Got caught in a downpour on the Appalachian Trail last month and my $40 rain jacket failed me completely

I was hiking the section near Roan Mountain and a storm came out of nowhere around mile 8. That cheap jacket soaked through in about 20 minutes and I ended up shivering for the last 2 miles to the shelter. Anybody got a rain jacket that actually holds up for long stretches without costing a fortune?

3 comments

3 Comments

henderson.wesley26d ago

Frogg Toggs are cheap but actually work decent for the weight. I picked up a pair after my old jacket wet out on a 3 day trip in the Smokies and they kept me dry through some pretty steady rain. Idk if they'd hold up for years of heavy use but they got me through that trip fine.

hunt.quinn26d ago

That's kinda how it goes with a lot of budget gear though, isn't it? You figure out what you actually need by trying the cheap stuff first, and sometimes it ends up being plenty good enough for what you do. It's the same with a lot of things in life, like tools or even kitchen stuff, you don't always need the top shelf option to get the job done.

alexc9319d ago

Laughing at that "tried the cheap stuff" logic because I also learned that lesson the hard way. Walked around like a wet dog for two days straight on a section hike and swore off anything under $80 after that. Got a Marmot PreCip on sale for like $65 last year and it's held up through a few downpours so far, no complaints. Just make sure you treat the seams every season or you'll be right back to shivering again lol.