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A Backpackers Guide to:
Camping in the Rain

If you do a lot of camping or hiking, it is likely that you have been caught in the rain at one point or another. Rain is one thing I always count on whenever I head out into the woods or on to the water for a long trip. One thing to remember is to always check the weather right before you leave your house. Storms change paths and strength often and predictions even a day or two away can change dramatically, so I also suggest bringing a weather radio with you at all times, especially for longer trips.
I will just remind you however, the reports from NOAA are fairly broad in the ground they cover, so always keep one eye to the sky and make your own predictions and prepare accordingly.
Preparing to camp in the rain starts back at home with the packing process.

Preparing for camping in the rain:
Quality rain gear, waterproof boots, a lightweight tarp for an outdoor shelter (including rope), and a tarp for your tent are the main items one should bring in order to “weather” the rain. Being well prepared for possible bad weather is a must if you want to enjoy your backpacking trip.

Rain Gear:
For rain gear, I suggest rain pants and a rain coat instead of a poncho. The reasons being that they cover more of your body, they provide comfortable wind protection for the windy days, and it’s nice to wear the pants after it rains when you go hiking. Rain droplets on brush and plants can soak you within seconds of beginning a hike if you’re not wearing rain pants.

Waterproof Boots:
Waterproof boot are also a must if they fit into your budget. Wet boots or shoes are probably one of the hardest items to dry, even by a fire. There is an old trick of wadding newspaper into wet boots; this trick helps speed up the drying process by wicking away moisture from the boot material, and it does work. The only problem is that I never carry newspaper around while camping or backpacking and most likely neither will you. Let’s not forget, having wet feet is a leading cause in the formation of blisters, so it’s best to stay dry.

Tarps:
Tarps are an item I would not go without, one for putting under the bottom of your tent and one for an outdoor shelter. The only way I would skip packing a tarp to create a shelter with would be if I was fairly certain that the weather would not change and I was going for shorter hiking trip. A tarp under the tent is a must for helping water run underneath it, and they also help protect the bottom of your tent from wear. Just make sure you fold the sides all the way under your tent to prevent water from running down the side of your tent and on top of the tarp.

The main purpose for the extra overhead tarp is to provide a shelter out of the rain for cooking and generally staying dry. Secondary purposes include shelter from the hot sun, using it as a wind break, and even rolling up your extra (non-food) gear in it to keep off the morning dew.

In addition to the above mentioned, here are a few other tips.
Extra garbage bags are useful for wrapping around your hiking bag to keep it dry (particularly if your bag’s ability to keep the rain out is questionable), as well as wrapping around anything else you wish to keep from getting wet. Also, be sure to keep all valuables that can be damaged from water in a waterproof container, and even put an extra set of clothes in there if you have the space. It may also be worth investing in a waterproof cover for your backpacking bag. These are not too expensive and work much better than a plastic garbage bag. Additionally, make sure your map is waterproof or in a waterproof container; don’t just print out a map on regular paper. If you are going to the Boundary Waters, I recommend picking up a McKenzie or Fisher map.
One final reminder - be sure to spray down everything necessary (tent, rain gear, boots, pack) with a waterproofing spray, it can mean the difference between getting soaked and staying dry.

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