tigger
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Post by tigger on Aug 7, 2015 18:53:27 GMT -8
Yeah, location/environment - PNW, Can easily be 90 in the day and 40 at night and a few times seen it drop below freezing mid-summer. Forecast means nothing in Spring and Fall and can easily turn into a torrential downpour despite what the weathermen say because Mountains make their own weather.
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rebeccad
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Writing like a maniac
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Post by rebeccad on Aug 7, 2015 19:05:18 GMT -8
Forecast means nothing in Spring and Fall and can easily turn into a torrential downpour despite what the weathermen say because Mountains make their own weather. This. I of course was assuming mountains, which might not be right. But being a western sort, when I think backpacking, I think mountains. |
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johnnyray
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Argle-Bargle, Jiggery-Pokery, and Applesauce
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Post by johnnyray on Aug 7, 2015 19:37:23 GMT -8
Almost always a rain, wind shell like a Precip, I like my full zip Precip pants for the cold because of the venting option. I've had a couple sets of Precip and it's pretty good stuff but not very durable for hard use like off trail and bush wacking. I have Gore-Tex gear also but it is much heavier and bulkier but more durable.
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swmtnbackpacker
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Back but probably posting soon under my real name ... Rico Sauve
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Post by swmtnbackpacker on Aug 8, 2015 10:28:17 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. That's eVent fabric from Canada's Westcomb (made in Canada). Stuff is very breathable. |
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Post by WoodChuck on Aug 8, 2015 11:21:38 GMT -8
Hey i get it. Everyone is from a different place with different weather patterns. That is why i had prefaced my question by letting folks know the area i live in. Now, like i said, it seems that most folks actually carry their gear regardless of forecast weather.
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zeke
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Peekaboo slot 2023
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Post by zeke on Aug 8, 2015 13:34:07 GMT -8
In the Summer desert, I seldom carry rain gear. When I do carry it, I mostly carry the top, and not the bottom. I hike mostly a week at a time, and listen to the weather forecasts before each trip. I use the top as a wind breaker mostly. I had to dig around and find my bottoms earlier this Summer, so I could haul them along on a kayak trip to Alaska. I wore them 1 day out of 5. Could've gotten by without them, but since I had them...
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Post by 1camper on Aug 9, 2015 9:35:51 GMT -8
No. For short trips if the weather is fair I'll leave the rain gear and carry my hammock tarp. Prolonged rain would be in the forecast and I don't really want to hike in the rain long so if it rains I'll just kick back in my hammock til it's over.
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Post by cahiker on Aug 12, 2015 16:10:55 GMT -8
I don't bring rain pants for 3 season California backpacking. I'm generally warm when hiking and assume if I get really cold when I stop I'll jump into my sleeping bag in the tent (I bring separate sleeping clothes). Rain pants would just make me sweat too much. I always bring a rain jacket in the Sierra, but not for short trips in other areas where the weather is predictable.
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wanderboth
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Post by wanderboth on Aug 12, 2015 18:12:14 GMT -8
Rain gear is one of those things that's light enough to carry everywhere. I'd advise to never start a backpacking trip without it, simply because you'll never look back and think "I regret hauling around my rain gear".
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driftwoody
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Post by driftwoody on Aug 13, 2015 8:50:28 GMT -8
The only jacket I use for backpacking is my rainshell, and I always carry it. I usually carry rainpants too, unless there's no chance of cold temps. In warmer weather I sometimes carry a Montbell UL umbrella.
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Post by ecocentric on Aug 14, 2015 4:30:09 GMT -8
Same here, almost always a jacket but occasionally a poncho. Pants only when cold temps are a possibility.
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Post by Dynteryx on Aug 20, 2015 18:11:36 GMT -8
Absolutely. Lightweight rain gear also serves as a windbreaker when at elevation and at night when things cool off dramatically.
Never even considered going without it. That said, I'm always at elevation on my trips and always encounter rain.
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markskor
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Mammoth Lakes & Tuolumne Meadows...living the dream
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Post by markskor on Aug 20, 2015 19:24:00 GMT -8
Always carry a waterproof shell with hood - 2.5 Gortex, as part of my Sierra layering system.
Long sleeve hiking shirt, a fleece layer, down vest, and the shell...BTW, better to buy the shell one size larger to fit comfortably over the rest.
As for rain pants...carried X-country ski pants as my rain pants - light - all summer long (73 bag nights!), but only wore them but once - on horseback while being "spot-packed" in, Sawtooths.
Other than that, the pants served me best as pillow stuffing...live in shorts.
If serious rain, usually just head for the tent.
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Post by 1camper on Aug 21, 2015 15:57:32 GMT -8
That's what I'm saying...if I'm backpacking, I have good shelter, and I really don't like hiking in the rain. I'd much rather watch a hard rain from good shelter than try to carry all my stuff in it. I guess if I was on some tight schedule.. but not as a rule.
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