[pct-l] Rain gear for Washington

[Ann Marie]

I know that some of the current hikers are still on the trail and trying to find a way to the border (and their adventures are scaring me,) but I would like to ask a favor from all of this years hikers who encountered bad weather conditions to please give a review of their rain gear selections on this list. Please name brand names and combinations of what worked and didn't work this wet year. I'm trying to select rain gear for next year, or make strategic additions to my existing rain gear to make it work in the (unthinkable, right now) wet and miserable Washington conditions for next year.

I'm in awe of what the hikers are walking thru right now. Those wet clothes and wet shoes and socks bring back too many unpleasant memories of a past section hike in Washington.

Is any particular gear working well? What would you absolutely buy or take again for Washington, and also what do you recommend carrying again or shipping to yourself for just unknown conditions?

This list is a great information resource. I hope those who hiked this year respond with some reviews of this year's gear selections.

I'm a small female and I hate trying to buy online but I do most of the time because stores don't carry my small sizes often. But I end up returning items that don't fit a lot of the time, or researching forever looking for reviews from someone about my size. Too many websites forget to provide basic information when describing merchandise....(1) hip sizes for rain pants...S, M, L, XL doesn't cut it when the item is considered "unisex" but only is displayed in the clothing category for men....a small for a man is NOT a small for a woman;  or (2) no ounce weights for every available size....seriously, it's impossible for the website to list the weight for every size besides a M?????....before you criticize, I'm going to disclose that I'm a former software programmer.....  and  (3) then the last one that has me flummoxed is the various fittings: slim vs. regular vs. relaxed.

So what I'm hoping for is that you be specific. What brand, what model, what size, what fitting worked for you? What size are you normally? Did you have to add to your rain gear to make it waterproof? Did you add to your rain gear (extra weight) and wished you had not carried that extra weight? Did you find any emergency solutions to add to the rain gear you did carry? Were tall gaiters better than short gaiters on the muddy trails or too hot/too much weight? Did you find the desert umbrella any use at all through the Washington brushy trails?

Please help us hikers going for 2014.