The Ultimate Guide to Hiking In The Rain

We’d all undoubtedly enjoy having perfect weather for each and every hike we ever attempted. Sadly, Mother Nature has other ideas, and rain will eventually fall regardless of our plans. How can we make hiking more enjoyable if rain is unavoidable?

I’ll go over every tip and trick I’ve learned over the past ten years of hiking in the rain. I fell in love with hiking regardless of the weather after my disastrous first two-week camping trip (during which it rained nonstop for ten days straight). Ten years later, I hiked on New Zealand’s wet and wild West Coast.

So continue reading for some advice on how to enjoy a warm, dry, and enjoyable hike in the rain!

Tips For Hiking In The Rain

Waterproof your backpack

Even if your backpack claims to be waterproof, don’t rely on it to keep your gear dry if you haven’t used it in the rain before. Waterproofing treatments eventually wear off, and rain frequently seeps in through the zippers. You can purchase a rain cover that is waterproof and use waterproofing spray or extra protection

Use dry bags to keep important items dry

While you are hiking, your rain cover will keep the backpack dry, but if you ever need to open the pack, you’ll want to add an extra layer of security to protect your valuables. Your phone, wallet, and other important items should be kept dry in a thin dry bag.

Pack Easy Snacks

The last thing you’ll want to do for lunch if it’s pouring outside is stop and eat a sandwich or something else that needs to be prepared. This is not only uncomfortable, but it also causes you to lose body heat when you stop moving. It’s best to bring simple snacks you can eat on the go because you probably won’t stop long for a snack break like you would on a sunny day. Consider nuts, fruit, or granola bars. By keeping snacks close at hand, you can burn calories while getting the nutritional boost you need without having to stop mid-hike.

Bring or make a warm beverage

Consider bringing a warm beverage with you. Personally, I really enjoy doing this. My hiking backpack’s water bottle pocket can accommodate a thermos that keeps my drink warm for over six hours.

As an alternative, you could light a backcountry campfire and prepare your own warm drink. For a day trip, that would be too much work, so in this case, it might be a better idea to bring a drink from home. However, on extended trips, I like to prepare a warm beverage at least once every day.

Use trekking poles

Trekking poles are a final piece of hiking equipment that I cannot emphasize enough for wet weather hikes. In good weather or bad, trekking poles are useful on any kind of trail, but they come in particularly handy when it’s raining.

Four points of contact with the ground help you stay balanced when negotiating treacherous rocks and roots, fording a stream, or determining the depth of a mud puddle before you plunge your knees into it.

Pick the right trail

The best course of action is to choose a well-established trail that you are already familiar with because you don’t want to get lost in inclement weather. If visibility is poor, familiar trails will be less difficult to navigate and less difficult to walk on. Forested trails are ideal because they offer good protection from wind and rain. Avoid exposed, rocky, and steep trails that can become slippery when wet as well as those that lead you close to steep drop-offs. These can all turn into rivers in the rain.

Have a good attitude

When we hiked through Bhutan in 2016, we experienced a few days of heavy rain. However, the group who ran the trip before us endured two weeks of nonstop rain, bitter cold, and a thick mud trail. Not my ideal situation, but if that’s what you have to deal with, you can either whine about it or try to make the most of it by finding the positives. Rain is necessary for rainbows to appear, and walking through conifer or eucalyptus forests during a rainy day will make the air smell even sweeter.

Even a waterproof jacket won’t help you if you don’t have a positive outlook. In my experience, the good mood during a hike can change even in sunny and dry weather for a variety of reasons, including the difficulty of the hike itself, the fact that you only brought a small amount of food with you and quickly became ravenous, the fact that you lost your way, and so forth.

Music, for instance, can support maintaining the mood. On a hike with friends, share humorous tales with one another. Consider the comforts and amenities you will have at home after the hike, as well as the opportunity to share your experiences and photos with friends on social media. All of these things will make it easier to spend the day in the rain.

Have a good attitude

Hiking Clothing in the Rain

“There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear,” is a proverb you may have heard. While some of this is true, there is also bad weather. But since we only have control over the gear, we’ll concentrate on that. Good hiking rain gear must strike a balance between keeping you warm and dry while also keeping you cool enough to avoid perspiring. This requires donning a lightweight pair of waterproof hiking pants as well as a waterproof, breathable rain jacket.

Avoid cotton if you can

This is crucial for next-to-skin layers because cotton chills you and holds water, including your sweat. In the worst case, that might result in hypothermia. Use wicking materials to keep moisture off of your skin. In terms of outdoor clothing, wool, nylon, and polyester are all preferred to cotton.

