TAD style Shell Jackets as summer rain gear?

[the roob]

Well, it's the full on rain-every-afternoon season here in Florida and I'm getting ready for a 20 mile overnighter in a few weeks.

 

Last season I used a plain ole plastic poncho and suffered for it (sweaty hot in a plastic bag, soaked to the skin in sweat all day) and this year was considering getting a fowl weather jacket of some sort as an upgrade to the trashbag styling of the pncho. I figured it would be better for setting camp in the downpour etc etc.

 

 

My basic question is, would a TAD style sharkskin type softshell jacket be too warm of an option for Floridas 90(f) degree rain on 100 degree days? I'm sure it's perfect for rainy days in Vancouver or London but I really dont want to overpack or overheat in this sub-tropical environment.

 

 

anybody with some warm rain experience please give me some schoolin on how to ease the suffering from under a poncho.

[Spacemonkey]

Wore one in Malaysia and to be honest, I felt too clammy underneath and not breathable enough, but then it was 100% humidity so syntheitc breathables don't breathe. It was so warm it was best to just get wet and cool off. It always dried out quickly after, whatever I wore. I would recommend a ventile of sorts or gaberdine. It will get wet, but will dry quick and keep a lot of the water off you, but in heavy rain, you will get wet. Howabout just some jungle lightweights, and just get wet, but dry out quick? The old school British Army jungle suits are great for this, or if you can track down a rare New Zealand jungle suit, it is even better. Ebay is your friend for these. The Brit stuff comes up often enough.

 

http://www.surplusandoutdoors.com/shop/army-surplus-uk/army-surplus-clothing/used-but-as-new-british-army-328192.html

 

http://www.surplusandoutdoors.com/shop/army-surplus-uk/army-surplus-clothing/brand-new-un-issued-genuine-tropical-269552.html

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/*Army-Surplus-Tropical-Jungle-Combat-Shirt---Medium_W0QQitemZ270431382787QQcmdZViewItem?rvr_id=117664649168&rvr_id=117664649168&cguid=698266a51270a0e202d73aa7ff29fbc8

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/British-Army-Tropical-Jungle-DPM-shirt-Jacket-_W0QQitemZ220634208188QQcmdZViewItem?rvr_id=117669134124&rvr_id=117669134124&cguid=698266a51270a0e202d73aa7ff29fbc8

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ORIGINAL-TROPICAL-TROUSERS-army-jungle-sas-80%2f76%2f92_W0QQitemZ280333527108QQcmdZViewItem?rvr_id=117669135917&rvr_id=117669135917&cguid=698266a51270a0e202d73aa7ff29fbc8

 

etc etc

[the roob]

thanks man! you just saved me several hundred dollars.

 

 

yeah I am comfortable getting wet and drying out. I'm wearing fast dry synthetics pant and top and will probably just throw a set of US jungle fatigues in my dry bag with my extra socks to climb into after my tent is up.

 

 

I'll try and come up with a reason to buy one when the weather gets a bit colder.

[Spacemonkey]

That kind of softshell jacket (sharkskin type) is great when you just want a light weight windproof water resistant top that doesn't take up much space. The pocket configuration and overall design is good too. I've worn mine on the English moors and Welsh mountains, the Swiss Alps, and even in the Forbidden City and the Shaolin Temple... It's my standard travel jacket for cool wet and windy as it's so good, but not ideal for hot and humid, as in Malaysia and probably Flower-Land summers.. I bought mine from one of the cheap Chinese websites and it is unbranded. My two have been faultless, but my mate's one had problems with the zipper. I can get TAD gear branded jackets for the same kind of price as mine, so I might try them next time I want one.

 

 

Shaolin Style...

 

 

 

Empress's Palace, Forbidden City.

 

 

 

Swiss Alps. Stupid face optional..

[the roob]

great photos! I keep a similar mora to the one on your neck in my boot when I kayak (mines a scout).

[Danke]

When it's pouring rain and you're working hard any kind of breathable membrane jacket will not breath well. Now if it's the up North cold rain then the easy fix is to layer so the moisture moves away from your skin. That can be a bit of a bear though when it's 90F. Maybe some flavor of very thin under armor that wicks up to a light wool layer with a waterproof shell. Depending on the conditions though I might be tempted to stay wet and then change when I was inside the tent, just some kind of polyester T-shirt kind of like this. http://www.arcteryx.com/Product.aspx?Mens/Shirts-Tops/Velox-Comp-Crew

[Spacemonkey]

great photos! I keep a similar mora to the one on your neck in my boot when I kayak (mines a scout).

 

 

Thanks! Mine's a Helle Eggen in that pic (I know- hard to tell as the knife isn't in the sheath), but I use Frost's Moras for fishing and kayaking too. Great knifes at unbelievable prices.