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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.

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.

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. 😅

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

"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.

As others have said, the kilt and umbrella combo works in some situations, but it really doesn’t work outside of a gentle walk on a wide and well-maintained trail in the woods. Though traditional rain gear has plenty of issues, I’m sticking with it as every single hike I go on involves at least one of either rock scrambling, off-track walking through scrub, scrubby and narrow trails, or windy mountains. The rain where I live is usually sideways. The umbrella is pretty useless in all of these situations and the kilt is definitely not suited to rock scrambling or any situation with scrub that will brush against my lower legs.

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.

I agree with your assessment of rain jackets. I did not know there was such an item as a "rain kilt". Thank you! I will put it on my list of items to get ahead of my next hiking vacation.

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.

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.

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.

I do that for years and love it. Cool to see that somebody else uses an umbrella

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.

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

I did this that umbrella and kilt through Philmont. Worked great. Even at camp it was easy. Plus entry into the tent while raining was so much less problematic.

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.

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.

That was sooo good. My husband and I laughed as we visualised crawling through Tasmanian horizontal with a kilt on. Great videos so informative and helpful.

Great video once again and definitely a good question whether you should try the kilt and umbrella vs your typical raingear. I've been caught in some hardcore rainshowers in plenty of hikes and I always wore my poncho. I don't mind if my pants get wet from the knee down as long as my torso and upper leg region remain (fairly) dry due to the chance of hypothermia. So for rain I always went with the poncho. But on my last winter hike in the German Black Forest with -9 degrees celsius and lots of snow I would really loved to have an umbrella with me. Even though I had a great warm jacket that protected me from the snow, my hat, buff and pants got soaked with snow/sleet and it did cool me down alot (and it was not pleasant). So for very snowy winter hikes I might switch to an umbrella and kilt. When I'm at camp I always try to use my poncho as a tarp over my tent just to keep the freezing winds and snow out of my way. I'm actually thinking to get an umbrella and kilt for these particular hikes as I'm typing this comment haha. Thanks for putting the real questions out there! Cheers!

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

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 😎

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.

I grew up in the south west of the UK. It's rarely raining with no wind and so even if it's not cold (which it often is as well) with the rain coming in at acute angles you'll find it hard to keep dry. For me a large poncho (modern materials but like the military style works best. It can cover me and the pack and can also work as a tarp if I needed, when combined with a liner I've got a sleep system too.

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.

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😂

I walked the Kokoda track many years ago. We experienced rain that you could walk on. My veteran guide popped a golf umbrella and walked 120km and came out bone dry from the jungle. I was converted since that day.

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.

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 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.

Umbrellas only have one mortal enemy: Wind. If it's windy and an umbrella catches some wind, it's instantly useless.

What a coincidence, me and my friend just had a 10km hike across a rainy swamp. I had my poncho (a full one, not a openable jacket) and my friend was toting an umbrella. What I noticed is that while I did get sweaty a little, flapping and slowing the pace helped fast, plus I could push through the foliage without a second thought. My friend was well ventilated and could adjust easily in the erratic weather, but she had to close the thing to get through wet brush and when the wind picked up she had the option of either not seeing where she was going or getting soaked. Basically pick your poison kinda deal, both options slowed us down a bit in their own way.

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.

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 carry a compact umbrella in my pack in addition to my rain gear. It's also nice for short or lighter rain showers when I don't necessarily need to mess with putting rain gear on and taking it back off. I have found it handy and recommend both. Haven't tried the kilt idea yet but I like it, will have to test that when I'm out next.

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! :)

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.

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 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.

An extremely thorough video, meticulously crafted with excellent composition and captivating content! It's a rare gem to come across on UKposts these days. Kudos from BeyondEclipseProduction! Well done!

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.

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.

Hiking the Oregon Coast Trail, I went umbrella and a couple tarps. I had a wool cardigan with cotton button up shirt that kept me warm on cold rainy nights.

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.

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

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.

I used to work in the oil and gas industry. We had the PVC rain suits which made you sweat as if you was not wearing it at all. Great video!

I do frogg toggs poncho with large hood (fits over a large pack) for hiking. Then I have extra rain gear for camp or if the temperature drops. Sometimes I leave the extra rain gear behind and just bring the poncho if it’s a heat wave and the nights are equally hot. The poncho is enough in those climates.

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.

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.

Have you ever heard about ankles-length rain poncho ? I own one over 15 years. Heavy rain + wind in mountains = no problem. It cost me 1/10 of price of gore-tex gear. 👍👍

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!

