The Biggest PROBLEM with Modern Rain Gear 

Check out the ENGWE M20 Electric Bike: geni.us/3qZ8Fyc And be sure to take advantage of the 9th Anniversary Promotion: bit.ly/3MbemfC Gear Used in this video: Traditional Rain Jacket: geni.us/FmqcarZ Traditional Rain Pants: geni.us/aBiNZq Umbrella: geni.us/pDMZsn2 Rain Kilt: geni.us/tlqM8cr Rain Cover: geni.us/AN73 Black Hoodie I'm Wearing: geni.us/EGWb9nd

I'm surprised no one has mentioned that a rain jacket also protects you from the wind, reducing wind chill and hopefully not getting cold.

This is pretty specific to covered trails in moderate to warm weather. I'm sure umbrellas are great when you have enough clearance and coverage from trees. Even a moderate wind would make you question that choice, even more when you are in an open clearing. When I lived in Ireland I learned really quick why nobody owns umbrellas.

When I was hiking the Appalachian trail, I tried fully covering up the first time it rained. I ended up soaked with sweat after a few minutes. From then on I would just take rain as a chance for a free shower, and only use my jacket when it was windy or cold. This was mostly in the summer, so hypothermia was less of an issue. When we got cold rain in the fall, the only thing to do was cover up and move slowly enough that we didn’t sweat much.

The umbrella's greatest weakness is wind, which can make it practically unusable. Personally, I carry both. Umbrella provides better ventilation, jacket provides better coverage and hands-free use.

As a bike courier in Vancouver, I soon realised that Gore-tex is neither waterproof or breathable when you're riding hard all day. After much experimenting my approach could be summed up as "since I can't avoid getting wet, I need to stay warm when wet and speed up drying time". The colder months of December and January (which are mild by canadian standards) where it's 2 degrees and raining, were the only time I wore a Gore-tex rain jacket, though it was a must to stay warm. Throughout the spring and fall months, wicking long sleeve shirts, a very thin fleece and the MEC Samurai Vest made entirely out of Cordura was the way to go. The setup would keep my warm and not overheated. Even when I'd get soaked, which is unavoidable, I would be mostly dry within 10-15 minutes during lunch. Polypropylene, cordura, fleece and wool socks were essentials while rain gear was practically the worst thing to wear until you got to April where it would be 6 degrees and rain for 33 straight days.

Sometimes I see someone with an umbrella in 100+ degrees in the scorching sun and I think to myself "you clever bastard".

I was once based in the Philippines. During the rainy season, I tried increasing impenetrable rain gear to keep dry. Finally, I found something that worked. The problem was, it's so hot there that I arrived soaked with sweat instead of rain. At that point I gave up on keeping dry. Instead, I carried extra clothes and just got wet. 😅

Just a fun idea: your skin is mostly waterproof and dries alot faster than wet clothing. If you are hiking in summer, try stripping down when it starts to rain. I remember as a kid that we were out on a hike with friends and my best friend stripped down to his underwear when it started to rain. While everyone of us got really wet and drenched, his clothes stayed dry. It was the peak of august, so 30°, thus cooling out was no worry.

I see a lot of people discussing umbrellas and wind. Surprised no one has mentioned the Storm Umbrella. Developed by a University student in the Netherlands (TU Delft). It works really well, obviously in the Netherlands we get a LOT of wind but this one is undeterred and you can even cycle with it just fine. Think the original is by Senz company but probably a lot more out there these days.

I agree with the poncho. It took a long time for me to appreciate it. I spent years in combat units and a couple years overseas. It was when I came home and used traditional rain gear while being outdoorsy... that I realized how much the poncho did for me. Its a transformer. Having a tent like place to tuck into to perform tasks is invaluable. You ever try to use a smartphone with wet hands? Tuck into your poncho, dry your hands, then pull your phone out and use it while inside of the poncho. Or taking a break, setting up a small stove... having the ponch to go from rain jacket to tarp like mini tent is just the way to go. Its always in my EDC bag.

I think more people should consider an umbrella as a solution for sunburn while hiking as well. As long as you don't need your hands for climbing, I prefer an umbrella over coating myself in sunblock as suntan lotion on your face and arms gets gross feeling on a hot day as well, and the umbrella keeps direct sun off your face and arms, so you are cooler.

Before a pilgrimage, my wife and I were faced with a similar question. After some research, we decided on an umbrella with UV protection (Swing liteflex trekking umbrella). This experience completely changed my view on the subject and I have been totally enthusiastic about it ever since! On hot days, you can use the umbrella as an absolutely solid source of shade. When it rains, the umbrella is big enough to keep you almost completely dry. You can also attach it securely to your rucksack and have your hands free. The umbrella in your video seems a bit too small to really do its job when hiking! Try a bigger one. It's fantastic.

Capes were made for a reason. I've got a 70s era German rain cloak, and it works wonders. And being a cloak, it can also double as a tarp when camping.

I'm not a really experienced hiker but I found that using a cheap rain poncho was the best. It has open sides so I can air out on the sides and I can place it over my backpack as well so it covers me and the backpack but lets me remain cool.

As someone who is out twice every day of the year in all weathers here in the rainy U.K., I go through an awful lot of waterproof gear and figured out a long time ago that the big brand waterproof jackets are complete rubbish. They never take long to fail. Thank you for all your effort, it is much appreciated. : )))

Poncho, kilt, wool cape. That was always the point of these items in ancient/ye olde times. The idea was that the mass and natural water resistance of wool lanolin would keep the traveler dry enough to prevent them from becoming soaked, and possibly keep them completely dry. They also are loose-fitting and allow evaporated sweat to escape and are naturally breathable. They also don't hold condensation well because of the massive surface area of wool. When people think wool, they think warm, and that's true to a point. However, the different thicknesses of cloaks, kilts, ponchos, etc. would keep the wearer cooler or warmer in different climates. I'd highly recommend giving one a try, at the risk of looking like a Jacobite rebel or a hobbit taking a ring to Mordor.

