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Preparing for next part of Shikoku Pilgrimage I started last year I'm bit of stuck with rain gear. Alas this year it seems pretty much set I won't be walking it in spring or autumn both which are by far best seasons to walk(specifically march-april and october-november) but rather summer. July or august most likely months. I'm hoping for july as it's bit cooler than august at least. However july is RAINY. I'll be walking in 2 prefectures which have average rain falls of 330mm and 190mm for july. For comparison last year Helsinki in Finland had 33mm! Rainy day # isn't that different it seems so it's the strength/duration of rain during day. I certainly experienced worst rain in my life so far last year walking in the Kochi prefecture(the rainier of the 2 prefectures above). It was rather heavy and this was less rainy month.

Last year my rainwear was okay BUT that was with much cooler month(april) on unusually cool spring(it even snowed on 700m tall mountain on 30.3). And even then after that horrible rain climbing to 400m or so mountain in bit less heavy rain made me go all steamed up.

So. Looking at temperatures around 25 degrees I guess(wonder what low 23.5, average 26.7 and high 30.7 means. Does that means including all the temperatures during day average temperature of days are 26.7 degrees? So could be like 35 degrees on noon and 20 degrees on night? And high/low are highest/lowest of such average?) and keeping in mind I'll be walking ~25km a day what kind of rain gear might be useful? Poncho? Goretex jacket? (wondering if that's bit of hot. Non-rainy days I'm expecting to walk on t-shirt and shorts and still be sweating)

One option I have been considering is simply say "screw it" and let myself be soaked in rain. I don't see much difference between getting soaked in rain(keeping in mind it's still warm) and getting drenched in sweat. Except while being steamed in rainjacket I found it super hard to simply keep up going.

Anybody have experience of rains in hot temperatures?

The most important thing is getting the right boots. Get boots that don't hold water and dry well.

Personally I wouldn't bother with waterproofs in that weather. A good hat to keep the rain out of your face, good boots to stop your feet rubbing and rotting, plenty of dry sacks to keep your stuff dry and a dry pair of socks for when you finish a days walking. Never underestimate the comfort of a dry pair of socks.

I'm guessing your talking C not F?

As an archaeology student, I get totally drenched during summer fieldwork with some regularity (this is the Netherlands, it rains more often than not). When the weather is warm, we usually just continue working without any kind of rain gear. As you say, there is little difference in being soaked with sweat and soaked with rainwater. At best the rain will actually bring some pleasant refreshment.
In warm weather you are likely to quickly dry up again after the rain is over, so I don't think cooling down too much would become a problem. I don't know how long rain over there usually lasts, but if it can last for many hours I would worry about cooling off too much.
So I would bring a good quality, warm raincoat anyway, just in case you get cooler days and might get cold.

And yeah, as Steve says. Good hat and boots. But since you went hiking before you probably already have that.

For summer season, the best raingear is... umbrella. Speaking from my long hiking and climbing experience, you only want a wearable raingear if you have to use your hands/stay nimble and it's either cold or windy. Some large or asymetric umbrelas can be backpack-mounted if all you need your hands for are walking sticks. Otherwise have all-synthetic t-shirt and shorts and use either hiking sandals or SwimRun shoes so that you dry in an instant as soon as rainfall stops. But remember - with all-synthetic wearables you must also use synthetic underwear - cotton underwear will behave like a sponge for everything flowing down from your torso. Synthetic t-shirts are very foldable, so it's completely valid to have a spare on yourself and rotate them as needed, with damp one hanged on your backpack for drying. If, for some reason, you must have a wearable raingear, then it's either poncho or a light *-tex jacket with HUGE underarm openings as those are the only meaningfull ventilation, but I usually don't bother with a jacket in temperatures over 15 deg. C.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I forgot: a large enough, synthetic/waterproofed hat is usually enough to feel comfortable in the rain as warm water is only problematic on the eyes/glasses, face and neck.

A word on Goretex - Goretex is a very good invention but often used wrong. I've seen people wear goretex outer clothes and then put something like a windproof vest on - ergo yes your outer layer can breath, but the inner layer can't. So if you go that path you want to make sure you've got ever layer that can breath otherwise its not going to work as it should.

As said an umbrella is a great thing, it shields you from the rain and keeps you dry; the only downside is holding it up for a long hike (though you can always lean it against your shoulder) and if there's any strong wind it might not be ideal. Otherwise a study folding one would be light and small to pack and carry (do test it out first there are a LOT of very flimsy folding ones); whilst a more traditional long arm one can double as a walking aid during dry spells.

