Wet Weather Gear/ Rain Jackets?

[Brian]

Hi

Whilst due to the heat and humidity I would doubt if one would actually wear any sort of rain coat whilst actually trekking as it would I feel be just as wet wearing a coat due to perspiration etc.

Around a camp site if raining I feel a light weight rain 3/4 length rain jacket would be suitable.

I am wonder what others have used or would having trekked Kokoda suggest be worn?

My own experience of wearing a rain coat when walking has been in cold, sometimes vey cold, wet climates where keeping moisture off ones body is essential, wet bodies get cold and colder, dry bodies stay warm we wore thermal or thicker woollen clothing under our gore-tex coats to help with ventilation and keep the body dry, cannot see one ever doing this on Kokoda besides the weight of my gore-tex coat, I feel, is out of the question.

Be very interested to hear from others on rain wear etc.

Just a thought Hats waterproof or not?

Brian
Not long off going now.

[Geoff Hardie]

Hi Brian,
In September you will certainly encounter rain at some point. I found a lightweight 3/4 length rain jacket to be ideal for use around campsite at end of days walking. A waterproof hood is useful.
I personally also used a very lightweight poncho however I found it impractical when encountering the many steep uphill and downhill sections, You find yourself continually tripping on the lower parts of the cape.
With the warmth and humidity, most do not bother with rainwear whilst walking. I quickly realised the poncho was something I could have done without
Waterproof covers for your packs, personal pack and one carried by your porter, are a wise investment also.
Should you encounter cooler conditions at the higher points of track, the 3/4 length jacket should provide adequate protection.
Best wishes for your crossing and your final preparation.
Kind regards, Geoff Hardie

[Brian]

Hi Geoff

Thanks for your practical advice along the lines that I was thinking myself whilst I have not yet looked at any outdoor equipment stores I have had a look on the net whilst most there do not appear suitable those very few that are they want an arm and a leg for.

I do have covers for both the day and porters packs wont worry about a waterproof hat bit useless for me personally as I perspire profusely and any hat or cap that I wear will be soaked very soon after starting a walk anyway.

On a different matter when younger I used to go for longer bushwalks then we never used a tent just a tarp and only then if it was raining or heavy dew etc expected. I recently purchased a Mantis 11 tent that I put up in the backyard and slept in. It was a cold, for Brisbane, night with heavy dew I found that condensation could be a problem if one was not careful have been thinking since that I am going to have some real fun and games with my daypack and porters pack in the tent with me specially if it is raining or condensation builds up I wonder how you and others managed. Bring back the tarp heavier but roomier and space to cook.

Thanks again Geoff
Brian

[Geoff Hardie]

Hi Brian,
I too perspire freely and my suggestion re waterproof hood was only intended as an idea for movement around campsite. I could never walk with a hat on either, rain or no rain, unless in the middle of a Melbourne winter.
I dont recall condensation being a problem as one normally had tent well ventilated, just the mozzie screens zippped up. Outside tarp of course also zipped up, still adequate ventilation though. I personally preferred to use a tent instead of the open guest houses because of the mozzie issue.

Regards, Geoff

[Emma]

Hi Brian,

I got back from Kokoda last week. We had a little bit of rain, mostly at night and a very small amount during the day. at night we definately didn't have any use for any wet weather gear. the villages where you stay are very well protected, there is always somewhere to rest and eat all under cover and also you can sleep in a hut most nights, some are good some not so. the tents are good for mozzies. When it did rain during the day the last thing you would want to do is up a rain coat on or poncho, it was so hot and humid i couldn't have thought of anything worse.
probably good to take a very thing disposable poncho they cost about $2 they don't take up much room as you more than likely won't use it but light to pack just in case.
cheers

[Geoff Hardie]

Brian,
Be prepared, the incidence of rain will likely be greater in September than June. This was our experience last year when friends crossed in early July with very little rain compared to our crossing in late August. As evidence of the wet weather we encounted,the Goldie River had been about 3 metres higher the day before we reached this point on the last day our nine day trek from Kokoda.
Cheers, Geoff Hardie

[Brian]

Hi Geoff

Just what I wanted to hear, like heck, but I imagined as much my 70th birtday is on the 27th September this is why I chose that time to do the trek, will actually be on it for it.

