When the weatherman calls for thundershowers all weekend long, the easy thing to do is to blow off your trip, stay home and rent some movies. After all, I've got the right stuff to keep me dry. This winter, when I get tired of watching the puddles form in my basement, I, for one, intend to get out there and enjoy the green, dripping canopies of the Columbia River Gorge and the Olympic rain forests. Don't let a decrepit old rainsuit keep you housebound. If it's time for an upgrade, here are some tips to help you wade through the racks.
Many companies use their own proprietary fabrics.
Sympatex is a common one, then there's Triple Point Ceramic by Lowe Alpine, Elements by REI, Omni-tech by Columbia, and Membrane by Marmot. This stuff is often super lightweight and packable but the fabric pores are sealed tight from the waterproof coating, so you might find yourself getting wet from the inside out during high exertion. Also look for pit zips, or underarm zippers, that let you ventilate when things get really steamy. All zippers should have storm flaps that secure in place with Velcro or snaps to keep wind-blown rain from penetrating through the teeth. Snug, elasticized wrist closures are important because they keep water from dribbling down your hands and into your jacket.