If its very warm then a wide brimmed hat can be a good first layer of defence (mind though that if the rain is heavy, if you've got a backpack the water can run down the brim of the hat, fall into the backpack top and then run down between your back and the bag). A fleece can also be pretty good at keeping you dry, although in high humidity and heat that won't be ideal.

A poncho might be worth considering as its light and you can flap it around to get some air in; plus if you've got a wide brimmed hat you can drape said poncho over your body and your bag so that there's no catch area between your back and the bag (although if your bag has a high top to it it might spill down your neck).



I'd say try to pack a few options and see what works for you and in the conditions you are in. Even in hot weather if the wind kicks up that can cut right through you, esp if you stop for a break - in those conditions a thicker top or a waterproof jacket can be great to zip up or thrown on just to give a fast layer of protection and warmth.

One more trick in a heavy but warm rain in windless enough conditions when walking with a backpack is to use a jacket as you would wear a poncho - put only a hood of your jacket over your hat/head but hang the rest of the jacket over backpack - this way your neck and back stay dry.

I keep a cheap Coughlans clear rain poncho in my pack when I go backpacking. It's basically just a piece of clear plastic with holes cut in it, but it's functional enough, and they're usually baggy enough I can wear it over the backpack. The heat is more what I'd be concerned with, because anything waterproof will usually not breathe well. I would probably also not wear it unless the rain was a downpour. Like you said, there's not much difference between rain and sweat at the end of the day.

Something else you can do is maximize the amount of quick drying clothing you wear. I was going through streams in the smokies wearing Merrill shoes, smartwool socks, and thin liners under them. My feet would get soaked, but they'd dry out again before I had a chance for blisters to occur. I've got some pants that convert into shorts that are highly water resistant and they dry pretty quick when they do finally get soaked through.

For your pack, I'd get some contractor grade trash bags and put all your stuff inside it inside the pack. More waterproof than any pack cover will be.

Rain in Japan in July can be very heavy and prolonged. Last summer I was there and it rained like a monsoon for about a day continuously.

There would have been no way to stay dry while moving around outdoors. I rolled up my trouser legs and put on waterproof sandals and carried an umbrella and my top half was OK.

This was in an urban area. I don't think the umbrella is so useful if you are out in the sticks and need to use your hands.

On the plus side it was very warm, so getting wet didn't mean getting cold.

A poncho is probably the best idea, as you can drape it over your backpack and there is a lot more air circulation than inside a jacket. Plus a good hat to stop your brain being battered by the rain.

If it’s warm and raining, it”s sometimes better to just wear a t-shirt and shorts - you’ll dry out quickly when you’re out of the rain, rather than covering up in clothes you can’t get dry.

When I go backpacking I always bring a lightweight, waterproof nylon jacket for rain. But the most important thing is to make sure your change of clothes stays dry, and do NOT bring a stitch of cotton into a wet environment!

I lived in the tropics for a few years, where it was warm and humid year-round, and I never wore any sort of rain gear. It was too miserable. Get good boots, and a good hat, and a drybag to change into dry stuff at day's end. You could consider a poncho to put over everything, but any sort of jacket will just make you too hot (or it certainly did me)

Thanks for all the help guys(and girls/women )!

 Steve steveson wrote:
The most important thing is getting the right boots. Get boots that don't hold water and dry well.

Personally I wouldn't bother with waterproofs in that weather. A good hat to keep the rain out of your face, good boots to stop your feet rubbing and rotting, plenty of dry sacks to keep your stuff dry and a dry pair of socks for when you finish a days walking. Never underestimate the comfort of a dry pair of socks.

I'm guessing your talking C not F?

Boots are another concern of mine. Trail runnels or something bit more hiking boot like is also something I need to decide on. Hiking boots are good on mountain trails for sure BUT like 90% of the walk will still be on asphalt through towns and along highways so lightness and breathability are key. Previous shoes are out of question anyway. They got worn down too badly to seriously continue walking another long stretch and this model is OOP now so need to come up with new shoes anyway.

For hat I'm somewhat constrained as I'm sucker for following traditions so I'll be going with the traditional pilgrim conic hat. It also helps if you are recognized as a pilgrim as that ensures you get tons of help and hospitality from locals to whom the pilgrimage is big thing. Also helps me reminded that this isn't just pleasure walk through rural areas of Japan. This means a lot to them so be respectful for it. Now wearing this hat ISN'T required to be respectful but it keeps me focused on it and helps me keeping it as just a pleasure walk(well if you can call walking 1400km, even divided in 3 parts, averaging about 25km a day as a pleasure walk!).



