Best Hiking Rain Gear - Not What You Expect

Here's what's worked well for me over the last few years of hiking in rainy and wet conditions.

00:00 Footwear
00:27 Hat
00:52 Rain Shells
02:24 Umbrellas
03:05 Packs
03:35 Navigation

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@NRSWEB @EnlightenedEquipment @BlackDiamondEquipmentLtd @darntoughvermont121 @SundayAfternoonsHats @zpacksofficial @SixMoonDesignsUS

When it comes to hiking in the rain, I've learned a thing or two about keeping dry and comfortable. Let's start from the ground up. Instead of relying on pricey GORE-TEX boots, I've found regular breathable trail runners paired with neoprene socks to be surprisingly effective. They let my feet get wet without sacrificing warmth, and they keep pesky debris at bay.

Now, onto headgear. The Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure Storm Hat has been a game-changer for me. Its wide brim not only shields my eyes from rain but also prevents water from trickling down my neck. Plus, it's compact enough to stash in my pack until needed – perfect for sudden downpours or a bit of shade.

As for rain shells, I've put quite a few to the test, and the Enlightened Equipment Visp stands out. Sure, it's a bit on the pricier side and lacks pockets, but its lightweight and breathable design make it worth every penny. For those seeking a more budget-friendly option with added convenience, the Black Diamond StormLine Stretch Rain Shell is a solid choice.

When it comes to staying dry from the waist down, I opt for the REI Co-op Trail Rain Pants. They're simple, effective, and easily slip over my existing attire thanks to the elastic waistband. And for those torrential downpours, I turn to my trusty Frogg Toggs rain suit – affordable and reliable, though not the most breathable.

Now, let's talk about unconventional rain protection: hiking umbrellas. While they may seem impractical in windy conditions, models like the Six Moon Designs Rain Walker offer durability and a comfortable grip. Paired with a water-resistant pack and protected electronics, I'm equipped to navigate even the soggiest trails.

Lastly, a word of appreciation for your support. None of the gear I recommend was handed to me for free – I've invested in each piece to ensure its quality and usefulness. So, if you're considering any of my suggestions, using the links on my gear page helps support my efforts to provide honest reviews and practical advice. Thanks for joining me on this journey, and remember to stay safe out there on the trails.

[Hikingguy]

What gear do you use that I should check out?

[widezyp]

Thanks for not wasting our time. Short simple and informativ. Perfect.

[Leonard_Davinci]

Grrrreat video! Short, sweet, plus actual demo of products mentioned. PLUS links to products! 👍👍👍👍👍

[RegEdmunds]

My greatest regret is spending money on a rain jacket and hiking trousers. Nowadays, I always use a poncho with a full length zip. Mine is from Spain, an Altus and cost me £40. It covers me and my rucksack and if condensation occurs I just open the zip in a rain lull and the inside dries rapidly. For me, ideal!

[colacadm]

I like the 'quick and dirty' information rather than wasting too much time with 'fluff'.

[FlyWithMe_]

Rain hat: I bought the OR Seattle (Gore Tex) rain hat like 2 yrs ago. I was only indended for hiking, but it has become my choice also for commuting etc on rainy days and also snow (Scandinavia). Keeps your head 100% dry, folds down quite small, I can wear a beanie under it during winter, and a huge benefit if you’re wearing glasses as it keeps raindrops/snow away from them. On the expensive side, but a clear recommendation.

[backpacker]

Looks a lot like my loadout. I like the Seattle Sombrero by OR for light weight rain hat, but if I'm out for a weekend and don't care, I have a great waxed canvas Filson that just fits so well and looks too good to leave at home.
I lke the rain shell stuff by either Zpacks or EE, but I think EE is a bit better, and if I'm expecting a lot of rain, I'll take the rain mitts too and a hiking umbrella (don't even know what kind I have I've had it so long)
I use an Ultra backpack by ULA now. I did used to use both a liner and a pack cover - the pack cover isn't really meant to keep things totally dry so much as it's meant to prevent MOST of the pack fabric from absorbing a ton of water weight. But with Ultra or DCF, that's not really an issue, so now it's just a liner for me.
I ususally just put my map in a ziploc and yes, I always work with a paper map as backup except on a couple trails that I've hiked so many times I never need one.