A over clothing rain poncho is amazing, like those old military ones. It goes over you, your pack and gear. And since it has plenty of space between your body as it’s not something you wear per say, but drape over yourself, has proven to solves all this problems and more. Old Surplus Military gear can be and effective gear setup, I recommend

Umbrella is a multi-tool. You have a rain shield. A sun shield. Can collect rain water for drinking. You have a walking stick. You have a hook. It’s the single most useful tool to have on a serious hike. Get one with a knife in the handle as you’re set.

Too much wind here for me to try that. If the umbrella doesn't turn inside out the wind will just blow the rain all over me anyway

"Only one solution." I've provide another alternative that I used during my decades working in MT/WY large wildernesses. Note: this is for the physically intense labor of clearing trails, digging trails, and hard hiking while leading pack stock. I knew I was going to get wet from sweat regardless of wearing rain gear and an umbrella was completely impractical. So I would wear wool layers on my upper body and rain pants for the the constant brushing against wet brush. I would get wet, but the warmth I generated by hard work kept me sufficiently warm and more comfortable than clammy rain gear. I would have a dry change of clothes for when I hit camp with rain gear to wear during the low activity part of the day. This would work well for the PNW were you were hiking and the warmer months in the intermountain west. If I was inactive, e.g. riding I would wear rain gear as an umbrella and pack stock aren't really compatible. I do own both a Golite umbrella and CF rain skirt for simple back packing.

Here is a secret: GoreTex is water tight OR breathable. Not water tight AND breathable. When the GoreTex surface is covered by water, it won't breathe anymore.

My dad hiked the E5 long distance trail through the Alps like 20 years ago. It rained and they wore jackets etc, then they met a guy that was painting the trail markers. He wore t-shirt, shorts, and had an umbrella. He said its the only way to truly stay dry.

Here in Norway we use wet equipment and dry equipment. Wet is for walking dry or wet, typically Goretex jacket with wool shirt and trousers if it’s cold. Then we have a set dry wool and dry wind protection jacket. Not much weight. For protection when eating from rain and wind we use a 6x4 feet tarp that’s rain protected with a layer aluminum on the inside to sit under to shield ourself from wind and rain. Once inside body temperature quickly dry wet wool shirt on body, and we are warm. The tarp can be used as a poncho aswell, or used over the tent as an extra layer on top if there’s a lot of rain. Easy.

Poncho is a radical and ideal solution, as it is almost completely water-proof, and it is large enough to protect both your body from head to feet, and the backpack too, providing at the same time good body ventilation as it is not tight. It is also easier to wear/unwear than a jacket. I have a 60-liter poncho which weighs around 300g and has a water-proof capacity of 2000 mm, which can protect from a 2-hour heavy rain.

Historically, wool was great for outerwear because it’s somewhat water-repellent, but it also can absorb a truly stupid amount of water before feeling wet. It can get heavy from this, but you are drier than you’d be with plastic. Also, combining that with a linen underlayer, which is great at wicking away sweat while also being antimicrobial, helps a lot too. It’s maybe not perfect, but out ancestors would have looked askance at the plastic raincoat hotbox approach, too.

I gave up on breathable rain gear years ago. While on 80 mile bike ride in a heavy rain and the temperature just above freezing and traveling fast, my jacket totally delaminated. The warm body vapor passing through the fabric hitting the cold rain caused the fabric to fail. This has also happened to my son on a trip he was on. I have found a better solution is to forgo rain gear and only use it in camp. I now use Wool that I lanolize. I wear a wide brim felted wool, Western style hat, sometimes called a cowboy hat. Sometimes I carry a traditional Crusher hat, made of felted wool that folds and easy to carry. A good European felted wool will get damp, but never leaks and keeps the head warm and water out of the face. On my upper body I wear a tight weave wool shirt. Wool when wet retains 80% of its insolation value. Did you ever see a sheep shivering? While bike touring, or hiking, in warmish weather I sometimes I wear a short sleeve loose weave wool shirt. I would rather be wet and warm in wool than sweaty and clammy in raingear. While kayaking in S.E. Alaska it sometimes rains for nonstop for days. After a while you don't realize when it is raining or has stopped raining, strange as that sounds. But my Woolrich tight weave wool shirt never fails me. There is rain and then there is rain so heavy, ice cold and wind driven you are forced to stop because you can't see six ahead. That is why I carry my tent rain fly on any type of trip where it is easy to reach to protect myself. Studies show that a double layer of wool triples the rain protection and warmth.

I finally tried an umbrella and I will never be without one. It is pretty easy to attach an umbrella to a pack. Even around camp I found it was so handy to quickly keep the rain off of something I didn't want to get wet. It bought me time and I could just set it down if the rain stops.

Another good technique is having a a wet outfit and dry outfit. Sounds crazy but it’s what was taught to me in Ranger school and works quite well. Because you can easily overheat or get soaked from sweat while moving with waterproof outer layers (granted this assumes you have a heavy pack and/or moving briskly) you instead have one outfit that you wear while moving that is warm, breathable, and not waterproof. It gets wet and unless it dries stays wet. Your movement and body heat keeps you warm and can also even dry it if the rain ceases. Then when you’ve gotten to your next base camp, patrol base etc and are stationary you switch into your dry clothes with your waterproof shit on. It can make for some extremely uncomfortable moments during cold mornings when you have to change back into the semi-frozen, damp wet outfit at the beginning of your movement tho lol.