That's me from last year. 4 items I'm thus stuck with. The hat, white vest like thing(not sure what to call it in english), white shoulder bag and the staff. In particular vest and staff are pretty much mandatory for me. Now the shoulder bag and vest can and will go to rain cover during rain. ESPECIALLY that white bag that contains the stamp book. After walking already 500km or so to get it partially filled I'm making damned sure it does NOT get wet

Good thing is that while the conic hat might not be most stylish options it's actually surprisingly convenient! With rain cover it's pretty damn good umbrella as it is and works nicely as sun shade! Only time rain got to my head last time was on the rididulous rain I experienced and that was because roads were so clogged that every time car passed me even slowly I got drenched from BOTTOM so basically huge wave hit my head and hat from downside direction and the hat then redirected water it caught back to my head Japanese roads aren't known for being wide so the walker path along highway weren't wide enough for me to dodge those splashesh....

 Iron_Captain wrote:

In warm weather you are likely to quickly dry up again after the rain is over, so I don't think cooling down too much would become a problem. I don't know how long rain over there usually lasts, but if it can last for many hours I would worry about cooling off too much.
So I would bring a good quality, warm raincoat anyway, just in case you get cooler days and might get cold.

In April I had entire day(7AM-5PM anyway. the time I was generally out and walking) light drizzle. Above mentioned ridiculous rain day was drizzling as I started around 7am, stopped around 9am, then went to ridiculous level from 11am and continued like that until 2pm from which it continued as steady rain until at least 5pm at which point I had hit lodging(well for 2nd time. I went there briefly to drop my backbag before going to climb the 400m or so mountain).

So the rain can continue quite a while. And july is actually more rainy than april without huge increase in days that it rains in average it seems.

nou wrote:
For summer season, the best raingear is... umbrella. Speaking from my long hiking and climbing experience, you only want a wearable raingear if you have to use your hands/stay nimble and it's either cold or windy. Some large or asymetric umbrelas can be backpack-mounted if all you need your hands for are walking sticks. Otherwise have all-synthetic t-shirt and shorts and use either hiking sandals or SwimRun shoes so that you dry in an instant as soon as rainfall stops. But remember - with all-synthetic wearables you must also use synthetic underwear - cotton underwear will behave like a sponge for everything flowing down from your torso. Synthetic t-shirts are very foldable, so it's completely valid to have a spare on yourself and rotate them as needed, with damp one hanged on your backpack for drying. If, for some reason, you must have a wearable raingear, then it's either poncho or a light *-tex jacket with HUGE underarm openings as those are the only meaningfull ventilation, but I usually don't bother with a jacket in temperatures over 15 deg. C.

Umbrella is bit problematic probably. For one only left hand free. For second it might interfere a bit with the conical hat. Then again that hat is already pretty passable umbrella.

Synthetic clothing sounds interesting idea. Haven't used those before. Guess I could get set or two of those easily. Probably expensive enough I don't want to buy all in those(I think I'll keep 3-4 sets of underwear with me in case I can't wash them every day and after walk is over and going to Tokyo to meet friends I definitely don't want to bother with laundry every day!) but say 2 t-shirts, 2 underwears and trouser wouldn't kill me.

 Overread wrote:

If its very warm then a wide brimmed hat can be a good first layer of defence (mind though that if the rain is heavy, if you've got a backpack the water can run down the brim of the hat, fall into the backpack top and then run down between your back and the bag). A fleece can also be pretty good at keeping you dry, although in high humidity and heat that won't be ideal.

I'd say try to pack a few options and see what works for you and in the conditions you are in. Even in hot weather if the wind kicks up that can cut right through you, esp if you stop for a break - in those conditions a thicker top or a waterproof jacket can be great to zip up or thrown on just to give a fast layer of protection and warmth.

Good thing about that conical hat seen on picture is it provides nice brim for sure Shades my eyes pretty well. And as for problem you mentioned this is actually wide enough it basically leads rain so far into backbag it actually drops off there without hitting neck. That was zero issue last time! Flip side is looking up(say when you are climbing mountain...) can be bit hard as the hat keeps hitting the backbag!

Albeit I have smaller backbag this time(I def want to reduce weight I'm carrying around! 25-30km in asphalt with heavy load on back is tough one. Especially 2-3 weeks in a row without rest days) so maybe it interacts bit differently.

But due to weight(and size of backbag) no room for tons of alternatives. When I go I would like things to be set. Any changes are then on-road and on rural japan stores aren't everywhere.

 daedalus wrote:
For your pack, I'd get some contractor grade trash bags and put all your stuff inside it inside the pack. More waterproof than any pack cover will be.

