[pct-l] Wind Shell + Rain Shell

[Dan Welch]

I'm following the strategy you mention below with one wrinkle - I'm adding a
light rain shell for the highest parts of the Sierras.  My strategy is like
this:

I'm carrying just a wind shirt to Kennedy Meadows where I'll add a  Frog
Togg's rain shell (5.7 oz & VERY inexpensive).  I will bounce the Frog Toggs
shell after Echo Lake & go with just the wind shirt through Northern
California.  Then I'll receive a more substantial rain shell (10.5 oz) in
Ashland to replace the wind shirt for the remainder of the trip. 

The Frog Togg's rain suits are only $20 (tops and rain pants together) and
they are very light weight.  They work pretty well except that they are not
breathable (like a lot of rain shells & pants) and they are not very
durable. For California I feel like I won't have to use them very often so
I'm not particularly worried about the durability.  (The FT pants are the
only rain pants I am taking for CA.) In OR/WA when I may have to hike in
them for multiple days, I don't trust them.  That's why I'm sending in more
substantial rain wear... 

That's my plan,
Timberline
 
-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of Chris Martin
Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2014 11:55 PM
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] Wind Shell + Rain Shell

Anyone thru-hiked with a wind shirt AND a rain jacket? Each serves a
different purpose, so it's easy to make the case for carrying both: one
sheds wind yet breathes well, the other keeps you dry when it rains).

BUT, leaving one behind would save 5-10 precious ounces off my base weight.
I could carry just a wind shell, and hunker down in my shelter when it
rains. Or, I could carry just a rain shell, and deal with suboptimal
breathability when I want to keep warm on windy/cold days.

Perhaps the best compromise is a wind shell for the dry parts of the trail
(SoCal), and a rain shell for the wetter parts (Cascades). What say you,
PCT-L?

Chris
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