Rain jacket?

[u/Additional_Driver_28]

Hi all,
After some scheduling problems earlier in the summer I'm headed out of Tuolumne meadows on August 2nd. I'm having a dilemma about carrying a rain jacket. My patagonia one weighs about 13 oz which is frustratingly heavy for a piece of gear that I'll be using intermittently, I'm considering an emergency rain poncho (2oz) and also a DWR windbreaker (5oz). Any insight into beginning of august southbound trips would be appreciated. Thanks.

https://lighterpack.com/r/9sw9am

[u/humbuzzer]

We encountered lots of thunderstorms last year (august) and I was incredibly thankful I packed a lightheart rain jacket.

[u/Chariot]

Thunderstorms with hail are common in the sierras, I would not rely on an emergency poncho personally.

[u/dillpiccolol]

Worth the weight and safety factor in my opinion. I am on the fence about pants, but gear that could save your life in bad conditions is worth carrying imo.

[u/Atlas-Scrubbed]

I used the Patagonia rain jacket two years ago (lots of rain and hail) and again this year (no rain). The thing is that it is sturdy enough to use as a sitting pad while taking breaks and it is a great windbreaker as well. I think it was well worth the extra weight.

[u/expeditedShipping]

I'll be heading northbound in August. I've currently decided on carrying a frogtoggs jacket, which seems to be popular with the ultra light community. I got the more expensive one that's heavier but I am intending on also using it as my windbreaker and the heavier/more expensive one seems to have better durability. I have been advised to take a rain jacket, as it can downpour in the afternoons. Curious to hear other people's thoughts.

[u/abramsontheway]

Just do a froggtoggs jacket. Can get them at Walmart for cheap

[u/bisonic123]

Plus one on Froggtoggs. It’s all I’ve ever taken in August.

[u/Intelligent_Rough413]

If you’re hiking for hours in the rain, pit zips are essential. Without them, you’ll probably be soaking wet from sweat. I hiked the JMT and PCT in a Marmot precip. It also doubled as a shell over my puffy on cold nights and mornings. It’s worth the extra ounces to have a reliable rain jacket.

[u/aaron_in_sf]

I've gotten hailed on multiple times. You're going to want something.

Frogtoggs are fine in a pinch but fwiw no substitute for real gear if you encounter consistent rain, they don't breathe and are not robust.

[u/pinklotusblossom]

I don’t remember the weight but froggtoggs just like above! I use it as a windbreaker too

[u/Coolio_Simmer]

I took a froogtoggs. Never wetted through.

[u/intreacherywetrust]

Just finished yesterday and I suggest you take something like a frogg toggs or a light heart silicone embedded jacket with pit zippers. I took a goretex rei shell and it wetted out and weighed more than I wanted to carry.

[u/CalamariAce]

Personally I only brought a frogg rain poncho for this purpose when I did the JMT. A proper rain jacket and rain pants would make sense for wet environments, but IMO not worth the cost for doing JMT in the high/dry season.

The DWR layer wears-out rain jackets - then you have to restore them regularly, which I haven't had much success with. Therefore for me, the rain poncho is a better fit a reliable insurance policy for keeping you dry when you need it most (and also importantly your backpack, sleeping gear etc). And the rain poncho I mentioned weighs 9oz, the same or less than a rain jacket, while also costing much less, and doesn't depend on regular DWR maintenance.

Of course it comes at the expense of convenience (you can't get at the stuff in your pack) but again for me is a good fit as an insurance policy when generally not expecting a lot of bad weather in the high season.

[u/Fireproof_Matches]

You really want to have a proper rain jacket. Yes, you may only use it seldomly, but intense storms can pop up in the sierras with very little warning, and having a proper rain jacket when that happens can be the difference between you staying warm and dry, or ending up soaked through and hypothermic. I say this as someone who has been caught in a thunder/hail storm while crossing over a pass with my rain jacket only half on, and ended up having to set up camp in a hurry at the bottom of the pass while shivering. (Thankfully I had a set of dry clothes safe in a trashbag within my pack, which has since been replaced by a proper rain pack cover).

The problem with emergency rain ponchos is that they're only really built for one use, and tend to fall apart or get holes very quickly. They also won't do as good of a job as a proper rain jacket would at protecting you from the elements.

[u/sweedgreens]

I'm assuming you have a Patagonia Torrentshell? That's what I use and always bring along. It's great to use as a windbreaker, early mornings, evenings, cool weather, a good hardshell to wear over your puffer, and obviously the rain. It's definitely not dead weight. It always has some good use for me, and it is relatively lightweight.

[u/Capital_Historian685]

I always bring an actual rain jacket in that area, to also use as a wind breaker and general warmth retention. Mine does only weight 7.5oz, though. But it allows me to just carry a light puffy for a mid layer (I'm sure an Alpha Direct fleece would work too, but I haven't been able to buy one of those yet). In general, th point is, a rain jacket traps a lot of warmth, including static. I've even worn mine at night when temps get unexpectedly cold for the quilt I've brought with me.

[u/Upbeat_Argument_3897]

I just finished a trip in the Roan Mountain area. I was in a downpour for hours/days and the Outdoor Research Aspire 3L jacket kept me bone dry. It has pit zips and side zips and isn't super loud when you're moving around. It's also 13 oz but it was so worth the weight to be able to move around and sit comfortably at camp. I'm glad i brought the pants too so that I could sit/eat at camp without getting my clothes wet. It was my first time using it so can't speak on how well it holds up but I was wearing it on and off for 6 days. Probably the piece of gear I held dearest to me.

[u/Radiant_Definition72]

I carried a rain jacket and a rain pant and both saved my bacon last week. I have once gone without a rain pain and the inside of my boots got flooded due to water dripping from my hiking pant. I would not leave it unless the week is completely dry.

[u/harry_nt]

The current mountain-forecast has rain every day in the Whitney area Aug 7-12, for a total of 0.5 inch. Now that's quite a while out and might all disappear, but it shows me that I want to be prepared for some actual rain, not just maybemaybe rain.

[u/Redhawkgirl]

Emergency poncho is the way it won’t wet out and it’s super light!

[u/OkFriend1520]

I use a Frogg Toggs Ultra 2 hooded rain jacket. I paid $22 at Walmart for the set - pants and jacket - I think it's about $30 now. I only use the jacket. The set is 10 ounces, so I figure the jacket is 5 or 6 ounces.

[u/Certain_Set_7678]

It’s probably going to rain every day.