My trip is still a month away, but I am staging my gear for packing.

I have an uber rain coat that I took last year. Its a tad heavy but great otherwise. So I think to myself...look at the weather 10 days out and decide to take it or not.

Feels like that is cheating. Plus...weather forecasts are a gamble anyhow.

I never go without my rain gear no matter what the forecast is. A weather forecast is really only good for one day.

I would never go mid-Sept. without rain gear. Weather is highly variable then.

I use rain gear for wind and warmth. I never trip without it.

egknuti: "I never go without my rain gear no matter what the forecast is."

What Ethan said.

Rain jacket and pants go on every trip. Generally, Marmot PreCip or similar packable rain gear. However, in cooler temps like early spring or into the fall, one might consider a heavier Goretex for additional warmth and protection.

We always go prepared for most any weather. Forecast have been severely off ranging to temps around 38 degrees in July and much rain a few days after the trip started when none of that was in future when we left.

The best way to insure rain is to leave your rain gear out. Ten days in September almost always has rain on 2-3 days at least. Not a good idea to flirt with hypothermia. Pack it where it will be handy.

Remember Scouts motto: Be Prepared.

GraniteCliffs: "I use rain gear for wind and warmth. I never trip without it. "

+2. Never trip without it. I too use my rain coat and pants for wind and warmth layer. Bought an awesome Fjallraven rain coat and arc'teryx rain pants on steepandcheap at 50% off. They are bullet proof and comfortable. If they ever fail and I can't find a deal I would pay full price for them I like them so much. Of course that would put retirement out a couple more months at a minimum.

Yeah, what others said. Up there weather can change from lake-to-lake. They create their own weather patterns. A weather forecast of no rain for the area doesn't mean it won't rain on a particular lake.

Listen to these folks, never leave out quality rain gear. Temps can easily be in the 30's or cooler any month of the spring, summer or fall. If you are wet, you are in trouble.

old_salt: "Remember Scouts motto: Be Prepared."

Delicate balance between the scout oath and scout promise:
"Thrifty" vs. "Be prepared"

OK, I am schooled...rain gear goes in the pack.

Good input from all

Yeah techno I rarely ever use rain gear but I always do have it just in case. At least bring a poncho at the bare minimum. Also staging gear is the best way to do it. I have a shelf in the basement with all the stuff lined up and the bags underneath said stuff. When it is time to go I do a sweeping motion with my arm to the gear and just drop it straight into the bag :)

Do you have less uber rain gear you would bring if the forecast was positive? If so then if it would keep you out of trouble in the event of cold rain, then it's a flip of a coin. Cheating, maybe, or smart, or whatever you want to call it but you won't know until you know. I'd say many people here have heavier and better gear they would wear if they didn't have to pack it up and carry it.

Weather 10 days out? 10 hours out is iffy. Like TP, always bring the rain gear

I can still enjoy a trip if it’s cold, but if it’s wet and cold and I don’t have rain gear the trip is over and I’m on my home. I also don’t skimp on rain gear, I have the best I can afford and suitable to the time of year, normally gortex spring and fall, lighter more packable in warmer weather.

Like others said rain gear is never optional. I bring my rain gear for wet weather but also for cold weather. It works well as an outer shell to block wind on cold days. It can easily be paired with a fleece of some sort for extra insulation along with other layers you'll likely already have with to keep you warm without having to bring a second heavier jacket.

If your current rain jacket is big and bulky then I'd look to swap it out for a lighter more easily packed option versus leaving it at home altogether. I actually picked up a light rain jacket from Costco a few years back. It was rather inexpensive but has become my go to jacket for all wet or cool weather at home or in the BWCA. When its cold adding a good fleece under will keep me comfortable down into the 40's.

Like others said rain gear is never optional. I bring my rain gear for wet weather but also for cold weather. It works well as an outer shell to block wind on cold days. It can easily be paired with a fleece of some sort for extra insulation along with other layers you'll likely already have with to keep you warm without having to bring a second heavier jacket.

If your current rain jacket is big and bulky then I'd look to swap it out for a lighter more easily packed option versus leaving it at home altogether. I actually picked up a light rain jacket from Costco a few years back. It was rather inexpensive but has become my go to jacket for all wet or cool weather at home or in the BWCA. When its cold adding a good fleece under will keep me comfortable down into the 40's.

minnmike: "

GraniteCliffs: "I use rain gear for wind and warmth. I never trip without it. "

+2. Never trip without it. "

+3 - and here, here for the Arc'teryx gear - tough to beat.

TechnoScout, there is a lot of stuff you can be thrifty with now a days but to me rain gear isn't one of them. I have went thru every monetary level of rain gear and the cheap ones have failed me in every way and leave me wet with sweat if they don't wet thru, zipper fail, or fabric fail. Even the middle dollar ones have not come close to Fjallraven and Arc'teryx level. They are really that impressive. Not only keeping me dry and are a great outer shell when layering but I can go thru the thickest bush and they have yet to fail. As stated earlier if you shop around you don't have to pay full price for them.

In September, no matter what the “forecast” is I take my summer rain gear, and my cold weather insulated goretex rain gear. Seem to always need both that time of year.

I always say... the fun is over when you are cold and wet.

I'll pile on.

Always.

My rain gear doubles as my warmest top layer. I probably wear my rain coat more when it's not raining then when it is.

Mike

I've never said "I wish I didn't pack my rain gear"..... The opposite cannot be said ;)

If your rain gear is so heavy that you'd consider tripping without it, you should really consider investing in lighter rain gear. Even if you need to consider a lower quality gear than you use currently. "Uber" gear that is home in your closet is infinitely less valuable than mediocre gear that you have in your pack.