[jond]

I use a series of dry bags and trash bags in my pack to keep things that shouldn't get wet from getting wet. For a rainshell, I've had a decathlon Quechua full zip rain shell (their $25 version) for several years and it has been phenomenal. It's held up great with anything from backpacking to sitting in the bleachers for kid's athletic events. Good breathability built in too!

[rkatrails]

I have a Eddie Bauer Storm Baseball Cap. I like to wear it under the hood of my rain jacket instead of a regular ball cap that would soak through when wet. I also carry a couple of vinyl coated paper clips to hold the cap bill to the hood in strong winds.

[RegEdmunds]

I had a sun hat like yours, I left it in a restaurant in Biarritz two years ago and never saw it again.

[aphextwin]

My strategy for light rain at least is not to keep the water out but to wear stuff that still warms you even when soaked (the neoprene socks mentioned here follow the same principle). Icebreaker has (or had?) so-called merinoloft jackets that not only are very lightweight and can be packed really small, but that keep you somewhat warm even when wet. My innermost layer is going to be wet anyway thanks to sweat.

[Oldsparkey]

The reflective umbrellas I have had a one ( actually 2 ) I purchased when Go Lite closed up shop, many, many years ago. They were half price and after all these years the one is still going strong and the 2nd one is set aside as a spare. Funny thing about water prof footwear, being water proof it keeps water is as well as out. My go to hat when hiking or canoeing is a Tilley Air Flow.

[mtadams]

As a gram counter I have a Zpacks rain jacket and it works fine but going forward I will probably get something a little more heavy duty. Only one pocket is a bit much and the material is super thin. I live on the east coast and rain is a way of life.

[jensastrup]

Thanks for the tips. One question, though - don’t you get blisters when you let your feet get wet?

[JarradShaw]

❤. That was great. Thank you.
If not too costly, please look at OV’s new Vario rain jacket. You may like it as well.

[Swimdeep]

I adore my UV umbrella so much I have two of them; one for backpacking that clips on for hands-free and one full size for urban walks. Works great in all conditions. The travel edition is a bit heavier than the umbrellas you mentioned but it really holds up in the wind.🌿

[makb]

I love my Darn Tough blister free socks. I use them with regular Brooks Cascadia and yes my feet get wet but Cascadia are great at expelling water and sock keep blisters away and stay warm. As far as my light weight new love, Rainrunner jacket from Janji. It has a ventilation flap all around the back and front. It keeps the rain out and allows ventilation because we all know that there is no such a thing as breathable waterproof jacket. I also always now carry foldable, lightweight gortex mittens to keep my hands dry and warm in addition to carrying thin liner gloves that I always use during cooler summer or even when hot with my BD Z poles with adjustable height. I always wear Velcro adjustable baseball cap by Brooks or Adidas to keep the rain or snow off my glasses. My new addition this year is Rudy Project Rydon with RX docking system trifocals extra active brown transition lenses with silver flash mirror coating. Those work well for depth perception and for sun as well as working well for winter with snow in a dark or bright sun. Glasses are wrap around type and as far as I know those and Oakley are the only one that make strong RX lenses in wrap around sport type of glasses. Docking allows to switch to normal lenses if one wants to use contacts with different non RX color lenses

[peterbedford]

Frogg togg rain jacket. Yeah its cheap. But very low cost and it works for the very little cost and pretty warm.

[keithwibel]

I’d be interested in the Epic water filter bottle. I was on a trip with a guide trained in search and rescue. The Epic filter was easy and safe. Just fill the water bottle and sip through the straw. The filter is in the bottle.

[kiench]

Thanks for sharing these. My hunt for a good gortex hiking boots landed on Altra Olympus though the Topo is good too.

I’ve not never thought about the neoprene socks and wonder if it works with a staple teva. I’ve tried waterproof socks by sealskin and good.

Love how you mention the backpack cover doesn’t work and instead use liners inside. Problem is, the shoulder strap gets wet and soggy and not a good feel.