Hiking Rain Gear Every Backpacker Must Have
Nothing ruins a backpacking trip like having all your gear get soaked. Once things get wet, there’s no turning back. Unlike on a camping trip, you can’t hang your things up to dry all day. Instead, you need to stuff them back into your backpack where there is no hope for it to dry out. That’s why hiking rain gear is so important.
It’s so much easier to stay dry than to dry out after getting wet.
There are plenty of items I would leave behind for the sake of a lighter pack, but my rain gear is never included on that list. Below, I’ll explain why it is so important and go over which items you should have on your packing list the next time you head out on the trail.
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Why You Should Pack Rain Gear
It is always a good idea to check the forecast before heading out on the trails. It can keep you from over packing items you don’t need, and from leaving behind gear necessary to brave the weather.
This is particularly true when it comes to temperature. When deciding what clothing to bring, you’ll want to have a good estimate of how warm or cold it will be when you’re hiking.
However, you need to take it with a very large grain of salt.
As much as we try to conquer the mystery of weather, we’re still pretty bad at it. Weather can change quickly and without warning. If you’re heading out into the mountains, this is particularly true. Due to the way mountains affect air movement, pockets of rain quickly form among ranges.1
So even if the forecast predicts sunny weather all week, bring along your hiking rain gear. It can be a real day-ruiner when you get caught in a downpour without anything to keep yourself dry.
1. Rain Clothing
You’re not going to be carrying an umbrella while on the trail, so it’s important to make waterproof clothing a staple piece of your hiking rain gear. Bring along a rain jacket as well as rain pants if you have them.
Why You Need Rain Clothing
A rain jacket with a hood is essential for keeping yourself dry and warm while hiking in the rain. Though the thick cover of trees overhead may keep some of the rain from dumping on you, a lot will fall through, and you will quickly get soaked if you’re not prepared.
Rain pants are great to have as well to keep the lower half of your body dry. On the trail, you’re going to rub up against wet bushes and branches. Your legs are going to get very wet if they’re not covered. Rain pants will also have the added benefit of keeping the tops of your boots and socks dry. Having dry ankles and feet are important for preventing blisters and uncomfortable chafing!
What To Look For In Rain Clothing
When shopping for rain clothes, look for ones that are both waterproof and breathable:
- Waterproof– You’ll want to find a waterproof jacket rather than a water-resistant jacket for backpacking. Water-resistant jackets are designed to keep you dry in light, short-duration rain. Waterproof jackets can keep you drier in the downpours and long-duration rainfalls that you may experience on the trail.
- Breathable – Unless you want to absolutely swamp your rain gear in sweat, make sure they are breathable. Breathable fabric allows perspiration to escape so it doesn’t build up inside and make you wet. This is an important quality for backpackers because you put in a lot of physical effort on the trail.
Find great deals on rain pants and jackets at Backcountry.com
2. Backpack Rain Cover
One of the most important pieces of hiking rain gear you should bring is a rain cover for your backpack. Going on any trip without one of these tucked away in a pocket is a rookie mistake. This should be one of your non-negotiable items on your packing list.
Check out what else you need to pack here!
Why You Need a Backpack Rain Cover
It is important to bring along a rain cover for your backpack to protect your gear from getting wet. Every item that you have for your trip is contained inside your backpack. If your backpack gets wet – all your gear gets wet.
This is undesirable for plenty of reasons. If your socks are wet, you’re more likely to develop blisters. When your clothes are damp, you experience more chafing. If your sleeping bag is wet, you may feel too cold or uncomfortable to sleep at night.
Even if your backpack is waterproof or water resistant, it is always worth it to use a cover. That way no water seeps through the zippers or seams and soaks your gear. It’s hard to feel chipper when your pack gets soaked.
Where to Get a Backpack Rain Cover
Many backpacks come with their own rain covers that fit like a glove. In fact, this is something I recommend looking for when searching for a new backpack (along with these other qualities). These are great because they fit your backpack well and may even have their own pocket on your backpack for storage.
However, if yours didn’t come with it’s own cover you can easily find one to add to your collection of hiking rain gear. Outdoor retailers like Eastern Mountain Sports have a variety of brands and sizes to choose from, so it’s easy to get one that fits your pack. Check these options out!
