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Selecting Rain Gear: Quick Dry and Wicking Clothes

When choosing rain gear, make sure to get a waterproof breathable type like Gortex. You will see some inexpensive rain gear made of coated fabric that doesn't breath. I have used this kind and you end up getting wetter in sweat than if I had just gone in the rain with nothing. Also, look to make sure the waterproof breathable rain gear you get actually has a membrane. Some waterproof breathable fabric has a coating instead of an actual membrane sewn in between cloth layers. These are not as durable and I would not trust them to hold up over time and use.

A valuable feature to look for in a rain coat is zip-open vets in the armpit area. This way, if you start to get too warm, you can open the vents to cool down and not sweat. The same advice goes for fabric in rain pants. One feature to look for in rain pants is side zip legs. This feature allows you to put them on without dragging your wet, muddy boots through the pant legs. Much easier to get on and off.

The length of rain gear is also a consideration. Most rain coats are jacket-length, with the hem resting at or just below the hips. Rain pants come in a variety of lengths and waist sizes, similar to that of regular pants.

Most rain gear is not insulated. One last thing to think of when buying a good quality waterproof breathable jacket and pants is to get it a size or two larger than you normally wear. This way you can add a fleece jacket and pant set underneath for cold weather application.

Quick Dry Clothing / Moisture Wicking Clothing

quick drying materials available today are nothing short of amazing. Though they come in many brand names they all do about the same job with varying degrees of sucess. A good quick dry (usually some type of nylon cloth) pair of pants and long sleeve shirt are a good start.

Some types of quick dry pants come with legs that zip off to convert to shorts, which can be handy. The only problem with these is that they do not hold up well to having bug spray used on them. If this is a concern I would recommend finding some military surplus battle dress uniform (b.d.u.) pants and shirts. I would get the nylon cotton versions, sometimes called nyco or enhanced hot weather. They are comfortable and wear like iron. Make certain they are mil. spec. (military specification) and not mil. style (military style). There are plenty of knock-offs out there and you want the real thing not a cheap imitation.

Moisture wicking clothing is made from synthetics like nylon, polyester, or lycra/spandex. These types of fabrics pull the moisture away from your skin, and allow the moisture to evaporate quickly keeping you and your clothing dry. Sometimes referred to as polypropalin, wicking clothing does a much better job of keeping your body dry than cotton. Cotton has a tendency to stay damp much longer, making you much less comfortable and contributing to chill. Moisture wicking material is also used for socks to keep your feet dry and comfortable as well.