By the way Annaconda have a special on whilst not the lightest I got a 3/4 supposedly fully waterproof jacket (and pants which I will not take) reduced to $24 ideal for around the camp sites and as I am staying on at Kokoda for 2-3 days after the trek there also.

Be great if I do not need it.

Brian

[Times two]

I've just gotten back from Kokoda and it rained! When we got to Mt Bellamy it was cold, wet, and miserable – most of us only had ponchos, and thay were grossly inadequate. Prior to this we hadn't worried about covering up in the rain, but it was dismall this day and we were all soon freezing and wishing we had proper rain jackets. I'm going again in a couple of weeks and will definitely invest in a lightweight rain jacket. The poncho was also used to sleep in when my tent leaked water, and when the nights were really cold, but the day we had to hike in it, it quickly became torn, I was constantly tripping on it or adjusting it out of the way. If going in the middle of the year – a poncho is probably fine – as you near September though, I strongly advise you to take the real thing!

[Brian]

I now have a good quaility but not too heavy wet weather jacket that will not only keep me dry whilst in camp but also warm if it should be cold or windy. This will be carried in my porters pack.

I also have a good quality light weight nylon poncho that I will carry in my daypack although if too hot I doubt if I will be wearing it as it will be just as wet inside it as it will be not wearing it.

I am hoping my tent will be dry inside I will be waxing all the seams etc before I leave to make it as waterproof as possible.

Have waterprood covers for both my packs.

By the way I will be taking two poles that I have trained with all the time can strap them to my day pack if not needed.

[Fluppy]

Hi Brian

May I ask what brand of wet weather jacket you purchased and how much it cost? I will be trekking Kokoda in October next year. As it is a month after September, I am expecting it to rain but have no idea on which wet weather gear I should purchase. If they wern't so heavy and bulky – I'd invest in a Drizabone – but these are much too bulky to be taking to Kokoda…

[Brian]

Hi Fluppy

Just speaking to my wife Maureen incidently a few years back she would be coming with me but unfortunately unable to do so now. Maureen said that I actually purchased it at an Annoconda sale it is Rainbow brand and we beleive the complete set jack and pants (I will never wear) were around $25 during the sale I am sure that it would be much lighter than a Drizabone it is not one of the lighter items that I will be carrying bright yellow too so I wont be missed when wearing it. It will most certainly do the job not quite 3/4 length but covers the bum if you were to sit on it.

I also got only yesterday a better quality quite light weight nylon poncho from Great Escape $24.

Really I have been planning much like you for 12 months now and wet weather gear has been one of the bugs for me also as actually what to get. I have sort advice from experienced Kokoda Trekkers via this web site and this is what I have come up with.

I will be walking in about 2 weeks time

Enjoy your planning it is certainly all part of the fun along with the training leading up to it.

PS: I have not dug a hole in the back yard to train for the toliets on the track ha ha I will meet this challenge in the first 24 hours on the track I am sure.

[petedowling]

Hi Brian , my suggestion would be to carry a lightweight rain jacket . Rainbird is a good brand,lightweight,good price. Cycling rainjackets are a good alternative and an advantage is that they come down a bit furtherover your backside but still give you good movement. A good brand is Netti. Abit more expensive than rainbird but very comfortable. Rainbird jackets are able to be stuffed into one of the pockets and then the pocket is zipped up and the jacket takes up the size of a small lunchbox and weighs a few hundred grams.
I only used my rainjacket at nightime more as a windbreak. During the day you are either drenched by perspiration/ or by rain so it really serves no purpose to wear the jacket. Ihad one set of day gear and one set of night gear and a few pair of lycra bike shorts. At the end of each day we washed our clothes and hung them out . Each morning we put on the same clothes which were still wet, dried a bit during the earl part of the day then by mid morning were wet with sweat. Cyclical picture.
Long leg tights/ SKINS are good at night with an ultra light 100% wool jumper ICEBREAKER are the best but are a tad expensive but Kathmandu have ALTICA brand. A lightweight beanie is good for nights as well.
More than anything else look after your feet on the trek spend the time at night to give your feet a good wipeover with alcohol swabs and anti fungal foot powder. A swirl of dettol/ antiseptic in your boots is good as well especially if you have trudged thru swampy areas. good fortune

[Fluppy]

Thanks to both of you for advice/comments on wet-weather gear. Brian – laughing about the digging the holes bit! Not really that you need to prepare for (anyone can dig a hole!) but more so the smell lol!

[Author]

Posts