are some options for treated down insulation, making it hydrophobic and less prone to getting wet. Synthetic insulation generally performs better when wet, and will often dry out quicker. Traditionally, synthetic insulation was heavier and less compressible than down insulation, but the technology has improved over the years. It is now  rather comparable to down.

Deciding how much insulation you’re going to need is important when trip planning. I generally prefer to bring more and not have to worry about being cold.  For me, this often looks like bringing an extra fleece to pair with a lighter puffy, or possibly bringing a heavier more insulated jacket. It may seem silly to pack a puffy jacket in the middle of summer, and in some places you don’t really need to, but definitely consider it even if temps are only expected to drop into the 50’s. Cold nights and mornings can be really unpleasant, and they can be completely avoided with a good puffy jacket. (Pro-tip: Your insulation piece can also double as a comfortable pillow.)

 

Meet the Author: Trystyn Molitor

Trystyn graduated from the University of Montana with degrees in Recreation Management, Resource Conservation, and Geographical Information Systems. A backpacker for over 20 years, he has hiked and explored some of the most remote places in the country. Trystyn also spent a number of years working for the United States Forest Service as a Wilderness Ranger.