What do you think a guy or gal should do to ease the pain of rain on the way to Maine?
I have some questions:
Are Marmot PreCip jackets waterproof?
Yes. Those who sweat in them wear to many clothes under them. If you begin to sweat, take off layers and you want sweat. I am amazed why so many dont. I have used one for 2 1/2 years and I carry it stuffed inside my gearskin pack. Works great. I use it only when it is colder.
How do ponchos fit while carrying a pack?
Depends on the type. In a little warmer weather I use an Integral Design silponcho:
http://www.integraldesigns.com/produ...roducttypeid=1
Sides snap, its a little tricky throwing it over your head and get it over the pack too, but you learn how. You dont need a pack cover, either. It sucks on narow mountain ledges going uphill as the tendency is to step on a dangling edge so you have to gather it up like a skirt at times. It does keep you quite dry, its more airy.
How does one hike with poles and use an umbrella?
Dont know as I have not done so yet. But I dont use poles but a single staff. I have and am going to give this a try, as I have their staff :
http://www.luxurylite.com/umbrellaindex.html
Do you know of a hat that works well in wind and rain?
I go with a visor for 3-season, a duckbill one and cover my head with the hood of the raingear if I use it or mountain shirt. If I get cold, i put the silk scarf on my head too. I dont like a hat because if it is warm I sweat too much with one but want the bill for shade over my eyes, hence just a visor suffices beautifully. Plus it is lighter. If its cold, I use a silk scarf tied around my head, then the visor on top of that.
Is windproof fleece effective in the wind and rain and is it very breathable?
It depends on the type. This is an older concept of mountain wear first espoused by the Europeans, but I believe originated by the British. Marmot dri-clime wind shirt comes to mind as a successful knock-off of the concept, inner lightweight fleece for wicking but a very highly breathable outer shell which is only water resistant, so dryness is obtained with motion and heat. If the outer were more water resistant it would be less breathable (gore-tex and sundry others, for instance.) It goes against all that we have learned to do, which is to rely heavily on some outer completely waterproof surface (less breathable) on the outer clothing to keep us dry. The European (Really British, I believe) concept eliminates the outer shell and it seems to work, and quite well, really, especially in colder weather. Here are some sources for the concept and some applicable clothing choices:
http://www.rrv-bsa.com/Resources/Ult...20Clothing.htm
http://www.needlesports.com/acatalog...uffalo_41.html
http://www.needlesports.com/gearreviews/buffalo.htm
http://www.buffalosystems.co.uk/ls1.htm
http://www.paramo.co.uk/UK/p500winners.html
The last entry look for their mountain shirt which works quite well, plus it is hooded so you dont need a separate hat.
Please advise as I am having trouble deciding what to use for hiking north from Ga. March 19. or thereabouts.