The condensation issue in breathable jackets is not just an issue in cold weather, it's an even bigger one in warm weather. You very rapidly completely overpower whatever level of breathability it has. I've spent a lot of time in cold climates and hot, humid tropical climates, and things like GoreTex works *much* better in the colder climates than in the warmer ones. In warmer weather I tend to use an umbrella and a poncho (an actual poncho, not that silly unzipped jacket, when I can, or just get wet. Sometimes that latter is the best option in terms of comfort and practicality (an umbrella does not at all work when you're dealing with fieldwork in a secondary growth hilly jungle). A proper rain poncho has a few key advantages. It can cover your pack (which also means more ventilation for you), and you can quickly turn it into an impromptu tarp to cover a sitting area when you're taking a break.

An alternative with less messing about is to go for clothing with directional technology like Buffaloe or Paramo. I hate clammy sweat and also hate carrying extra kit. I use a Paramo smock 3.5 seasons, and Buffalo jacket in the snow. There's also a safety bonus. If you have the misfortune to fall into water, (once you get out) the Buffalo kit continues to keep you warm.

My partner and I attached an umbrella to a hiking pole. The extended pole allows us to hold it more easily when the umbrella is open while also doubling up as a hiking pole when closed. The wind can make the umbrella more challenging to use but can be managed if you actively angle it in the right direction. The other thing I wanted to mention is that an umbrella is helpful in the sun as well as the rain. We make sure to bring our umbrella-hiking pole when we're in the desert and any trail that has little to no tree cover.

I've used an umbrella for 6-7 years on many backpacking trips in Alaska, JMT, Oregon and the French alps. An added benefit is keeping your glasses dry, not having to rely on a hat or hood to keep your head dry in the rain, and protecting a camera or binoculars in a light rain. I also carry/use a rain jacket, rain pants or chaps, and a home made rain kilt, and rain mitts depending on conditions. I almost always attach the umbrella to my pack so my hands are free. Sure the wind is too strong at times, but don't diss it until you try one. Only a sturdy full size lightweight umbrella with fiberglass or carbon fiber struts, not a folding "travel" umbrella. Zpacks, Six moon Designs, Gossamer gear all have good ones. 6.5-8 oz. And they are also great for shade on hot sunny hikes.

Your channel is pure gold and superior to other "review oriented" channels because of the scientific approach. Subscribed, greetings from Germany.

I love my umbrella and use it frequently, with and without a rain shell (frogg toggs Extreme lite) depending on the conditions. But there is an alternative you didn't mention. Growing up in Hilo Hawaii, people would visit and when they realize how often it rains they would ask "what do you do when it rains?" To which we answer: "Get wet." If you change your plans because it is raining you would never do anything. In the tropics and even in other areas (e.g. just did the Trans Catalina Trail 50F and rain/fog, and I live in the PNW), in the right conditions, wearing material that dries quickly I can simply get wet without care. I do carry a dry base layer for sleeping in, but that is part of my normal gear anyway. If as an adult, you haven't spent the day walking in the rain, soaked to the bone, and splashing in the puddles like a 5 year old...I feel sorry for you. You have no idea what you are missing. ;-D

After trying out many different set-ups in my very rainy home country Germany, I ended up with: - Umbrella (Doppler Zero at 99 grams) - Rain Kilt Vertice (Zpacks at 68 grams) - Calve Gaiters Vertice (Zpacks modified at 51 grams) - unfortunately the vertice version is no longer available and a - Rain jacket (Berghaus Hyper 100 XL at 111 grams) Rain Kilt and Calve Gaiters together are nearly as protective as rain pants. In total 329 grams (11.61 oz), but I have all the possibilities for all kinds of weather situations 😎

Thanks for the very informative video. I'm a big fan of using a poncho and have been doing so for at least 35 years. Many years ago I got a North Face Gortex rain jacket and never liked it while hiking. It trapped sweat and was always hot and clammy. These days I use a poncho while hiking. I use the ultra-light Frogg Togg rain jacket in camp. The poncho also has the advantage of being used as an emergency shelter. I'll have to try an umbrella but they seem to be hard to use if it is windy and difficult to use if you are using trekking poles.

Tried everything mentioned. Great point on the umbrella at camp!👍 IMO, the ultimate solution, yet, is a Dyneema poncho with straps and an inner fabric/mesh layer. Waterproof + stable in wind + warm at camp + ventilation + cover backpack + whatever you ask for, BUT, likely very expensive😂

As someone who has traveled /hiked solo for decades and just couldn't carry everything, I find that a rain jacket is absolutely important unless it's never ever dropping below 22C (72F). Any cool wind can chill you fast, even to hypothermia especially when stopped. I tend to travel longer term also, rather than short hikes - so that rain jacket is just good all round warmth that I can layer. BUT I find my most important thing is NOT using the rainjacket hat and using a separate one. So much more comfort but also a lot more breathability. And then if it's really coming down I throw the rain hood over a small hat and it helps hold the jacket hood in a better position. I bought an umbrella for my last trip with the idea of protection from the sun in high heat places (egypt, jordan etc) as well as super rain (Georgia in the caucasus would have been a bit nice) but ended up not bothering bringing it.

