Small adjustments in how you wear your rain gear can make a big impact in keeping you dry.
Spring hiking season is here, and for many of us that means hours spent walking in the rain. Good rain gear is critical, but even the best of the best can’t keep us 100 percent dry in sustained precipitation. Whether it’s a trickle down the neck, or self-generated humidity, everyone is guaranteed to at least get damp eventually. However, there are lots of minor adjustments you can make in how you wear your rain gear that will help keep a little more water out and get you that much closer to 100 percent dry. Here are 10 of those adjustments.
1. Wear a cap under your rain jacket’s hood.
This creates an awning to keep rain out of your eyes and from trickling off your face and down your neck. Look for synthetic caps that dry quickly and absorb little to no water.
2. Cuff the hem of your hiking pants and shirt sleeves underneath your rain paints and jacket.
It’s important to keep your non-waterproof layers from sliding out underneath your shell, as they will quickly start to absorb water. Cuffing ensures they won’t escape their protective layers and provides a buffer zone between what is wet and what is dry.
3. Leave your pit zips open as their default setting.
In most light-medium rain, the venting benefits of pit zips will outweigh whatever tiny amount of water can sneak in under your arms. Only in heavy rain, in a strong side wind, or when bushwacking is it worth closing the pit zips.
RELATED: Why We Need To Get Over Bad Weather And Just Get Outdoors
4. Set wrist straps to comfortably tight.
The goal is to prevent your rain jacket’s sleeves from riding up. Sleeve ride up results in exposed wrists that will then get the inside of your jacket’s sleeves wet once they're back in place.
5. Tuck your undershirt into your rain pants.
Just like cuffing your sleeves or pants, the goal here is to prevent the hem of your shirt from draping below your jacket or becoming exposed to the elements if your jacket should ever ride up. Another benefit is that rain pants often have an elastic waist band that is uncomfortable to wear directly against your skin. This helps prevent chafing.
6. Store your rain gear on the outside of your pack.
It’s important to keep your rain gear handy so it can be accessed as soon as the rain starts. Comparatively, storing rain gear inside your pack’s main compartment will cause you to get wet while you fish it out, and even worse, allow water to enter the pack.
7. In very light rain, wear your hood like a collar.
Any time the rain is bad enough to justify a jacket, but too warm or light enough to justify wearing a hood, it’s worth rolling the hood up like a collar. This prevents rain from collecting in the hood like a bucket and from pouring down the back of your neck when the rain gets worse and you decide it’s time to wear the hood.
8. If you’re using waterproof gaiters to protect against rain, wear them under your rain pants.
This creates a shingle effect that keeps the rain flowing down and out. Wearing gaiters over your rain pants can allow water to trickle down in between the two, eventually landing on your socks or down your boot.
9. If possible, when putting a rain jacket on, take another layer off.
Rain jackets are warm and sweaty enough with only a base layer, especially during warmer months. If you were already wearing a mid layer, let your rain jacket replace it, not add to it.
RELATED: How To Care For Your Rain Jacket
10. Set the elastic drawcord hem to prevent jacket ride up.
Most rain jackets can cinch at the hem, but tightening doesn’t always make it less likely to ride up as you hike. Every jacket interacts differently with every body shape and every backpack. Next time you’re wearing your jacket, see if tightening or loosening at the hem helps keep it in place better.
Hopefully these tips will help keep you a little bit drier and a little bit happier next time you find yourself slogging through the rain. Oh, and don’t forget to zip up your pockets!
A note on shopping for rain gear:If you enjoy staying dry, it’s imperative that your jacket and pants aren’t too small. Due to its waterproof construction, most rain gear has little to no stretch, which means that large steps or reaches can expose wrists and ankles. To prevent this, make sure everything fits a little loose, with more than enough room for added layers underneath. When shopping online, if you’re in between sizes, or a jacket is noted to run small, it’s probably best to err on the side of caution and size up.
For my personal recommendation, I point everyone to the ultralight, minimalistMen’s Helium Rain JacketandWomen’s Helium Rain Jacketand theMen's Helium Rain PantsandWomen's Helium Rain Pants. With virtually no downside, they provide the same waterproof/breathable protection as a fully featured rain shell, but at half the weight. For hiking with certainty into exceptionally stormy conditions, I recommend the burlier Gore-Tex Foray and Aspire Jackets orthe highly breathable Motive Ascentshell.
FAQs
Invest in a lightweight waterproof shell jacket to stay dry on cold, rainy runs and during other rainy day activities. These jackets may not breathe as well as running-specific ones, but they are best at keeping rain out. For warmer rainy runs, try an ultra lightweight rain-resistant running jacket or vest.
