Tree work has me used to rough conditions, but my rain gear leaked on a coastal hike. What do you trust in wet weather?

3 comments

3 Comments

My old Helly Hansen shell lasted 12 years of coastal abuse before it gave up. Cole_hall is right, good gear just works when you need it.

cole_hall2mo ago

Yeah, I was totally in the "a jacket is a jacket" camp for years. Then I got caught in a sideways rain on a trail like that, and my cheap stuff might as well have been a paper bag. I was soaked in minutes. Now I just save up and buy the good stuff once. That miserable hike proved you can't skimp. A real shell is worth every penny when you're cold and wet miles from the car.

anderson.jason2mo ago

Paper bag" is putting it nicely. My old cheap one turned into a personal rain cloud that only rained on me. It was almost impressive how perfectly it failed.