Waterproofs...

dogmatix

So it looks like this summer is going to be a big washout. so far many weather stations have reproted twice their monthly rainfall for june and there is still 5 days left!

Which brings me to the question of effective waterproofs - or rather effective and convenient summer waterproofs. I have a lightweight packable lowe apline thingy I used to use but it stopped at my waist and in heavy showers the water simply ran off onto my walking trousers eventually soaking me from the crotch down. I'm currently struggling with a poncho type thing but the fe*ker is so bloody ackward to put on.

So i'm looking into some sort of jacket that is long enough to stretch down to my knees yet very lightweight (and packable) for warm weather. Easy to quickly put on and take off also. I would consider getting another poncho - if it was properly engineered/constructed.

Any ideas? I've browsed around various stores but have not yet seen anything that would meet my needs.

Evil Phil

Get a pair of water proof over-trousers.

dogmatix

I do have a pair of waterproof over trousers - but I guess i'm just a lazy sod. Thing is with the over trousers - they are not easy to get into when a sudden rain shower starts, even though they have zips on the bottom to enable my big walking boots to get down them. The time spent struggling to get into them means i'm fairly wet by the end. And they are very hot also - you tend to sweat like a pig after 5 minutes in them, at least I do.

I picked up at cheap poncho from Tesco's a few days ago - it's much better "enginneered" then my current crappy poncho. So i'll try it out this weekend - and judging by the weather forecast I will be needing it.

Alun

You can get waterproof overtrousers that have zips that go almost right to the top, some even do go all the way to the top and unzip completely so no struggling and hopping around on one leg in the rain. Mine fall into the first category and are made by Berghaus .. got them in 53 degrees north IIRC.

EDIT: One thing I also forgot to mention is that the zips in mine are double ended, so you can unzip them from the top to allow a bit of air in for those gaps in the showers when you're umming and aahing about whether to take them off or not.

Evil Phil

The zips in mine go right to the top and only take a few seconds to put with a little bit of practice. They're Lowe Alpine I think.