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Post by WoodChuck on Aug 6, 2015 18:05:04 GMT -8
Howdy Yall,
I was wondering if most of you folks always carry rain gear (top and bottom) on your backpacking trips. I ask because I live in east Tennessee and the weather can be somewhat predictable (by only SEVERAL hours) and I have been caught in a rain or two. Now really I dont have anything fancy. Just my military issue rain gear (kinda heavy) but it is in really good condition. I am not a ultra light weight backpacker but i dont want to carry 40 pounds of gear. Im just looking to see what you other folks do.
Justin
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Post by ashepabst on Aug 6, 2015 18:25:56 GMT -8
backpacking? definitely. i only take bottoms in cold weather. cold rain's a killer.
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Aug 6, 2015 19:05:51 GMT -8
Almost always. I skip it on summer dayhikes in the desert, where I won't mind being wet for while, and there's no chance of hypothermia. On a backpack last week, the forecast was for 80s, but it snowed for a most of a day and the nightime low was in the mid 20s. Highs the next day were near 90.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Aug 6, 2015 20:51:08 GMT -8
Backpacking, I always take both jacket and pants. If I don't need them for rain, I'll want them for wind or just a little extra warmth in the evenings. Dayhiking, I usually carry a rain/wind jacket.
Invest in some light stuff and carry it.
ETA: like BL, I'll skip it in the desert.
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Post by ctp631 on Aug 6, 2015 21:53:46 GMT -8
I always carry a DriDucks Poncho for rain/emergency shelter.
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tigger
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Post by tigger on Aug 6, 2015 23:19:58 GMT -8
Pretty much all the time. In the middle of summer on a few occasions, I'll leave them at home but that's usually only one or two trips per year. I also use the Military Issue stuff because I trust it.
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amaruq
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Post by amaruq on Aug 7, 2015 4:12:49 GMT -8
For day hikes, not unless the forecast specifically calls for rain. I can survive a couple hours being wet.
For multi-day hikes, always a wind/rain proof top, rarely bottoms. Southern/Central Ontario summer weather is relatively unpredictable, often subjecting adventurers to pop-up showers out of nowhere on an otherwise clear sunny day. Spring it is a must (April showers bring May showers). In the winter I'd be wearing waterproof snow gear anyways.
I just have a cheapo pocket sized rain jacket. I've no need for anything too fancy or heavy duty.
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Post by WoodChuck on Aug 7, 2015 9:41:52 GMT -8
Well i guess i have my answer now! hahaha! Yeah, like tigger said, I love my mil issue gore tex rain gear. Yeah its a little heavy but its tough as nails.
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Post by hikerjer on Aug 7, 2015 10:18:41 GMT -8
Always. In my neck of the woods, when it rains, it's cold often turning to sleet and even snow. Without it, miles from the TH, I could very easily find myself in a survival situation without it. Did that once and learned my lesson. That was not a pleasant experience. In fact, I just purchased a new MH rain jacket and am taking it into the Bob Mashall next week. I'll be a bit disappointed if it doesn't rain a little.
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gabby
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Post by gabby on Aug 7, 2015 10:49:56 GMT -8
There's a lot of "coded" statements here: Southern/Central Ontario summer weather is relatively unpredictable Pretty much all the time. I'll skip it in the desert. I skip it on summer dayhikes in the desert For day hikes, not unless... For multi-day hikes, always... In my neck of the woods... Doesn't tigger live in the Pacific NW? Yeah, I'd carry rain gear there too, at least from what I've heard... Maybe I'm just being dense again (I'm famous for it!), but doesn't most of this depend on factors other than flat "personal preference" of individuals? All these variables simply depend, don't they? This may very well be obvious to most, but I'd think that the answer(s) depend on a number of very general factors: * length of trip (opportunity for wx variation outside of the current wx prediction) * location of trip (local tendencies in wx - most times, as I understand it, the Pac NW is WET, but Texas is - need I say it - DRY) * elevation of trip (or, better yet, potential range of temps and wx variation) * current wx prediction in the area you're hiking, esp. if your hike is short (dayhike) (most I ever carry from May, and sometimes April, to September in Texas is a wind jacket: that's plenty where I hike, and then only when there are "indications". When I've been to Hawaii, a dayhike without rain gear, esp. at certain times of day, is madness, though you're not likely to die because of the wet) * season (I can manage "wet" when it's warm, but not in the cold) Sorry if this is a big DUH.
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Post by hikerjer on Aug 7, 2015 12:07:03 GMT -8
I guess they are sort of "coded"messages. But isn't that what hiking/backpacking is all about. It depends entirely on the situation. Each environment and hiker is different. I think we all answered for what meets our needs in the particular areas of our experience.
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gabby
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Post by gabby on Aug 7, 2015 12:21:12 GMT -8
You're right, hikerjer. Still, I doubt someone who was NOT familiar with tigger's homebase (I may be wrong about that - am I?) would know what he was saying w/o that information.
But, yeah. I apologize if I sounded like a "smartbutt". I was reading all those comments and it struck me that there were "general principles" involved. More-or-less.
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amaruq
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Post by amaruq on Aug 7, 2015 12:56:53 GMT -8
I guess they are sort of "coded"messages. But isn't that what hiking/backpacking is all about. It depends entirely on the situation. Each environment and hiker is different. I think we all answered for what meets our needs in the particular areas of our experience. Basically this. If I wasn't trying to tailor my gear 'library' for every possible excursion, what toys would I spend money on? Also note that due to my professional obligations, it has been beaten into me to always provide the circumstances and limiting factors of my advice and anecdotes (yay, engineering).
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Westy
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Post by Westy on Aug 7, 2015 15:08:08 GMT -8
Yes, whether I need it or not, regardless of the forecast. At times it would appear totally illogical. Why? It's a good backcountry habit to develop. I'm intentionally autopilot trained.
Terrain and environmental or geographic landscapes doesn't matter. Memo to File: When you say rain gear I think Wind & Rain gear.
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swmtnbackpacker
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Post by swmtnbackpacker on Aug 7, 2015 18:11:52 GMT -8
Yeah, I've got Neoshell for winter, eVent for shoulder season (~11 oz), and a OR Helium just in case shell (~ 6 oz) for summer.
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