HIKING RAIN JACKETS

You’ll be more likely to venture outside on rainy days if you invest in a high-quality, tough rain jacket that can withstand challenging conditions. Understanding all characteristics on a rain jacket can be a little overwhelming because technology has advanced significantly over time. It may not be necessary to have all the technical features, but some will improve your experience, depending on the type of hiking you do. I’ll therefore list a few of the most crucial characteristics to consider.

I love rain jackets with armpit zips because they significantly improve my comfort and allow me to hike in the rain without overheating. You also don’t want a rain jacket that is too tight or too loose. You’ll need enough room for any underneath layers you might need to wear. You also don’t want it to be too loose, where you’re fumbling with extra material on the trail.

When regular down gets wet, it loses a lot of its insulating capacity. Your next best options are water-resistant down and hybrids that combine synthetic insulation and water-resistant down. Bring a soft-shell jacket or lightweight fleece if you’re hiking in more temperate conditions.

WATERPROOF HIKING PANTS

Choose a pair of rain hiking pants that are at once cozy, breathable, and waterproof. I also look for rain pants with a bottom zipper so I can put them on and take them off without removing my shoes.

You should be aware that when the material rubs against each other, waterproof hiking pants can make noise. Although they aren’t the most fashionable, they will keep you dry and comfortable. For added warmth or in case it stops raining and you want to take them off, I advise putting on a pair of thin leggings underneath. When hiking in the rain, some people opt to forgo wearing waterproof pants, but if the day is particularly drenched in moisture, you may experience some inner thigh chafing and that’s not enjoyable.

WATERPROOF HIKING SHOES

Being forced to turn around because your feet are muddy is a major letdown. So, wearing waterproof shoes is essential for a successful hike in the rain. While I prefer a lighter, lower-ankle shoe for most day hikes, when it’s raining I prefer a higher ankle boot. On slick trails, it offers more ankle support and will keep the feet dryer (especially when paired with gaiters).

Check to see if your current hiking boots are waterproof before heading out to buy a new pair for hiking in the rain because there’s a good chance they are. Another piece of advice is to bring along an extra pair of wool or synthetic socks in case you get wet feet.

GAITERS

Gaiters will prevent mud and water from splashing into your shoes underneath your pants if you’ll be hiking through mud or large puddles.

GLOVES

The best way to keep your hands warm while hiking in the rain, according to a tip I picked up from my backpacking guide in Alaska, is to put on a pair of neoprene gloves. Neoprene insulates when wet, so even though they won’t keep your hands dry, your fingers will stay warm while you hike.

How Much Water To Bring When Hiking In The Rain

While hiking in the rain, many people tend to drink less water than they should. But even on rainy days, our bodies require plenty of water to continue operating normally.

Even a 2% dehydration level can cause cognitive and physical decline. So whether it’s raining or not, it’s a good idea to stay hydrated while hiking.

Be sure to eat something salty throughout your adventure because sweating while hiking causes our electrolyte and mineral concentrations to become diluted with water.

Why go hiking in the rain?

The trail will be completely yours: Since the trails are deserted during a rain, you might not run into anyone and be able to experience true solitude and tranquility while hiking. You might be able to encounter animals you wouldn’t typically see with a little patience and silence.

But if you get lost, you might not run into any other hikers, so be sure you know your way around the signs, maps, and compass. Always let someone know where and for how long you’re going on a hike.

The advantages of negative ions will benefit you: Despite their misleading name of “negative ions,” they are actually very beneficial to us. They are everywhere in the rain, which is great! In addition to improving air quality, they also lessen asthma and chronic fatigue. Therefore, wait until it rains the next time and breathe in some fresh air to reap the full benefits.

You’ll discover the scenery with heightened senses: An extraordinary sensory experience. While some people find the rain noise to be calming, others find its smell to be unmatched.

While strolling through a wooded area, the grass appears to be greener, the scent of the trees and plants is more intense, and even the sound of the streams created by the rain and the small waterfalls it produces seem more intense.

You’ll have the chance to see animals that only emerge during rainy weather: Additionally, your chances of seeing wild animals will increase. There should be something for everyone, from salamanders and frogs to snails. We advise you to always carry binoculars or your camera with you. As long as you treat the animals with respect, you can arrange a snail race with your kids.

If you’re lucky, you might even get to see a rainbow: A rainbow always makes the day happier because we’re all just big kids. But there are no rainbows if it doesn’t rain.

A hot beverage and a sense of accomplishment when you return home: When you get home from a hike, a hot chocolate and a warm bath are like raclette by the fire for skiing. Therefore, after a rainy hike, use this time to plan your next excursion. Why not daydream about hiking in far-off lands or simply go and explore the paths in your neighborhood? You can always find a fantastic new hike to go on soon.