Guide to Buying Wet Weather Hiking Gear
Rain does not automatically mean a day on the trail has to be cancelled, but it does change how you prepare. Wet weather hiking calls for reliable waterproof clothing, footwear with dependable traction and a sensible way to protect everything carried in your pack. Comfort also depends on managing moisture from inside your clothing, as sweat can leave layers damp even when the rain stays out. Trail conditions deserve extra attention too, with rocks, roots and stream crossings potentially becoming more difficult after prolonged rainfall. A well prepared kit allows you to deal with these conditions while staying warm, comfortable and protected.
Rain protection works best when it covers more than your upper body. Clothing, footwear and pack protection each have a different role.
- Waterproof shell jackets: A shell forms the main barrier against rain and wind. Breathable construction and taped seams are particularly useful when the jacket will be worn for several hours.
- Waterproof trousers: Pulling waterproof trousers over your walking clothing prevents persistent rain from soaking your legs and can reduce discomfort from wet fabric rubbing against the skin.
- Waterproof hiking boots: Boots with waterproof protection help keep your feet dry when crossing muddy ground, wet grass and shallow standing water.
- Gaiters: Worn around the lower leg and top of the boot, gaiters limit the amount of rain, mud and debris entering from above.
- Pack protection: Backpack rain covers protect the outside of a pack, while waterproof liners and dry bags provide another barrier around clothing, electronics and other essentials.
Combining protection across your clothing and equipment gives rain fewer opportunities to cause problems as the walk continues.
Materials and How They Work
The fabrics worn in wet weather need to handle both external rain and moisture produced by your body.
- Waterproof membranes: These create a barrier against rain while allowing some water vapour to escape through the fabric.
- Merino wool: Useful for base and insulating layers because it can retain warmth when damp and helps regulate temperature.
- Synthetic base layer fabrics: Polyester and similar technical fibres move moisture away from the skin and generally dry faster than highly absorbent materials.
- Synthetic insulation: A practical option for colder wet conditions because it can continue providing useful insulation if some moisture reaches the layer.
- Quick drying woven fabrics: Often used for hiking trousers, these materials are useful when conditions are damp but full waterproof trousers are not required throughout the entire walk.
A combination of waterproof outer layers and moisture managing clothing underneath provides a more effective system than simply wearing the heaviest rain gear available.
Reliable wet weather equipment should keep water out without making movement or temperature control unnecessarily difficult.
- Taped seams prevent rain entering through the stitched areas of a waterproof shell.
- Adjustable hoods provide closer coverage around the head when rain is accompanied by wind.
- Jacket ventilation allows additional heat and moisture to escape during strenuous walking.
- Secure cuffs reduce the amount of water travelling inside jacket sleeves.
- Waterproof trousers with adjustable openings can be easier to pull over hiking boots.
- Quick drying clothing is useful when outer protection is removed after a shower.
- Waterproof gloves help preserve warmth and dexterity when hands are exposed to cold rain.
- Gaiters provide additional coverage where trousers and boots meet.
- A backpack rain cover reduces direct exposure across the outside of your pack.
- Dry bags provide separate waterproof storage for clothing, food, electronics and other important gear.
Together, these features provide more complete protection for both the hiker and the equipment needed throughout a wet walk.
The duration of the walk and severity of the rain can determine how extensive your waterproof kit needs to be.
- Light drizzle: A breathable shell and quick drying hiking trousers may provide enough protection for a shorter walk when prolonged rain is unlikely.
- Persistent rain: Full rain gear becomes more useful, including a waterproof shell, waterproof trousers and suitable hiking boots.
- Muddy woodland routes: Gaiters help stop water and mud entering around the top of the boots, while footwear with dependable traction is important on slippery ground.
- Exposed hill walks: Rain combined with wind requires secure outer layers that protect the head, wrists and lower body without restricting movement.
- Multi day hiking: Keeping spare clothes, a sleeping bag and other essentials dry becomes particularly important. Waterproof pack liners and individual dry bags provide additional protection inside the backpack.
- Overnight trips: Check the waterproof condition of your tent before setting out and keep your sleeping bag isolated from wet equipment inside a waterproof bag.
The more time you expect to spend exposed to rain, the more important complete waterproof coverage and protected storage become.
-
How waterproof should a hiking jacket be for prolonged rain?
- For prolonged rain, look for a genuinely waterproof jacket rather than one described only as water resistant. A hydrostatic head rating of around 8,000 to 10,000 mm or above is better suited to sustained wet weather, alongside fully taped seams and protected zips. Breathability and ventilation also matter, as they help prevent sweat building up inside the jacket during active walking.
-
Which accessories are useful for staying dry during wet weather hikes?
- Gaiters are useful for stopping rain and mud entering the tops of hiking boots, while waterproof gloves protect your hands in cold, wet conditions. A backpack rain cover provides external protection for your pack, and dry bags can keep spare clothes, electronics and other essentials protected inside. A waterproof map case is also useful if you carry paper navigation.
