Greetings all. My buddy and I are taking our first trip to the Boundary Waters July 17. We both have significant outdoor experience, but none in the BW. We are wondering, is rain gear a must have? I'm going to be wearing Columbia PFG gear, so it will dry quickly.

My opinion is yes. My first trip ever was in July, the week before it was 85 degrees, the week I was up there it sleeted (looked and felt like snow to me) and rained it was so cold...

You just never know what the weather will do up there and forecasts change daily you can't count on a 7 day forecast up there.

T

Yes. The heaviest, most drenching rain storm I have ever been caught in was in late July in the BWCA. Thunderstorms up there can produce torrential rain.

I'm guessing almost everyone will say yes, but I will say maybe. You will be up there at one of of the warmest times of the year, but consider these things:

- Forecast can change a lot. My last trip two weeks ago lows dropped 15º from my day of packing, and 5-10 from my day of departure.
- If temps are higher threats of hypothermia my be low, but how comfortable will you be if soaking wet?
- How much weight will you save by leaving rain gear in your car? Is there anything else you might leave instead?

There are times where I prefer to just get wet and dry out, but only when it is warmer. Hard to say this far in advance how good of an idea it is.

Yes, I do believe it is essential. Better to have it and not need it than not have it and wish you did.

Yes, it is. It serves as a wind shell, as well as a rain shell. A light or medium weight insulating layer should also be included. Your sleeping bag/pad should be adequate for the lowest temperature you might experience. The record low temperature for Ely for the time of your trip is 44 degrees. Outside the town of Ely in the BW, it could easily be a few degrees colder; let's say 40 degrees. It could also be windy, so add wind chill for strong wind gusts. You could also have heavy prolonged rain. You could have all three at the same time and if it's even 50 degrees with heavy rain and strong wind, you will be cold. If the air is saturated with moisture your quick-dry clothes will not dry as quickly as you think and even if they are dry, they won't provide much warmth. You'll be out in the wilderness and won't be able to just throw everything in the car and go home. If the weather is bad (think lightning and wind), you won't be able to travel and will have to sit it out.

You'll most likely have average weather - mid-70's and mid-50's - and survive with no problems, but don't make the assumption you'll be fine with a tropical shirt, shorts, and flip-flops.

Really? - why would you NOT bring rain gear - any time of year? Are you planning to use a garbage bag with a hole cut for arms and head? Or, is it not going to rain?
I am bringing mine!

Yes, a must. Hypothermia can happen very quickly any time of year in the BWCA.

Yes. Raingear is ALWAYS essential when you are primitive camping miles from nowhere no matter what month in my opinion.

Yes take the rain gear. Hypothermia can happen even in 60-70 degree temps when you are wet and cold and it is windy outside. A lot of cases happen in warmer temps like this where people don't take as much concern that they will become hypothermic as opposed to the winter time.

I would never go without it.

Get a set of Frogg Toggs at walmart. Cheap, light weight, breathes better than any rain gear....what is not to love? (ok, it tears)

quote timatkn: "My opinion is yes. My first trip ever was in July, the week before it was 85 degrees, the week I was up there it sleeted (looked and felt like snow to me) and rained it was so cold...


You just never know what the weather will do up there and forecasts change daily you can't count on a 7 day forecast up there.


T"

+1. I've had similar experiences up there in July!

I carry a gortex raincoat. Have used it on three trips in 20+. It was nice to have but not essential. Did end up laying over two days of rain which was fine - played cards and drank wine. I've never missed rain pants.

I would say yes. A few years ago we were on Long Island Lake and it rained for about 36 hours straight. It was July 15 and according to the radio the warmest it got was 56 during that time and pretty breezy. Had to wear a rain coat to go to the latrine! Everything we had got wet except for gear under our CCS tarp. We actually cut the trip short a day.

Mike

I question wether you have "significant outdoor experience" at all when you feel a need to ask such a question. I don't even day trip without rain gear of some kind.

If bulk and expense is the issue you might consider a silnylon poncho but you MUST have rain gear of some type. And that means waterproof not water resistant. It need not be expensive to start.

What if it stays cloudy, wet and cold for your entire trip? Yup it can happen.........no sun to dry your limited clothes and the next thing you know you're in trouble.

For me, the only question is whether to bring lightweight pants and jacket, or heavier bibs and jacket. FWIW, last year I was commando in my raingear because it was 50 degrees and both sets of quick dry clothing were drenched.

Thanks everyone for the responses. I felt like I knew the answer to this question, but I appreciate the feedback.

I agree with the comment of rain gear being another layer. My compactable down jacket is warm but doesn't cut the wind. Rain gear is my windbreaker.

Definitely yes on the rain gear. I was out working in July and it started to rain and a strong wind. I did not have any rain gear with me because it was July and I was on a service call. I started to get cold and kept working. Then I started shivering. I had to warm up in the truck with the heat on in July. I had a case of hyperthermia. This is no different than if you were in a canoe or in camp. You need to stay dry and warm.

Yes - and you might want to spend a bit more for quality. This is one piece of camping gear that I consider an "investment", rather than an expense...

quote mastertangler: "I question wether you have "significant outdoor experience" at all when you feel a need to ask such a question. "

OP also said it was the first trip into the BW. I consider that I have significant outdoor experience, but there are outings in areas that I have never been to and I would not hesitate to ask questions if I had any. The idea here is to support people, not drive them away.

quote Frenchy19: "

quote mastertangler: "I question wether you have "significant outdoor experience" at all when you feel a need to ask such a question. "

OP also said it was the first trip into the BW. I consider that I have significant outdoor experience, but there are outings in areas that I have never been to and I would not hesitate to ask questions if I had any. The idea here is to support people, not drive them away."

Thanks Frenchy19. I was thinking the same thing.

As already mentioned, you need to stay dry. Don't count on your wet or damp clothes drying out when the humidity is 90%+ and the temp is 50° - 60°. In 2015 it rained the entire first day of my trip from EP #37 up to Lake Polly. My gear didn't dry out all week because it was cool and humid at night while I was trying to dry my gear and during the day when it was sunny and breezy it was safely tucked away in my packs (wet/damp). When you have a lot of portages it's hard to keep your clothes and equipment strapped to the outside of your packs to dry. The temp range could easily be between 50° and 95° during that time frame.

Good rain gear is essential on every trip no matter what time if the year.
CB

Certainly I m not the only one whose eyebrows rise up when someone claims to be very experienced and then wonders aloud if raingear might be, shall we say, optional.

In any event all posts, including mine, patiently explained how ill advised such an action would be and provided helpful advice.

quote mastertangler: "Certainly I m not the only one whose eyebrows rise up when someone claims to be very experienced and then wonders aloud if raingear might be, shall we say, optional.


In any event all posts, including mine, patiently explained how ill advised such an action would be and provided helpful advice. "

What he said.

I have been out with guys in only the garbage bag style ponchos. Made my really nice set of rain gear that I got when working at Valley Fair years back no longer seem like over kill. You see it in action once and there is no need for any convincing.

In the overwhelmingly positive and helpful spirit of this forum, assuming you're not too accustomed to the region, I suggest you go a step further and consider packing a tarp to deploy during any rainstorm. Can make a rainy spell much more enjoyable. It's a fairly customary practice in the BWCA for good reason. Hope you have a good trip!