For me, I think the umbrella would get destroyed moving through brambles and brush, undergrowth, and dense woods; but on trail, might be a good fit. The best setup I used was a "ranger blanket" which is basically a military issue poncho with snaps and tassels. You can make it into a loose poncho, a snugged up poncho, a ground sheet, a small shelter, rain water catcher... I'm thinking a rain kilt and a ranger blanket are going to be a good pairing, just too bad it only came in cadpat camo lol

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 took a poncho and an umbrella on the Camino a few years back. It rained a lot that month. The beginning I relied on the poncho to stay dry but as the month went on I found myself using the umbrella more and more until I didn't need the poncho until the rain started flying sideways. I'm sold on the umbrella idea. To me it's worth the extra weight.. I would also like to mention that my poncho has a zipper on the front and it can be left wide open for ventilation.

Cool video and thank you. I live in England (cold and alot of rain) and i used to like using the umbrella set up. Problem is when its too windy ,things get awkward. Now ive gone back to the traditional style with gortex. and if you use good, and the right layers you wont get condensation and soon as the rain stops i put them away. Full length leg Zip off trousers are quick to remove. But saying this ai am still looking for an umbrella thats small, light , and strong enough to cope with the strong winds we can get here. Cheers

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.

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.

YES! An umbrella is useful on your hikes. I always bring a big one.

This is why I have a hard time with rain jackets. I like the soft shells that have fleece and water resistance. I find I keeps me pretty dry, and the fleece gets my sweat, but I don't feel it. But I haven't tried that in a downpour. It work s really well when I gotta shovel my driveway. Works good for an hour-two hours.

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 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!

You video mirrored my thoughts on rain parkas, one that I have held for many, many years. I thought the problem was my excessive sweating, but in reality it comes down to the equipment. Your rain kilt reminds me of the ancient (nowadays) piece of gear called rain chaps.

I have one of those poncho/tarp combos, very thin & light, worn draped over my backpack. I also have that head band umbrella hat so both my hands are free.

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'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.

Your videoes are so well made and produced!

Always having an umbrella when hiking. Having some raincoat too in case of a heavy wind or when I need 2 hands to climb.

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

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.

Umbrellas have a few drawbacks too though. Firstly they're cumbersome -- you either lose the mobility of one arm or you have to hope your backback can keep them steady, which isn't a given when moving through brush, high winds, etc. They're also mechanical and can fail at any time due to wind, branches, etc. They also provide little horizontal rain protection, and of course, don't block the wind. Granted if conditions are calm an umbrella can be a nice choice. I sometimes use both, leaving the jacket fully unzipped to provide enough airflow but also decent horizontal protection

The best raingear I ever had was a trenchcoat with galoshes. The trenchcoat was made with Grenfell cloth, a very high density cotton weave made for a 1920s Greenland expedition. The threads swell and keep out Welsh rain for hours. The current firm is a revival not the same one but they make the original coats and jackets.

I agree that carrying both rain setups would probably be the best way to go, unless you're in cold or windy conditions, in which case, the traditional stuff works best. I poo-pooed the umbrella for a long time, but finally got it to use in very exposed conditions, and I was SO glad to have it this last summer! I haven't used it in the rain yet, but that's coming, I'm sure!

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.

had to sub, what an interesting video you had me hooked watched the whole video thanks for providing excellent knowledge to the public, big respect.

I've taken to wearing an Australian bust hat to keep the rain off my head/neck. Works great in British down pours and it feels great to not wear a hood.

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.

I always preferred umbrella hats, but they're not so common anymore. But here in Canada, I like having a rubber coat. It's nice to have the warmth sometime, and I got it a size up so it has a bit more ventilation and I can layer if needed. I used to have rubbery pants too, and could actually sit in the Atlantic Ocean without getting wet. I had a waterproof phone case called rain ballet back then, and it was fun to take pics of small creatures in the water even when it wasn't warm enough to go out in swim gear.

For me, the main problem with both umbrella and goretex is higher weight and space in backpack it will take. Usually I like to hike a few days (3-7 days) from one mountain hostel to another and then it's really important to reduce weight and space of different gear, especially when it's winter and I have to take warm clothes, crampons, ice axe etc. And I can fit it into 38L backpack ;)

Goretex stealth suit works pretty well in moderate climates. I have worn it many times during basic training in Atlantic Canada. It vents sweat, and keeps out rainwater in quite well. (not sure what company makes it, I bought it through CANEX.) NEOS overboots work well too over Mk4 boots when walking in soft mud/ flooded terrain.

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.

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.

A handsfree umbrella seems like a perfect solution/hack. I would definetly go for that when you would otherwise sweat with a jacket .

New hike umbrella design needed that covers pack and you that's hands free.