If none of these suit you, or you are feeling tight with the budget, you can easily make one yourself. Find a large, sturdy garbage bag, one that will fit over your entire backpack and wont tear easily and follow the steps below.
- Place backpack inside garbage bag so that the opening of the bag is at the bottom end of the backpack.
- Using scissors or a knife, cut two slits where your straps are.
- Pull the straps through the slits.
- Tie the bottom of the garbage bag closed.
And voila! A homemade, dirt-cheap backpack rain cover.
3. Rain Gear For Your Tent
Your tent is your main shelter when you are out backpacking. It’s important that this shelter protects you from the elements – especially rain. If your tent doesn’t hold up against the rain, you are in for some unpleasant days on the trail.
A waterproof floor and a rain cover are key for having a tent that withstand a downpour.
Tent Rain Cover
When you’re shopping for a tent, it is wise to find one that comes with its own rain cover. Most tents do, but there are some bare-bones styles that come without a waterproof cover. If your tent is one of these, be sure to find a cover that will fit over your tent.
Though it may be pleasant to sleep with a view of the stars above you, waking up to raindrops hitting your face and soaking your gear is something you don’t want to deal with. If there is a chance for rain, put the cover on before bed!
Tent Floor Waterproofing
Though rain comes from above, water tends to seep beneath and pool up under your tent as well. If your floor isn’t waterproof, everything sitting in your tent is going to get soaked regardless of how effective your rain cover is.
Most tents have their floor treated with some type of waterproofing, typically in the form of a polyurethane coating. If you get a good quality tent, this should do the trick for the first few trips. However, over time you’re going to need to re-treat it.
There are a couple of good indicators that it is time to re-treat your tent floor. One being you can see the coating peeling and flaking off the material, and another being you have a lot of water seeping through.
Luckily refreshing the coating is something you can do at home. Simply rub off the old coating with a dry brush and some isopropyl alcohol, clean it, then reapply a thin coat of a tent fabric sealant. This is the sealant we trust for our tent. This should keep your tent dry for a while longer. You may also want to look into sealing the seams of the tent in addition to the floor.
4. Rain Tarp For Camp
Bringing along a rain tarp for camp isn’t entirely necessary, but it is certainly nice to have if you plan on spending a lot of time around your site. If you’re looking to save on backpack weight, this may be one to skip.
Having some sort of rain cover for camp is great when you make it to your site while it’s still coming down. It will give you some shelter to take off your wet clothes, relax, eat, and cook. This is a far better alternative than just sitting in the rain until it ends.
Putting up your tent in the rain can be a tricky task. It’s almost impossible to keep the tent dry while doing so. Waiting until the rain stops or slows is a far better alternative.
Cooking or eating in the rain is also a chore. You don’t want your food to get soaked or the rain to put out the flame on your stove. Cooking inside your tent isn’t an option, either because of the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning when using a stove in a small enclosed space.
Having a tarp to cover a small area at your camp will solve these issues. If your tent’s rain cover is large enough – that may do the trick.
5. Waterproof Phone Case
I always keep my phone in a waterproof case or plastic bag when I am backpacking.
One reason is to give it an extra layer of protection when it is raining. Sometimes the rain comes down so heavy that water seeps into your pack despite your best efforts. If my phone is in my pocket rather than my pack, it leaves it even more exposed to the elements.
It’s a good idea to keep your phone or other valuable electronics in a waterproof case even if it isn’t raining. Accidents happen, your water reservoir might break or you might fall during a water crossing. Either situation can really suck and put a damper on your trip. If your phone is safe inside a container, at least you didn’t ruin an expensive belonging in addition to soaking your gear.
Better safe than sorry – put your phone in a case, even if the phone claims to be water resistant.
Conclusion
When planning a trip where you’re going to spend a lot of time outside, it’s best to prepare for imperfect weather. When you’re backpacking, that means bringing along the hiking rain gear listed above. Bringing these items along will help keep you dry, warm and comfortable when mother nature isn’t being your friend.
Cover photo by Maxime Doré on Unsplash