As everyone else says, bring rain gear even if you think you won't need it. My Gore-Tex jacket and pants serve as excellent shells when it's cold and breezy.

I also have spent small fortunes over the years on rainsuits that have left me wet. More from the myth of being "Breathable" than from outside water coming inside. No matter how many layers of clothing I remove before suiting up, after a hard portage, I am soaked.

MB

TechnoScout: "My trip is still a month away, but I am staging my gear for packing.

I have an uber rain coat that I took last year. Its a tad heavy but great otherwise. So I think to myself...look at the weather 10 days out and decide to take it or not.

Feels like that is cheating. Plus...weather forecasts are a gamble anyhow."

Don't listen to all these other posts. Ditch the raingear and live a little... What's life without some risk. It's the BWCA you are going to, not the north pole.

JK Bring the raincoat.

Don't listen to all these other posts. Ditch the raingear and live a little... What's life without some risk. It's the BWCA you are going to, not the north pole.

JK Bring the raincoat."

Funny. That is one of the things I love about the BWCA...the element of risk.

TechnoScout: "

old_salt: "Remember Scouts motto: Be Prepared."

Delicate balance between the scout oath and scout promise: "Thrifty" vs. "Be prepared"

OK, I am schooled...rain gear goes in the pack.

Good input from all"

Ah yes "Thrifty"; my son (who is now working on his Eagle) is learning that there is a non-forgiving line between buying cheap and buying smart = It's cheaper to spend the money the first time as compared to going cheap, having it break/not work and then you buy what you should have bought the first time. Otherwise known as buy once, cry once.

As for your question, PACK the rain gear. Its well worth the weight/bulk penalty. Wet & cold, vs dry & warm... I'll take dry for $1000 Alex.,

Wind breaking is an added bonus.

If you're really trying to cut weight/space.. toss in some 55 gallon contractor trash bags into your kit.. they will work in a bind as rain gear = I have them stashed in all my outdoors stuff. They can serve a multiple different uses..

Ah yes "Thrifty"; my son ( who is now working on his Eagle)..."

Congrats on Eagle progress.

I had 12 Eagles advance in my troop (including my son) during my 7-yr stint as scoutmaster. I also led the first crew from our Troop to the BWCAW. Subsequently led three more crews and the troop continues to make the 1500 mile trek.

Rain gear is never a no take option. As everyone stated it's better to have the gear than not. I wouldn't go the cheap route when it comes to it either. Consider new gear if your current stuff is heavy.

firemedic5586: "If you're really trying to cut weight/space.. toss in some 55 gallon contractor trash bags into your kit.. they will work in a bind as rain gear = I have them stashed in all my outdoors stuff. They can serve a multiple different uses. "

I had a couple Canadian women in a canoe pass me once in the rain wearing garbage bags. They were smilin' and I felt like a wuss in my Gore-Tex.

missmolly: "I had a couple Canadian women in a canoe pass me once in the rain wearing garbage bags. They were smilin' and I felt like a wuss in my Gore-Tex."

They were probably smiling as they looked at you in your Gore-Tex because they knew inside you were laughing at them for forgetting THEIR Gore-Tex rain gear. :)

"If the five day weather forecast was accurate, then we'd only need a forecast once every five days"
-Jerry Seinfeld

I bought a 7oz rain jacket from lightheart gear a year ago and I take it on every hiking, biking or canoe trip I take. In warmer weather I also bring a 2oz dyneema rain kilt, cooler weather I bring my 5oz rain pants.

Lightweight gear is so easy to justify tossing in when packing for a trip.

SinglePortage: "I bought a 7oz rain jacket from lightheart gear a year ago and I take it on every hiking, biking or canoe trip I take. In warmer weather I also bring a 2oz dyneema rain kilt, cooler weather I bring my 5oz rain pants.


Lightweight gear is so easy to justify tossing in when packing for a trip. "

Haha, you said kilt.

I've used the garbage bag many a times in a pinch but I would never go on anything but maybe a overnighter without raingear. Have worn my rain gear many a times for warmth in cool windy weather.

I've been a fan of the frog togs rain gear. Will rip up and fall apart with heavy use, but as a plan b - works out really nice. In the warmer months, I'll only bring the jacket.

Had one trip where my (very old) gortex jacket did not keep the continuous rain out and it was very cold paddling. It was just cold enough where we realized if we stopped moving we might have hypothermia issues.

It seems that cheating while also packing might leave a lover dissatisfied and a spouse rather upset.

3Ball: "It seems that cheating while also packing might leave a lover dissatisfied and a spouse rather upset."

I read it three times before it sunk in :-)

UPDATE: Rain gear is now packed in the box I am shipping--I have listened!

As evidenced by the forecast, my question was pretty much academic. There is a chance of rain every day according to the current forecast (7 days out).

TechnoScout: "As evidenced by the forecast, my question was pretty much academic. There is a chance of rain every day according to the current forecast (7 days out). "

Yes rain, but nice cool weather and wind also. I’ll bet that rain gear is the number one piece of equipment brought! I’d be in heaven paddling now!

Don't believe the forecast Doug. Lighten the load, leave the rain jacket at home. HAHA.

minnmike: " Don't believe the forecast Doug. Lighten the load, leave the rain jacket at home. HAHA. "

LOL...someday...hopefully soon, I will do a minimalist trip and face, head on, what nature has to bring...but not this trip!!