What to wear when it's cold AND raining

The layering rule

For cold rain, three layers always beats one thick coat.

Layer 1: Base layer, next to skin

Merino wool or a technical synthetic. Never cotton. Cotton holds water, takes forever to dry, and makes you cold. A merino long-sleeve top runs $50 to $80 and lasts years.

Layer 2: Insulation

Fleece, light down, or synthetic puffy. Down loses its insulation properties when wet, so synthetic insulation (Primaloft, Coreloft) wins for rainy weather. A fleece pullover is the budget hero: works almost as well as anything fancier for half the price.

Layer 3: Shell, waterproof

A breathable waterproof. Look for Gore-Tex or any jacket rated 10,000mm+ hydrostatic head and 10,000g+ MVTR breathability. Cheap PVC raincoats trap your sweat. You end up just as wet from inside.

Don't forget the bottoms

Waterproof pants, or at minimum quick-dry hiking pants. Jeans are the worst. They hold water like a sponge.

The small stuff that decides comfort

• Wool socks. Smartwool, Darn Tough. Built to last.
• Waterproof boots, or treat your shoes with Nikwax.
• A buff or neck gaiter. Pulls up to cover your nose when the wind kicks up.
• A peaked cap under the hood. Keeps rain off your glasses and face.
• Gloves with grip. Wet hands go numb first.

The soft-shell trap

Soft-shell jackets are great for cold dry days, terrible for heavy rain. They're water-resistant, not waterproof. Wear a hard shell on top if rain is on the forecast.

Adjust as you go

Open the hood, open the pit zips, loosen the cuffs as you warm up. The point of layers is dumping heat without stripping off in the rain.

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