[at-l] What do you use as rain gear?

[jbullar1 at twcny.rr.com (Jim Bullard)]

At 06:57 PM 6/23/2004 -0400, Shelly Hale wrote:
>Well...it's rainin' again.  The pitter patter of drops reminded me that I 
>had wanted to ask everyone what they use for rain gear.  I'm not too 
>partial to umbrellas on the trail.  They seem to get in the way more than 
>anything.  What I'm really interested in are jacket and pant & other such 
>gear reviews.  Has anyone tried the Packa yet?  I would like to hear more 
>about it.

I have a Packa made to fit over my external frame pack (purchased last 
August). It has everything I was looking for in rain gear. It covers me and 
my pack, has pit zips, is loose enough for air circulation so I don't sweat 
myself wetter than I'd be without it, comes almost down to my knees, has a 
draw string at the bottom to keep up-drafts from blowing it over my head 
(as ponchos are prone to do), stuffs in its own pocket and is very 
lightweight. I've tested it only in a couple of brief showers however (it 
did keep me dry) because Ed seems to have put some sort of charm on it. It 
*never* rains when I carry it. I had it with me at the last Gathering and 
(thanks to my Packa?) we had a dry weekend. Even when thunderstorms and 
downpours are forecast as they were last Friday when I took it on my hike 
but didn't see a single drop of rain all day. The testing I did manage was 
by running out into the yard at home when it was raining.

As for rain pants: I don't bother. I just assume my legs will get wet. I 
prefer to wear pants made of quick drying material or shorts. In warm 
weather I always wear shorts and protect my lower legs from 
insects/brambles/mud by wearing gaiters (OR Rocky Mountain High, pack cloth 
model <http://www.orgear.com/>). I've had them for years and they've held 
up very well. I just throw them in the washer when they are dirty. No 
special treatment like Gore-Tex requires. The cord under the boot sole 
wears out occasionally and I just replace it with parachute cord.

I have considered carrying a very small umbrella to facilitate taking 
photos in the rain but I haven't tried it yet. In order to try it, I may 
have to stop carrying the Packa so it will rain while I'm hiking. ;-)

Saunterer