What to Wear to Hike in a Storm
Don’t run for shelter when the sky opens up. Embrace nature’s wild side—and your own. But stay (relatively) dry with these top storm-hiking picks from our gear team.
Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero (Courtesy Photo)
Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero
In persistent rain (with no wind), a hat trumps a hood because it improves visibility without stifling hearing. We like Outdoor Research’s Seattle Sombrero ($60; 3.2 oz.; outdoorresearch.com), which has a shaped, 360-degree brim that siphons water away from your head, face, and neck.
Rab Myriad
Priority #1: a good jacket. The Rab Myriad ($375; 14 oz.; rab.uk.com) has the features to handle sustained foul weather—a fully adjustable hood with moldable brim, adjustable cuffs, a high collar—and the breathability to let you deploy them all day without overheating, thanks to its air-permeable Polartec NeoShell fabric.
MontBell Peak Shell Pants
You only throw waterproof pants on when the rain’s coming down hard, so go for a pair that’s superlight and packable, like the simple, pull-on MontBell Peak Shell Pants ($99; 4.6 oz.; montbell.us).
To keep your gear dry, you have options. Individual dry bags, like Granite Gear’s eVent Sil Drysacks ($21-35; 1.2-2 oz.; granitegear.com), let you protect key items. A pack cover, like Sea to Summit’s Ultra-Sil Pack Cover ($30-45; 2-4.6 oz.; seatosummit.com), prevents your pack from getting heavy with water weight, but limits access. Or just line your pack with a heavy-duty trash compactor bag.