What is a 3 layer rain jacket? ›
A 3 layer jacket is the cream of the crop. It features a bonded waterproof/breathable membrane on the underside of the outer shell fabric and an interior fabric layer bonded to the membrane. These jackets are much lighter than 2 layer jackets, and more breathable than 2.5 layer jackets, but tend to be more expensive.
Why is my raincoat no longer waterproof? ›
Most times, it's dirt and crud that are covering the water-repellent coating, making your jacket soak up water. Also important to note, using household detergents to clean can leave behind residues that attract water, so it's important to use a technical cleaner for items with water-repellent coatings.
How can I look good in the rain? ›
To expand your outfit potential, keep fabric and color in mind. For instance, going with water-resistant materials (rather than super absorbent ones) and natural fibers will keep you dry and happy. Also, darker colors are usually preferred over lighter shades since they wear better if they happen to get wet.
Is low gear better for rain? ›
Slippery Roads: During inclement weather, low gear adds control over your car's speed without having to accelerate or brake suddenly, which would cause you to lose traction over slick roadways.
Why do raincoats stop working? ›
For the water vapour to escape effectively it is important that the outer surface of the material is not saturated with water. To prevent this your jacket is treated with a DWR coating (Durable Water Repellancy), but this coating wears off over time and needs to be replaced.
How do you refresh rain gear? ›
After washing, place it back in the dryer on low or medium heat for 20 minutes to reactivate the DWR finish. Warm-iron alternative: If you don't have a clothes dryer or your care instructions require hanging to dry, you can use a clothes iron to revive the DWR.
Can you make a coat more waterproof? ›
After washing the jacket, rinse it, and hang it while it's still wet. Now comes the time for re-waterproofing: Spray the jacket—and spray it really well—with a waterproofing spray. I like ReviveX Spray-On Water Repellent. Then put the jacket in the dryer, and when it comes out, it should be hydrophobic again.
Are Rains jackets 100% waterproof? ›
#3 What are Rains jackets made from? Rains jackets are designed to not only be completely waterproof but also lightweight.
What is the highest level of waterproof jacket? ›
20,000mm. Jackets with a rating of 20,000mm are suitable for extremely heavy rain. Whilst still breathable, these jackets may come with an underarm ventilation system and multiple layers of fabric for more protection.
Generally, it takes longer to stitch and tape fabric together, which makes them more expensive than other garments. But the unique fabrics that high-end brands use come at a cost too.
Why are raincoats always yellow? ›
For the seamen, the yellow colouring seemed to stick. It was ideal for increasing the visibility of the fishermen in the event of fog or stormy seas, along with being altogether more practical and lightweight. As a result, yellow rubberised raincoats became iconically coastal.
What is the best washing liquid for waterproof jackets? ›
We recommend Nikwax or Grangers. It is also important to make sure your machine is free of detergent from the last wash. Check the drawer and, if in doubt, run a short hot empty wash to clear the system.
Should I put my raincoat in the dryer? ›
Drying your waterproof gear is very simple, the key is to make sure not to get anything too hot - high heat can damage the fabric and membrane. Run your dryer on medium or low heat for about half an hour. If your jacket is still wet, hang dry it. Don't hang dry in direct sun, it can overheat and fade your gear.
Should I use 4H or 4l in rain? ›
You may be wondering about the 4H meaning. This setting is for optimizing traction at the cost of power. Use it when you're dealing with slippery conditions on otherwise good roads, such as ice or rain. 4Hi should never be used below 15 mph.
Should I use 4H in rain? ›
Yes, 4-wheel drive improves handling and traction in slippery road conditions including mud, ice, snow, and rain. The 4wd will feel more sure-footed and secure in slippery, oily conditions because all 4 wheels are propelling the vehicle forward. The only time 4WD is an advantage is in mud, snow or on unsurfaced roads.
Should I drive in D3 in the rain? ›
Engaging to the D3 gear will limit the speed to the third gear, which is ideal for cruising. You can also apply the same trick during heavy rainfall when you may need to slow down often.
What is the best way to drive in the rain? ›
- Slow down! ...
- Turn on your lights. ...
- Keep a greater distance between you and the car in front of you. ...
- Use your windshield wipers. ...
- Check the tread of your vehicle's tires. ...
- Treat broken traffic lights like stop signs. ...
- Know what to do if your car hydroplanes/aquaplanes! ...
- Don't tailgate, no matter how much they deserve it.
