Rain Gear for Touring

[pslates]

I have done a little touring each time less than a week and little rain but am looking to do longer tours in the future.  I am trying to come up with a collection of the best rain gear.  Currently I have a Showers Pass Storm Jacket and recently got a Marmot PreCip which has under arm zippers.  I think the PreCip would be better.  For a hat I have a Jandd Helmet Rain Cover. 

I am trying to figure out what would be best to keep my shoes and socks dry while riding in the rain and at least for cool weather a good set of pants and should pants be worn at all in the summer or is the sweat from any pants equivalent to being rained on.

On the subject of fenders I have had front and rear full fenders but on my last trip I destroyed my front fenders by pedaling on top of them causing a wreck and bending them beyond repair.  I last did a local day ride in the rain to test my gear and guess I was not getting much more wet without the front fenders but I guess they would help so should I get them replaced.

[John Nelson]

I carry as lightweight of a rain jacket as I can find. It is not only for wet weather, but I also use it for cold weather, wind protection, and have been known to use it to keep mosquitoes from biting me.

Rain pants are only marginally useful. I only use them on the bike if it is both cold and rainy. They are probably more helpful for use in camp during the rain. In that case, I'd like to keep my regular pants dry because I'm probably going to sleep in them.

I use SealSkinz socks for my feet, but I only use them when it is both cold and wet. I don't worry about my shoes--they get wet. Shoe covers are way to heavy and bulky for me.

[BrianW]

I've had a Marmot Precip for a few years and don't think it's all that great. Definitely not breathable, but ok at being waterproof. I'm still a Goretex fan, especially the newer versions without liners.

I think fenders are hugely useful, especially the front one for keeping spray off my shoes. When touring usually the panniers and stuff on top of the rack can mostly serve the function of the rear fender, but then all that stuff gets soaked.

[staehpj1]

Like John, I too use the lightest rain jacket I can find.  For me that is usually more of a wind shirt than a real rain jacket.  I also take some really light rip stop pants that are mostly worn in camp.  I do wear the pants in the rain if it is pretty cold and raining hard or even when it isn't raining if it is extremely cold (<20 F).  I have only occasionally seen those conditions on tour.

As far as keeping shoes and socks dry...  My approach is to choose shoes that have a lot of mesh to dry fast and don't soak up much water paired with socks that dry fast and don't feel too bad when wet.

[raybo]

I am trying to figure out what would be best to keep my shoes and socks dry while riding in the rain

I use a pair of shoe covers you can make yourself from plastic water bottles, Velcro, and nylon cloth. You can read how to do it here: http://www.biketouringtips.com/showTipComments.php?tipID=1806

[canalligators]

I take a different approach.  I don't really try to stay dry when cycling in the rain.  I make sure that I'm warm enough, that I'm visible, and I can see.  Clothing that I've tried, either purchased or home made, has at best kept the parts away from openings dry.  My jackets seep rain into the openings or through the material.  So I consider staying dry a losing battle.  The one part that really annoys me is rain running down through my helmet, so I make sure I have a helmet cover, either one purchased/made from coated nylon or a shower cap.

[Biketouringhobo]

I am trying to figure out what would be best to keep my shoes and socks dry while riding in the rain

I use a pair of shoe covers you can make yourself from plastic water bottles, Velcro, and nylon cloth. You can read how to do it here: http://www.biketouringtips.com/showTipComments.php?tipID=1806

I wear gore-tex boots with Sun Ringle zuzu DH/BMX pedals

[weaveoftheride]

In my experience cycling across Europe one very wet summer, I found that waterproofs made me wet via sweating.

If it was really torrential, I either just put up with it for as long as possible before bailing out and drying everything at once, or trying to find places to shelter but then you aren't making progress.

I did try taking a poncho with me which is better for breathability, doubles up as a bivvy tarp, but looks silly.

I took Shimano Transalp boots, which I was happy with the performance of in general.