For that I have these small bags I use also to separate things(clothes here, dirty clothes here, electric stuff+passport here, pilgrim related stuff here, spare food here). I tested these by putting paper inside and submerging in water. Not a drop got inside. So all stuff I don't want to get soaked inside those, those inside bag and then bags rain cover=stuff were 100% dry every time. Even on the worst storm of my life I have experienced that I walked for good 3 hours before it eased up to mere solid rain. Nothing was even damp. I think I have that side covered well enough Due to map and stamp book being essential to not get soaked I went for near paranoid level on making sure rain is not going to get those having read of some horror stories of rains other pilgrims have walked on.

Think I should get one of those small bags except even smaller now that I think about it. Last time I could put my wallet etc into rain jackets pocket. However it was still humid there which actually led me to keep all non-coins in backbag(pain in the ass but having nearly lost 200 euro's or so due to bills getting damp was a good warning!). This time if I don't have rain jacket that won't work. Also phone would be in extra danger but I don't want it to be in difficult to get spot either as I might need it occasionally to check my bearings. Small bag which goes into that white shoulder bag visible on photo should do the trick.

tneva82 wrote:

Boots are another concern of mine. Trail runnels or something bit more hiking boot like is also something I need to decide on. Hiking boots are good on mountain trails for sure BUT like 90% of the walk will still be on asphalt through towns and along highways so lightness and breathability are key. Previous shoes are out of question anyway. They got worn down too badly to seriously continue walking another long stretch and this model is OOP now so need to come up with new shoes anyway.

Not sure what your previous shoes were, but this is probably something you should resolve asap. You don't want to be walking that much in shoes that haven't been broken in first. Unless you're accustomed to trail runners already (I can't tell what those are in the pic), I'd go with the boots. Personally, I love trail runner type shoes, but it took me months to adjust to that kind of shoe from thicker soled shoes. Not something you want to have to adjust to on the walk.

That's me from last year. 4 items I'm thus stuck with. The hat, white vest like thing(not sure what to call it in english), white shoulder bag and the staff. In particular vest and staff are pretty much mandatory for me. Now the shoulder bag and vest can and will go to rain cover during rain. ESPECIALLY that white bag that contains the stamp book. After walking already 500km or so to get it partially filled I'm making damned sure it does NOT get wet

Staves are so underrated. I've got a 6 foot one with a nice brass tip I cobbled together from things I found at a hardware store. Saved my ass several times already.

The shoulder bag looks like it would be annoying to walk with, but I get being committed to things. Particularly if it engenders goodwill with the locals.

 daedalus wrote:
For your pack, I'd get some contractor grade trash bags and put all your stuff inside it inside the pack. More waterproof than any pack cover will be.

For that I have these small bags I use also to separate things(clothes here, dirty clothes here, electric stuff+passport here, pilgrim related stuff here, spare food here). I tested these by putting paper inside and submerging in water. Not a drop got inside. So all stuff I don't want to get soaked inside those, those inside bag and then bags rain cover=stuff were 100% dry every time. Even on the worst storm of my life I have experienced that I walked for good 3 hours before it eased up to mere solid rain. Nothing was even damp. I think I have that side covered well enough Due to map and stamp book being essential to not get soaked I went for near paranoid level on making sure rain is not going to get those having read of some horror stories of rains other pilgrims have walked on.

Think I should get one of those small bags except even smaller now that I think about it. Last time I could put my wallet etc into rain jackets pocket. However it was still humid there which actually led me to keep all non-coins in backbag(pain in the ass but having nearly lost 200 euro's or so due to bills getting damp was a good warning!). This time if I don't have rain jacket that won't work. Also phone would be in extra danger but I don't want it to be in difficult to get spot either as I might need it occasionally to check my bearings. Small bag which goes into that white shoulder bag visible on photo should do the trick.

Wow, yeah, it sounds like you have thought that pretty well through already.

If you're looking for wearable rain gear that is light weight, I'd strongly recommend looking to the cycling world for a jacket.

Back when I rode seriously, I owned a couple cycling rain jackets, and they have all kinds of zips for ventilation and airflow that don't really sacrifice water proofedness.

 daedalus wrote:
Not sure what your previous shoes were, but this is probably something you should resolve asap. You don't want to be walking that much in shoes that haven't been broken in first. Unless you're accustomed to trail runners already (I can't tell what those are in the pic), I'd go with the boots. Personally, I love trail runner type shoes, but it took me months to adjust to that kind of shoe from thicker soled shoes. Not something you want to have to adjust to on the walk.

