Rain gear

jozi

I've been lucky over the summer and only had to use my rain gear maybe 2-3 times so far.

On each occasion I still got soaked! The rain gear is trapping sweat and just soaking me from the inside out, Obviously not really to pleasant.

What do people use for rain gear that actually keeps them dry? Save for the face maybe.

Any handy tips for keeping my feet dry as well, a bit cumbersome taking a extra pair of runners in the back as well as dry socks.

The gear I have is some sort of regatta storm gear.

souter

just wear the bare minimum for the temperature and suck it up soldier. It helps that I have waterproof panniers so I carry a towel and complete change of clothes.

jozi

I take a change of clothes with my to work but the less sweat the better. I do wipe myself down once I get to work with babywipes, not quite a shower but better than sitting in the office being all smelly. The sweating with rain gear leave my bottoms and jumper wet and I have no where to dry them out before needing them again on the cycle home.

The tax man

I'll get this one in before Blorg:D
dhb eVENT jacket. Excellent jacket going cheap right now. It'll keep the rain completely out and I've yet to start sweating in mine. No need to stop and take it off when the rain stops.

tomasrojo

I use something very like this for keeping feet dry when the rain is very heavy. I wear Brasher boots most of the time, so they're somewhat rain-resistant to begin with.



Other than that, I wear a Ultramontane rain smock, an Outdoor Research rain hat and Altura rain trousers.

The rain trousers are a little hard to take off over boots. Perhaps Altura should consult with the people who make trousers for strippers.

jozi

Would want to be good for that price! What about keeping the head dry when it rains? Any recommendation for (over?) trousers?

Knew there was something to keep the feet dry although it looks a bit laughable But beats wet feet offcourse!

Raam

Not too bothered about getting wet, as long as I look good in the process.

07Lapierre

jozi wrote: »

I've been lucky over the summer and only had to use my rain gear maybe 2-3 times so far.

On each occasion I still got soaked! The rain gear is trapping sweat and just soaking me from the inside out, Obviously not really to pleasant.

What do people use for rain gear that actually keeps them dry? Save for the face maybe.

Any handy tips for keeping my feet dry as well, a bit cumbersome taking a extra pair of runners in the back as well as dry socks.

The gear I have is some sort of regatta storm gear.

If you cycle in the rain, your going to get wet!, either rainwater and/or sweat. Keeping dry is not important, keeping your self WARM (in winter) is what counts. Oh and as RAAM says, Lookin good!

tomasrojo

jozi wrote: »

What about keeping the head dry when it rains? Any recommendation for (over?) trousers?

The Altura overtrousers I have are ok -- certainly quite waterproof -- and not too expensive, but they're not the most breathable in the world. I'm not sure you'd cycle more than about 20km in them. You can always just wear shorts under them though, which I do sometimes.

I don't wear a helmet, so I can wear a rain hat. Outdoor Research does a range for hikers and anglers. You can velcro the sides up, which stops the brim blowing down over your eyes, but it gives you a rather Australian soldier look.

If you do wear a helmet, Richard Ballantine recommends stretching a shower cap over the helmet.

jozi wrote: »

Knew there was something to keep the feet dry although it looks a bit laughable But beats wet feet offcourse!

Coupled with my bright yellow rainsmock and the slightly odd hat, it means I look a bit of a state when it rains.

Blowfish

07Lapierre wrote: »

If you cycle in the rain, your going to get wet!, either rainwater and/or sweat. Keeping dry is not important, keeping your self WARM (in winter) is what counts. Oh and as RAAM says, Lookin good!

As a caveat to that though, I'd say keeping your shoes dry is a good idea as they hold water far more than any other clothes. Damp shoes + warm feet = stinky.

Raam

Blowfish wrote: »

As a caveat to that though, I'd say keeping your shoes dry is a good idea as they hold water far more than any other clothes. Damp shoes + warm feet = stinky.

Yeah my shoes are rank right now.

For feet, I go for a warm pair of wool hiking socks in the depths of winter. Then either Belgian Booties or if it's really bad, heavier over shoes.

07Lapierre

Blowfish wrote: »

As a caveat to that though, I'd say keeping your shoes dry is a good idea as they hold water far more than any other clothes. Damp shoes + warm feet = stinky.

+1 but IMHO unavoidable. I'd still prefer warm (and maybe, but not always stinky) feet over COLD feet. but thats just me.

thebouldwhacker

It wouldn't be a rain gear thread without chucking one of these pics in, and my personal fav...

Idleater

Raam wrote: »

Not too bothered about getting wet, as long as I look good in the process.

Interesting to see the problem I found last night also highlighted in that picture : Glasses.

I'm glad I asked for the vented option on the radar's I bought - they work great for clearing the condensation (when stopped at the lights). But the rain drops on the lenses (a la pic) don't fall away all the time meaning inopportune occasional blindness from oncoming car headlights - in the dark or semi dark anyway.

On a more clothing related note, I found the warm leggings (from ROK_ON) worked brilliantly, and I didn't notice "so to speak" the rain until I stopped at home. The clever "air vents" on the shoes though do leave a lot to be desired in rain.