My granpa was a fisherman from the north coast of Norway, where you would guess, can be pretty wet and cold at the same time. And doing fishermans job can make you break a hard sweat when reeling in the fish to reach the quotas and beat the storms. I always wondered why he rarely got sick and and such as I live aswell in a pretty humid and temperate area. He told me, always to being extra change and a solid raincoat, the 100% proof ones. And Managing the heat is the key. Always wear appropiate layers of clothes and change when you start breaking a sweat. Technically, use your underlayer of clothes as a Heatsink. Once things get to hot, take a short break and switch t shirt as an example. And carry on. The new cool and dry t shirt not only absorbs the moisture, but the short break and quick switching of underlayers flushes the heat and sort of "resets" you. During long hauls he would often re use the switched out clothing after leaving it nearby to "dry" off if he didnt have enough shirts. And this is why, consider I also work a lot of outdoors, often in remote areas, i always make sure to pack a few extra undershirts and my trusty super sized umbrella. Once i start feeling that wetness coming down from my back area, thats the qeue to go and quickly change, and thats where the supersized umbrella comes in sorta working as a quick impromptu tent to change even if its a downpour. Tl;Dr: Old saying goes; always bring a fresh set of clothes to change to.

My wife and I did Four Pass Loop last August. We took all rain gear but mostly used the umbrellas. It was way more convenient to grab during the small drizzles and helped with the sun exposure

I have used umbrellas for 40 years now even in the foothills in the Himalayas (where all the locals use them). For $10 they deal with most sun and rain problems. They are very easy to attach to the rucksack shoulder strap, if you're practically minded. Most of my treks are 3 weeks or more and I would never go without a lightweight umbrella/parasol.

In 1990, I bought a water-repellent (impregnated with fish oil - took it years to lose the scent) 100% cotton wide-brimmed hat, which I've been using instead of an umbrella - it frees my hands, always on my head anyways, and is good even nowadays against rain (I did not re-apply fish-oil to re-impregnate it..) - the one drawback is you might want a lanyard to be able to secure it in strong or gusty wind.

As a mountain biker watching your channel, please make sure you are careful when riding motor bikes on Mountain bike trails. Most often they are not accepted on sanctioned mtb trails because they destroy the work that the builders spent a lot of time and money on

I hike regularly for around 20-25 years now, and I learned a lot. I live in a temperate continental/oceanic climate region. When hiking, I never use any rain coat or jacket. I know that I sweat excessively, so I will be soaking wet under the jacket anyway. If it's summertime and warm, it is not really a problem - change the shirt after the rain, and I am good to go. If the weather is cold, I put on a wool sweather. It will be wet, but it is able to keep me warm enough to avoid getting a cold. If it is cold winter time, I put on a plain thin polyesther jacket with rolled-up sleeves to keep my core wind-free.

Keep is Simple Sam. Umbrella and a poncho it works for me 60 years ago. I also have a Gore Tex jacket that has lasted for 15 years. It is very thin and light weight.

I learned this the hard way trekking in N. Vietnam . The heat and humidity had me soaked to the bone in my goretex and hiking boots. Luckily I'm a quick learner and I quickly adopted the local garb, shorts, tee shirt, flip-flops and an umbrella. Lesson learned.

I find umbrellas work well until the conditions get windy enough. Either the umbrella catches the wind and eventually breaks, or the rain ends up at an angle difficult to block with the umbrella. Not as ventilated as a poncho, but a rain jacket with pit zips helps with ventilation as well.

My three-season+ silver bullet is an umbrella with hands-free attachment, optional rain pants or kilt, and a hammock/tarp setup. In camp, the tarp goes up first and I can do that while getting minimally wet. Then I have a sheltered spot to do everything else I need to do (cook, set up my hammock, etc). I can wear normal insulation layers to stay warm, like a fleece - add a wind shirt if it's windy. If I need to leave the tarp to get water, relieve myself, whatever, I just grab the umbrella. The tarp also gets me out of the rain to eat lunch or take a break - the tarp takes very little time to set up and break down. I store it in a stuff sack on the outside of my pack, so I don't care if it's wet when I put it away. If you add a pair of waterproof knee socks like SealSkinz, you can use this setup deep into the shoulder seasons by virtue of keeping your feet warm and dry. I used this method on a complete, successful Appalachian Trail thru-hike, but didn't even bother with the rain kilt/pants. Additional bonus: didn't have to carry sunscreen for the few sections exposed enough to get sunburn. A few other thoughts in response to the comments here from people who clearly haven't tried umbrellas: Do they get snagged on trees? I used a Six Moons Designs version and it was a good size to fully cover me without getting snagged up. You just have to be aware that you're a little wider and bend/shift it around trees and branches. You stop even thinking about it after a few miles. To be sure, it was pinholed in several places after 2200 miles of backpacking, but it STILL WORKED BETTER than a rain jacket. What about wind? (1) Backpacking umbrellas are tougher than you think. Mine could stand up to some pretty serious wind, though it couldn't be totally hands-free in high winds. (2) It's rare that you get high enough wind that it's a problem at all. I used mine for about three years on hikes across the USA, and only once ran into a scenario where it was too windy to use at all - a day of 50 mph gusts in the Smokies, and frankly no one stayed dry if they hiked that day. The force of the rain in that much wind ate right through every type of raingear without exception. If you live somewhere it's particularly exposed and windy (hello Ireland, I guess?), it certainly could be a problem, but from an American perspective, it's the only rain gear I've ever found pleasant to use while backpacking.

I started backpacking with an umbrella about 20 yrs ago. A large carbon fibre golf umbrella works great. I have one modified with a metal spike at the handle to anchor it in the ground. It’s big enough to sit under for a trail side snack. Once at camp it can serve as one pole for a tarp tent. It’s overall much more comfortable when hiking. Pack fits better and clothing stays drier.

