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Re: Raingear...

Cindi -
I carried a Goretex parka from Springer to Waynesboro, then traded
 it for a coated nylon jacket that weighed about half as much.  I was
damned glad to have the parka in the South - we had rain, snow, sleet
and hail - at one time for 19 out of 23 days.  Our last snow was on
May 9.

That nylon jacket lasted until Katahdin where the coating separated
from the nylon - but then I didn't need it anymore, did I?  In the mid
atlantic states I hardly ever used it, but in Connecticut I walked
through thunderstorms, when I got to the Whites it was great as
a windbreaker,  and in Maine it got cold.

You WILL get wet - if not from outside then from inside.   The only
purpose of raingear is to keep you warm wet rather than cold wet.
If you manage to NOT be soaked by your own sweat, I need to know
how you did it.  You don't NEED Goretex, but you'll certainly want
something waterproof and windproof.   My partner used a
non-Goretex rain jacket.

If you decide to go with Goretex in spite of the price, make sure
you know how to keep it doing its thing - it can be rejuvenated.
I just thought it was too much of a pain to bother with - and the
parka was too heavy to carry after the weather warmed up.

Walk softly,
Jim


>Hey all;
>        I was just wondering....what's everyone bringing/what did everyone
>bring for their thru-hike for raingear?  I've had one salesperson tell me I
>won't be able to live without Gore-tex, and I've had another one tell me I
>could do without it as long as I had one of those new jackets/pants that are
>made of lightweight, breathable, hydrophobic material.  What do you guys
>think?  Puh-leeeeaaaase tell me I don't need Gore-tex....it's so damn
>expensive! :(   A biggie for me is that I want something that's really
>breathable because what's the point in protecting yourself from the rain if
>you're just going to be soaked by your own sweat anyway?  I'd rather be wet
>and clean, thanks! :)
>
>Ideas? Comments? Rude remarks?
>
>Slainte,
>Cindi
>Ga -> Me April '97
>Standby to receive! :)
>
>ps.- Another thought - I know Gore-tex is breathable, but I also know it
>probably wouldn't be after getting all dirty after going 5 - 7 days without
>being washed.  Well, I know it wouldn't rain for 5 - 7 days straight (would
>it?), but ya know what I mean..... :-)