Were you planning a hike, but rain is forecast? Don't let that discourage you. Nature has its charm even on rainy days, and the air after rain smells completely different. If you take the right approach, you'll love hiking in the rain. Preparation is key. Before you head out for a hike, assess whether your clothing is ready for rain.
When hiking in the rain, forget about 100% cotton clothing. Cotton retains water well and cools you down. Instead, wear clothing made of wool, nylon, or polyester, and layer your clothing. Wear merino items as a base layer, which will protect you from hypothermia. On top, wear waterproof clothing as protection against rain.
Waterproof shoes also need to be prepared for hiking. Don't forget to renew the impregnation layer before every hiking season.
How to protect your gear from rain?
A heavy downpour especially can test the true waterproofness of your backpack. Even zippers that are water-resistant can fail in heavy rain. That's why you should choose a backpack rain cover. It will really help keep all your things dry. If you have spare clothing or food in your backpack, we recommend packing them in waterproof pouches. Plastic bags or pouches also work great for this purpose.
How to tell if clothing is really waterproof?
Every fabric offers a certain level of water resistance. Understanding the terminology will help you determine the level of protection a particular product offers, and choose better. We call a fabric "waterproof" if its resistance to water is sufficient to handle ordinary rain. Try to also pay attention to whether the given product is breathable, meaning that besides protecting you from getting wet, it lets your skin breathe and keeps your body at a comfortable temperature.
If a product is water-resistant and breathable, it can handle light to moderate rain for a short time. However, over time, the effectiveness of such material decreases. Breathability in waterproof/breathable clothing changes the game. After all, no one wants to hike dressed as if in a sauna. For longer hikes, this type of clothing is the most comfortable.
Fabrics that protect you most effectively from rain are those that are waterproof and impermeable at the same time. Imagine a rain poncho. If you need to wait out the rain, it will protect you effectively and doesn't cost much money. However, the skin doesn't breathe under this fabric, so longer hiking in such clothing is uncomfortable. We recommend keeping an emergency poncho in your backpack in case rain catches you by surprise.
Waterproof / breathable technologies
Almost all waterproof garments are made using a laminate or with a special surface treatmentthat blocks rain while still letting the skin breathe (allowing sweat vapor to escape), thereby ensuring breathability. Most clothing has an additional durable water repellent (DWR) coating.
If the outer fabric of a jacket is "water-repellent," water droplets form into beads on the surface, gather together, and run off. They don't soak into the fabric.
Maintenance of the DWR treatment is often overlooked after purchase. It is crucial for preserving the properties of your clothing. When the DWR wears off, the outer fabric of the jacket can become wet.
2-layer, 2.5-layer or 3-layer jacket. What does this mean?
To protect the waterproof effects, the membrane or jacket shell is inserted into additional layers. The outer layer resists damage and repels rain, while the inner layer protects against wear from inside the jacket.
2-layer jacket
The membrane or coating layer is applied to the outer layer of fabric to create a single piece of material. Inside, a loosely hanging lining is added to protect the membrane. Because it is quieter, the 2-layer jacket is popular as a travel rain shell. Regardless of the intended use, this design is found in lower-priced jackets.
2.5-layer jacket
Similar to the 2-layer and 3-layer construction, this jacket uses a lightweight but durable outer fabric as its first layer. The second „layer“ is actually a polyurethane laminate or coating applied inside the first layer. Finally, a protective gloss or print („half layer“) is placed on top of this second layer.
3-layer jacket
With 3-layer jackets withand no coatings are used, only a membrane firmly inserted between a rough face fabric and a lining. Generally, these 3-layer constructions used in waterproof clothing intended for the harshest environments in the field are the most durable and breathable. However, these jackets usually come not only with premium quality but also a premium price.
We believe today's article has helped you choose waterproof clothing, and rain will no longer catch you by surprise on your hike. If you need advice, we are here for you.