A lot of (mountain) hikes in Japan end up having you climb over/squeeze through rocks. Also, many times you go through dense vegetation, and tight areas. For most of the hikes I’ve been on here, an umbrella would be very cumbersome and overall would get in the way. But I know exactly how you feel! When it starts drizzling, I always hope, “Ah it will probably stop soon.” I just put my rain over over my pack and keep on going. I dread putting my rain jacket on, just because I get so sweaty. However, I absolutely love my rainjacket when I reach peaks/summits, just because it keeps me warm by blocking off all the wind.

Thank you for clarifying. I have always wondered why ponchos are designed the way they are. Thanks for sharing!👍❤️

Just did a quick 10km training walk in the rain with a 24kg sandbag. Didn’t want to sweat in gortex so decided to just get drenched. Then I remembered this video and took a small umbrella. Sensational!! Sweated like crazy but stayed dry from rain. Could easily take phone out to check distance and time. Dry to drink water under the brolly. Great idea.

One method from history was a treated cloak. You get a breathable thick fabric that keeps the rain off and keeps you a relatively ok temp. The cloak eventually gets a bit damp, but it depends on the exact situation you get put in.

I do many whole day trips in the Alps. For me the best is with an umbrella and a rainponcho. I have seen many hickers with a lot of modern raingear coming to the hit and the dryroom is full of this clothes over night. I just need to dry my trousers and fresh socks. The umbrella is also the only thing to protect you from painful hail grains. My equipment is light and very cheap.

Very informative and helpful video . I have pretty much always known most of this from my Military days and hiking and camping trips . That is why I tended to use a German Hooded Military poncho a lot over me not a rain jacket so much and a waterproof Poncho can cover your gun also . Although I live in a warm climate and I do realize it gets more complicated in cold conditions . The main thing is if you get sweaty in cold conditions you must dry off and change cloths as soon as you stop exercising and before night fall when it gets even colder . I agree with Pneumaticcannon that fighting wind chill especially when you are all sweaty is important to fend of hypothermia . Sometimes in freezing conditions it's better to go slow and don't build up a sweat as much as possible . Have spare dry clothing and stop , light a fire warm up and dry out you sweaty garments . Spending all day in sweaty underclothing in freezing conditions can make you ill. Umbrellas don't work in the Jungle very well but big banana leave do . In my day I used a pack liner and a built in cover and spare clothes in zip sealed plastic bags , the Poncho also covers the pack and if you sit down , you , your gun and the pack are fully covered . In the jungle it's common to fall over fording creeks and rivers so you don't want your stuff inside the pack getting wet and it supplies buoyancy so you can swim a river using the pack as a floaty .

I really like my poncho. For the most part if it's done up properly it provides great coverage for me and my pack, it's really light and very breathable, and it works around camp too Seems to me the umbrella/kilt system would be cumbersome, and I like walking with poles, so I would have to secure the umbrella somehow to my pack.

Thanks for the video. As others have said: wind or bush-whacking limit the use of hiking parasols/umbrella. But I do bring one on all my trips, mainly to protect my toddler on my back from the sun. For hiking in sunny locales, it’s the best. And it’s no replacement for the insulating layer of a rain shell. I vote “yes, and”.

It’s better to “get dry” rather than try to “stay dry” set up a tarp when you get to your campsite, and change into dry clothes. When you’re at your campsite you can wear something cheap and impermeable

Thanks for sharing your insights on rain gear. For me personally a big poncho is the way to go. Because it‘s airy enough for me to not start sweating while hiking, gives me perfect protection in all circumstances no matter how hard the rain is and it‘s super easy to set up (when the weather is changing every hour for example, i just let the poncho hang over my backpack so i can pull it over my head whenever it starts raining again. I haven‘t seen a quicker system than this so far). Also i‘d prefer the poncho over an umbrella because i like to have two free hands for moving over obstacles or catch me in case i slip.

I have just retired after 35 years delivering mail. Here is what I learned. Even the best raingear is only there to buy time. At the end of the day, if it rains constantly, you WILL be wet. Really good gear buys more time. That's all. What the video says about GoreTex is true. Getting soaked by your own trapped sweat is not really different from getting soaked by rain. Spray-on silicone is good stuff. You do need to apply it every month or more. Wool has been awesome for thousands of years and it still is. Wet wool is better than wet cotton or nylon. Neoprene socks (worn over regular socks and inside a roomy boot) are worth the money. Do NOT put them in a hot dryer! Neoprene socks will lose their mojo if you put them in a hot dryer. In the coldest weather I wore polypro long johns, postal trousers, and rain pants on top as a windbreaker. At some point, whether I was wearing rain pants because it was cold or because it was rainy, it was often necessary to remove the rain pants and let the sweat/moisture evaporate. In heavy rain I would wear a raincoat (to keep myself somewhat dry) and a rain cape (to keep the mailbag dry, and the raincoat too). With full rain gear UNDER A CAPE, and a good waterproof hat (silicone spray) and neoprene socks, you can stay dry a REALLY LONG TIME. But not forever. If your feet are warm all day, you won't even notice they are wet until you peel those neoprene socks off in the evening.

Yes. The umbrella is a very functional solution for trail and camp. One additional benefit of the umbrella that you didn’t mention is when getting up at night to relieve yourself. I don’t know about you, but I always stay under my quilt too long. And when I can’t hold it any longer, I jump up frantically seeking a suitable place to go. The last thing I want to fool with is a rain coat and pesky zipper. The umbrella is a life saver in those situations. Other than that, my rule is umbrella when I’m walking and rainsuit in camp. It works for me.

