Spring time is just around the corner… and that means even more opportunities for beautiful days of hiking and viewing spring time wildflowers. But it also brings along the possibility of hiking in the rain.
Often times spring and early summer weather can be so unpredictable, and it is important to be prepared for some rain!
What you need to making hiking in the rain enjoyable:
A Waterproof Jacket
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Isis Tempest Rain Jacket: This jacket is one of my favorites, and the features it has are what you should look for in any good quality rain jacket – it’s lightweight and easy to pack, has taped seams so water doesn’t get in, and breathes really well. Cheap rain jackets do not breathe, which means you’ll be sweating! Check out the Hiking Lady review of the Isis Tempest jacket. |
Rain Pants
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Marmot Precip Rain Pants: If you think you’ll be out in the rain for awhile and that your nylon hiking pants might really get wet, then you’ll want a pair of rain pants. I highly recommend ones with full zips, because they can easily be put on over your boots…no one really wants to take their boots off when the rains starts! |
Broad brimmed hat
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OR Seattle Sombrero My favorite hiking hat is the Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero, and with “Seattle” in its name, it definitely can handle inclement weather. I’ve worn mine several times in the rain and the water literally beads up on top of the hat and on the brim. My face always stays dry because the brim is so broad, and I don’t have to deal with a hood on a hiking jacket. Check out the Hiking Lady review of the OR Seattle Sombrero |
Other tips!
- Bring along a towel in your backpack The small microfiber ones are great to dry things off. Be sure to keep a towel in your car at the trailhead too!
- Get a cover for your backpack If I know there is a high probability of rain, I bring along my Ducks Back rain cover for my backpack. An even cheaper, though harder to use option, is a plastic trash bag.
- Keep a change of clothes in your car. Who wants to sit in wet clothes for the drive home? Not me!
What else do you do when you’re hiking in the rain?