I still have time to think as any shoes cool enough to walk in summer would be freezing cold ATM. Snow&-10 degree or worse ATM. "Bit" different to temperatures I'm being walking

Staves are so underrated. I've got a 6 foot one with a nice brass tip I cobbled together from things I found at a hardware store. Saved my ass several times already.

Well mine is pre-decided but it works fair enough. Only problem being it has habit of getting shorter My walking style results in quite a wear. Last year it shrank quite a bit on 500km. Many walk whole 1400km with one but mine would probably be something like <90cm at current pace Think it shrank 12cm on last 500km stint. But I can get new one when I get there. Was rather helpful on mountain trails for sure.

The shoulder bag looks like it would be annoying to walk with, but I get being committed to things. Particularly if it engenders goodwill with the locals.

Actually it didn't get in way that much and indeed gave left arm something to put to which I found helpful. And ability to have some quick snack/drink on fast access place ensured was nice. Also on days I hit many temples having all the temple related items in easy place was helpful.

Maybe there would be more convenient dedicated item but well...I'm sucker for following traditions and the advantage of being instantly seen as a pilgrim is very helpful.

Wow, yeah, it sounds like you have thought that pretty well through already.

Well before going there last spring I had dreamed of the trip for 2 years. I spent lots of time reading other pilgrims accounts and one thing that was consistent was HUGE rains on pretty much every one. So I had good heads up I better make important items rain proof.

What HAS been problematic has been SUMMER condition things. Virtually everybody does it on either spring or fall for rather obvious reason that walking that much on summer is about worst option possible. I wish I could avoid that but only way I can is to quit my job and hope I can find new one. Bit too drastic for now so I'm at least going to give it a try.


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 Ensis Ferrae wrote:
If you're looking for wearable rain gear that is light weight, I'd strongly recommend looking to the cycling world for a jacket.

Back when I rode seriously, I owned a couple cycling rain jackets, and they have all kinds of zips for ventilation and airflow that don't really sacrifice water proofedness.

Hmm interesting idea. Having cycled 20 years or so ago last time it wasn't exactly on my first thought But guess there's no reason it can't work even for walker which is my preferred method of moving around with own muscles(I don't trust 2 wheeled things and running is too hard for my lungs and ankles)

A good pair of boots is definitely something to invest in. They will be expensive but will last you for a long time. Even leather boots nowadays are quite lightweight and with proper care will stay waterproof for their whole lives. Keeping your feet dry will massively improve your comfort. Even if you have the opportunity to dry them off at the end of the day, walking a whole day with wet feet will not be nice.

For raincoats, again, don't go cheap. A good quality coat will keep you dryer than a cheap coat, be way more comfortable to wear due to better breathability and last you a long time. Many of the main brands offer extremely lightweight outer shells which give you just as much protection against wind and rain and allow you to effectively layer whatever you need under them (which for you will probably be not a lot).

For buying these things, you should definitely go into a good outdoors shop (or even a hiking boot specialist shop if possible) for the boots. Get one of the assistants, tell them what you're looking for, and try on a lot of pairs until you find one that fits you the best. Then make sure you break them in before you go. Several long hikes at the weekend ought to do for that, can also help identify if there's any areas where they're rubbing so you can take precautions like putting some moleskin on that part of your foot at the beginning of the day.

Some lightweight walking trousers rather than shorts would also probably be a good idea, too. having them tucked over the boots helps keep rain/splash from getting into your boots and socks. From your picture it looks like you've got that covered though.

How humid is it? When I was travelling through parts of India in the hot wet humid part of the year drying clothes was damned near impossible. Don't know how people live in those sorts of places, maybe they're just get used to being permanently moist.

AllSeeingSkink wrote:
How humid is it? When I was travelling through parts of India in the hot wet humid part of the year drying clothes was damned near impossible. Don't know how people live in those sorts of places, maybe they're just get used to being permanently moist.

That I don't know personally but I'm told "humid" which makes sense if it rains like 330mm in a month. When I went to Japan last time in summer it was august which is the dryer of the 2 months and I was fairly safe from rain that day. Well except for the 2 days in Kyoto which rained bit(though one I spent in Shinkansen mostly).

Honestlu, skin is pretty good when it is warm and wet.

(if culture, etc allows)

When we did a part of a samurai trail, I found it was pretty warm and having an umbrella was the best thing for keeping the water off. Sure, you've got to hold it, but it took care of most of the rain. You can get them in more or less any newsagent type shop in Japan.

Well, based on where I'm from where its summer all year round, my suggestion would be a poncho with a material that's in no way going to warm you up if you want to survive through the heat.