Nice experiment, and I guess the umbrella and rain kilt can work for you in these circumstances. But there's another factor that needs consideration: terrain. If I'm in (high) mountains and on steep trails, I want to have my hands free for balance. So a rain jacket, on top of the aforementioned wind protection, also provides maximum mobility.

I bought my first umbrella in my late 30s, I was surprised at how versatile an umbrella can be, especially a double canopy golfing umbrella as I did. I have never played golf, nor intend to, but these things are certainly practical! As others commented, they are crappy with wind, and do nothing for your lower half regardless of kilts. But can be a great barrier against being cold when sitting to cook or brew a tea.

Totally agree with your conclusions and have been walking with a largish umbrella (no kilt) with some desirable results, until the wind picked up! Then the umbrella morphs into a sail and sails need to be reefed when the wind gets up and the only reef available with an umbrella is 'fold-down'! Thanks for your work.

An umbrella also protects you from the sun, say hiking on a glacier. But it requires low wind, and easy hiking. If you get into hikes where you scramble and need to use your hands from time to time an umbrella is a pain. Or if there are low branches, close together trees. So an umbrella is really an item that works well in a limited set of situations.

My wife and I used umbrellas on the West Highland Way this summer. Was an amazing bit of kit. We were able to walk in the rain, stay relatively dry, AND not get sweaty. Will always hike with one now if there is any rain forecast. We knew about kilts, but hadn’t considered them, we are a bit interested now. This was a ‘supported’ thru hike, staying in paid for accommodation. When we do proper ‘tent’ backpacking I carry my full waterproof suit to use as an extra warm layer when at camp or whenever, rather than extra clothes. (I’m in shorts most of the time.) Keeps the dry pack weight down to below 5kg 👍🏻

I would definitely advocate for a short cape such as the Varusteleka Luhka - throw it on over your normal clothes, T-shirt, fleece, whatever and it's like wearing a hands-free umbrella, plus you can wear your backpack underneath so it protects that as well.

I think it'd be difficult using an umbrella in the locations I usually hike in. Too much wind on open moorland, generally. Might think about a kilt, but generally in the seasons I'd use one I wear shorts anyway, and skin is waterproof. I only really wear waterproof over trousers when it's windy in summer. I struggle with sweating in rain gear nowadays (well, sweating in general tbh; I'd like to say it's age but it's definitely lack of fitness & increased weight over the last two and half years). I have to make a mental note to just slow down and try to exert myself less if I'm clobbering up for rain. Which I generally fail to do, especially on ascents.

I love my rain kilt. If it's raining and warm I won't wear a rain jacket, no point for all of the reasons you mentioned; the exception is air temp and wind. If I start to get real chilled I'll put one on. If I'm in camp, setting up and it's raining I'll wear a jacket because I'm not working up a sweat.

As a hiker in the tropics, going through dense jungle greatly inhibits umbrella use. While I definitely prefer umbrellas over rain jackets so my arms aren't soaking wet, there's also the problem of extremely cold winds that come around the 2000 masl mark here in the mountains I've hiked in. Rain while on the trail is just a bad time here because it results in being cold AND wet. Perhaps a poncho could work but I'm afraid it would tear against the vegetation along the trail.. I've actually considered layering both breathable and non-breathable rain jackets for this reason, but I've yet to try it

I use umbrella and rain gear for years. Depend on terrain i'm on and overall situation. It works perfectly. Umbrella also gives you a chance to hide inna shadow when its hot and sunny.

Great video. I’ve had the same problem for years. For me, I started using an umbrella, and a poncho when it was raining hard. Plus, I’ve accepted the fact I’m going to get wet. At times, I just walk in the rain and get wet. Of course, you risk hypothermia.

I'm a road and trail runner, and I honestly prefer just getting wet. In winter though I've found that windlayers are just as good if not better. I wear the adidas wind rdy line, and haven't had any issue with them wetting through or getting muggy. I kinda feel like mountain brands are overthinking what track and soccer brands already have figured out.

I would add that it depends on a terrain, climate and general geographical region where you hike. I'm a hiking guide in Balkans and Dinaric Alps, and from my experience, depending on different factors all three options work in a way. Maybe for me, poncho is the best for rain overall, but in general I always carry my jacket because it's more versatile. Poncho: I carry it only when I know there will be heavy rain. In general I share everything you said about poncho, it's breathable, lightweight, your hands are free etc. The downside is when you are using your hands while climbing (or cable or you are on via-ferata) because it just gets in the way and it's not safe. Also poncho has to be used with hiking poles, otherwise it has the same effect as a goretex jacket. I found it better in forest than jacket, just because that excess moisture that can escape (especially when you have to stand for a longer time to wait a thunder storm to pass). Also I found it difficult to wear poncho on a heavy wind without natural shelter because all the heat will escape from underneath. While this is great during the summer, during the winter it can be a terrible decision to loose all your heat on -20 celsius and be left with a wet and cold under layer. During balkan summer/autumn period, when the temperature is good enough for a t-shirt but it can rain like hell for 10 minute intervals, poncho is the guy because you can just pack and unpack it in a matter of seconds. Jacket: I carry it all the time. It's just more versatile than poncho, but it's not better than poncho on a rain day for the same reasons you mentioned. Again I will always prefer jacket if I'm climbing or if I'm on a ridge during the rain and wind. During winter jacket is waaay preferable and I always leave poncho at home during winter. Umbrella: In Dalmatia and Herzegovina, umbrella is better during hot summer days than during the rain. While rain can seem refreshing, beware of bura winds. Believe me, you don't want to be in Dalmatia during the rain/wind of bura, but if you do, an Iron Man suit isn't enough. I found out that umbrella doesn't work with European forests, mostly because our forests are much younger and trees are shorter, more often than not, you hit your head on a branch, so umbrella just gets in a way and shortens your view and it can get ripped. Also when you get out of the forest in Europe, you are mostly on a flat open field which doesn't have a forest for a reason - it's too much windy for trees.

