If you’re hiking in a steady downpour, you
will eventually get soaked, no matter what
you’re wearing. But you can stay drier
longer with these simple tips:
- Push up your sleeves. If you’re
wearing long sleeves under your rain
jacket, push them up your forearms or
above the elbow to prevent cuff-leaking
water from wicking up the fabric
and into your layers.
- Your wrists are a common leak point.
Tightly seal the cuffs on your rain
jacket or water will slowly find its
way in.
- Ventilate to the max. Forget about
your jacket being “breathable” once
incessant rain saturates the outer
layer of fabric. To compensate, fully
open pit zips if you’ve got them,
loosen the jacket around your waist
so air can flow freely upward, and
open the top zipper as much as conditions
allow.
- Accept wet feet. Even fully waterproof
boots will fill with moisture as water
wicks down your socks. Long rain
pants and/or waterproof gaiters help
stave off the inevitable, but even they
will eventually be breached.
- Consider an umbrella. In a sustained
deluge, an ultralight hiking
umbrella may actually be your best
protection.
This column originally appeared in the print edition of AMC Outdoors along with the column "Choosing the Right Rain Gear."
Photograph from iStock.
Labels: Clothing, Hiking, Rain Gear