I've been using an umbrella on hikes for over 15 years. It has so much utility that for me its a no brainer. There are ways to attach your umbrella to your backpack so you can hike hands free. Its great for stopping water running between your backpack and jacket. And no matter the price and how good the membrane is any breathable rain jacket will at some point let water through. For me it usually happens at around 6 hours of hiking in constant rain. (New Gore-Tex 3 Layer Jacket). The umbrella is great for keeping your camera gear dry while taking photos, its a great windbreak for cooking in windy environments. I usually peg it down with 2 tent pegs to keep it from flying off. Also I love to use it as a shelter extension. I will leave my tent door open during rain and block the entrance using the umbrella. That way I have a place to cook under the umbrella and I can still have a view by looking over the umbrella. Its also great when its rainy outside at night and you need to go pee or something you don't have to bother with putting on all that gear. Usually I hike with shorts because that way I wont need anything protecting my legs. At the end of the day I'll just dry them off. Legs don't tend to get cold during hikes because you are using your muscles. If you get a UV protective umbrella (the ones with the silver coating), it will supply you with premium shade anywhere above the treeline. Any time I meet other hikers in the mountains, they are really curious about my umbrella and once I tell them all the pros of using one, they are sold on the idea of getting one themselves. For me an umbrella is not something that will keep me from taking a rain jacket because there are environments and weather conditions where it is just not practical to use. I will also advise to bring a bothy bag. Its a kind of emergency shelter that you can pitch really fast in bad weather conditions. Usually you can see the type of rain that is coming and if its only a short shower, I will just dish out the bothy bag and skip rain gear all together. I'll just take a break in my bothy, have lunch and wait for it to pass. That way everything stays dry.

A kinda thick woollen shirt (and hat) is the best thing whilst hiking. Keeps you warm even when soaking wet, allows your own sweat to dissapate and allows air to pass. It is the most comfortable thing ever. And even though it is quite heavy, I use it on the trail continuosly so I never regretted bringing it. I do have a lightweight rain jacket with me when I am not moving that much, but I nearly never use it and I think I will not be bringing it with me any more.

The umbrella idea is definitely interesting. It would really depend on your hike, those trails were pretty wide. From my experience there's a number of times where I'm digging my way threw trees so it wouldnt work. But on the other hand set up is super easy and I could use that for lunch and if you do get it big enough it would help to keep your pack dry. I definitely will consider it!

I've trekked in tropical rain forest and I always have both umbrella and rain jacket with me. I'll decide between umbrella or the rain jacket depending on the terrain when it rains. Umbrella will be in more open terrain while rain jacket is used when the trail is narrow and the trees are closer or when both hands are needed to scramble up boulders. Umbrella is particularly useful when moving around at the campsite when it rains.

I've been using Paramo directional clothing for years and they are great at keeping me dry. They don't use the same tech as Goretex, not exactly sure how it works tbh but it uses pressure generated by your body heat to move liquid from your skin outwards. Even if I'm wet when I put it on I get dry. Only issue is that they are quite warm so I do get hot walking sometimes, but then I can just vent and even if some rain gets in the vents it will soon dry when I close them again. Added benefit is that they don't use toxic chemicals to make their gear and they are made in a factory with well paid female workers who where helped to get out of horrible life situations.

As scouts we all have the same poncho and it works great. It also doubles as our ground tarp since we don't use modern plastic tents, but tents that look kinda like tipis with canvas that you knot together to create a tent , so we have to lay something down to protect our gear from the wet ground

Living in the UK I find the most important thing for me is for a rain coat to go down to or below my knees. Otherwise your trousers quickly get wet and water resistant/proof trousers get hot and frankly aren't practical in many situations. Now bear in mind I don't do multi day hikes, mostly its drive somewhere and go for a hike so I can afford taking up a bit of extra space. My go to is an slightly oversize driza-bone riding coat, It has its cons (heavy and bulky) but for winter/autumn its great, protects me from wind and rain. As long as I keep up on rewaxing it regularly its as waterproof as anything and super durable and rugged. With being slightly oversize I find I can wear it in a way that allows heat to still escape or, I can layer it with wool sweater for extra warmth. Combined with good muck boots I can stay dry in crappy British autumn/winter weather regardless of how wet and muddy it gets. I also have a light weight waterproof long coat if I need something that stores away smaller and can also be worn in warmer months. But I do find I prefer the waxed coat

This was an informative Q and A on the different gear and problems. It comes down to an accurate evaluation of the environment you are going to be in and its possible extremes. There will always be drawbacks to some of these but that's part of the outdoor adventure, A little Wet, A little Hot or Cold, Windy, Dirty Etc...

I use old school Helly Hansen from Norway. It is the best rain gear by a far amount. Kinda stiff with double walls, and it rests solely on your shoulders with plenty of room for evaporation. Use wool longsleeve when it's cold and use synthetic T-shirt for summer and you are golden.

I‘ve been trekking in the Alps for the better part of a decade. I’ll go for two plus weeks. An umbrella has always been part of my rain quiver. It’s especially appreciated when it hails (though it’s a liability during lightning!) and can be used as a sun shade, too. I’ve even used it to prop up the inside of my 1 lb ultralite bivvy tent on snowy nights. The key to ultimate rain protection is flexibility of layers, which includes wool/alpaca sweaters/underlayers, quick drying camp shirts and pants (never, ever cotton!), a good hooded gortex jacket with pit zips, a pack cover, a thin plastic rain poncho as backup (that packs down to the size of a wallet and costs a buck), gortex hiking shoes with wool socks, thin sport gloves, a wool beanie AND AN UMBRELLA. All of these items come in ultra-light and pack-down-able versions, including micro umbrellas for a few bucks, and all together weighs maybe 2 lbs. I adapt combos of these layers to the conditions at hand. I’ve never truly suffered from inclement weather thanks to this system. I don’t mind dropping my pack to change out a few items as necessary. My go-to combo: A thin smartwool underlayer under a gortex rain jacket with pit zips open (and maybe the front open) will keep the condensation down but breathes and has amazing temp regulation (wool rocks as THE superior fiber!). If I overheat, I unzip the front and pull up all the layers to expose my belly for a bit. The rain doesn’t really reach there. Never fails. If it’s a really hot and humid rain, off comes everything but a quick-dry camp shirt and out comes the umbrella.

Try wool jackets - they are surprisingly water resistant, breath well and warm even when damp. I found that the problem with Goretex is when it wears (old age) the water comes through with none of the benefits of wool.

Very interesting video! I use a 1950's British military rain cape with a waterproof hat. I love it because I get ventilation through the bottom and it doubles as rain protection for my backpack! :)

an interesting benefit of bringing an umbrella, is if it's hot and sunny, you also have a sunshade.

Firstly, thanks for more great content. Your channel rocks! Lightweight, breathable rain gear is best if you suspect light rain and you need mobility like when climbing class 3/4. If you suspect heavy rain and colder temperatures and need mobility then go with breathable, heavy rain gear. If you don’t need mobility like when just walking a trail or if you need to protect a long gun while hunting then it’s hard to beat a poncho, preferably the Packa. If it’s warm, above 80°, then don’t use any rain gear. Enjoy natures shower. If you’re wearing the right materials you’ll dry out in no time and it’ll feel great.

I prefer a cloak and hood personally. With a waterproof outer layer such as oilcloth or a good thick wool (preferably lanolin intact), it's like a wearable umbrella that doesn't restrict your clothes from handling sweat their way. And they can be made in different thicknesses for different locales or seasons.

After watching the first video on gortech, which led me to this video. I day thank you for uncovering the false claims about dry rain gear. I took away from this that a rain poncho or like a rain jacket that had slits all the way up the sides which either zippered or velcro attachments, would be the best solution for a rain barrier. Zipped closed for either windy condition or non activities. Zipped open with the bottom and middle velcro attachments attached so as to allow plenty of airflow yet still keep you relatively dry in a light rain where humidity is medium to high. I ride a recumbent trike, so this rain jacket/side zipper converted to a poncho would keep me dry. I don't know why rain gear companies have made something like this. Rain jacket/converted into a poncho. Thanks for your video.

I consider my rain jacket as my wind jacket and as an extra layer for warmth. I’ve never really used rain pants. I could see adding an umbrella though!

The main hurdle with anything besides neoprene raingear is that in many situations you are hiking through wet Alders which slap against you and permeate any breathable gear or go under the umbrella. Also many high altitude locations hold 50-60 mph winds in fall

Poncho is my go to! 1. Covers my pack aswell and I can reach stuff in my hip pocket etc without getting stuf wet 2. Hands free 3. Good ventilation and since im hands free I can choose hold up the front of the poncho for really good ventilation if needed 4. While still being waterproof material! 5. Use it as a tarp if you need to rest when raining

The risk of winds too strong for an umbrella is too high to consider an umbrella where I hike. I'll stick with my poncho. While that can also be annoying in windy weather, I'm not worried about damaging it. My biggest issue with ponchos is that they all seem to come with buttons down the sides. This means that I'll rip the sides open when I'm walking between trees or through shrubs.

I feel like there's one option that's kind of forgotten: a rain cloak. My favourite piece of rain gear for when it's really wet is this huge piece of traditional rain gear cloak. It's got a big hood, and without a backpack on, it reaches down past my knees. It can be put on outside of not only your clothes, but your pack as well, protecting the whole package. And though there are buttons that go pretty far down, you don't need to close them all, giving you excellent ventilation.

My friend and I bumped into a couple of reindeer herders during a hike in Sarek in Swedish Lapland. It had been raining for several days and both us and them took shelter in an emergency hut. We felt a bit silly with our freeze dried food and expensive rain gear while the reindeer herders had plain knit sweaters and dried reindeer meat to eat carving slices with a beautiful knife,. I asked the reindeer herders how they protect themselves from the rain and got a short somewhat blunt answer: "When it rains you get wet"

Just some friendly advice with regards to the electric bike, it might be worth checking out the rules and laws for your particular region, some trails have bans on electric mountain bikes, others just limit the max assisted speed but most if not all have rules against the twist throttle bikes like in this video.

Thanks for this. Very interesting and generates some good debate here. I think all this gear has a time, a place and a wind speed. I tried a kilt and poncho in Scotland last year and gave up on them due to the strong winds. If using an umbrella, it or I would have flown over the mountains like something from the Wizard of Oz!

After more years than I wish to remember, a cape/poncho and umbrella combination is by a country mile best.