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How do you keep dry in the rain?

 
Steward of piddlers
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We have been having an unusually rainy year so far in my neck of the woods, and I realize that I might not be as prepared as I should be to keep dry outside.



What do you wear/use that helps you keep dry in the rain? Any ways you improved your homestead specifically for rain?
 
steward
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Since we have been in a drought for so many years, this year has bee unusually raining, though not much.

I used to have an umbrella in every vehicle.  I still have the umbrellas though I am not sure where they are.

We also had rain suits for when we went to football games,
one is hanging in my laundry room on the handle that is attached to the vacuum cleaner.  dear hubby got it out  so he could observe what was happening to our road when it rained.  That is now fixed, at least for a while.

Back when we had the homestead, I had muck boots though they went away when the homestead did to.
 
pollinator
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If I do not have to leave home for anything, I embrace it and get wet.

If I have errands, I do those first and then embrace it.

Barefoot with gym shorts and a t shirt.
 
pollinator
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Too much wind here for umbrellas.  But really dry area so rain problems uncommon

Short term usually use my winter parka simply because it is nearly always with me even in summer.(since summer can bring snow or close nearly any month and I go up the mountain occasionally.)

I have 2 waterproof wind breakers jackets and one wind breaker pants.  Want a breathable version though.

And 1 long rubber yellow slicker.
 
master steward
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I seldom wear rain gear of any kind. I never could understand the objection people have to getting wet. Though I do admit that in the case of an exceptionally cold wind blown rain I will use a windbreaker….sometimes.
 
master rocket scientist
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When I do wear rain gear, it is either my safety green construction raincoat or my Outback oilskin deer hunter jacket, depending on the cold.
Most of the time, I do not bother with either.
 
Rusticator
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I feel much the same as John (& Thomas!) - I just get wet. The vast majority of the time, I find typical rain gear too bulky and cumbersome to work in.
Unless it's cold - then I'll put on my rain coat, but normally I just keep that around for going out when I'm dressed up (a rare thing). But, due to my physical issues, I don't do well in the cold, and being wet and cold is a wicked combo, that sends my lupus & joints on a rant like you wouldn't believe, so I do have rain gear for riding my motorcycle, because hypothermia - but I've never used it, because if I know it's going to rain, I just don't ride. (Getting old ain't for wimps!)
 
pollinator
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I have a light wool jacket that I wear in summer, a thick wool coat in winter.  Neither have a hood, so I wear a handknit 100% wool hat to keep my hair dry, both summer and winter.  If it's rainy here in summer it's not usually hot, like today around 15C (what is that, 60F?).  If it's hot and rainy, getting wet is preferable!
 
gardener
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I tend to wait for breaks in the rain to garden. It’s uncomfortable to be out with pouring rain, rain jacket or none. And as G Freden said, for when it is hot and wet. But these breaks are precious and beautiful times to be out, nonetheless. I haven’t been able to get as much gardening done as I hoped with all the rain, but a glaring hot sun is equally forbidding. Evening and cloudy have been the most productive hours.

It’s fine to focus on more indoor tasks when the conditions present themselves, I’d say.
 
pollinator
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I have been dreaming of making myself one of these:



https://www.tentsmiths.com/product/oilcloth-hood/
 
pollinator
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I live in NW CA, which for half the year is one of the rainier parts of North America. I kindof triage the situation. When it is absolutely dumping, most work outside is counterproductive unless it directly relates to clearing and repairing drainage structures. To paraphrase an old English/Irish parable, of the soil is so wet it makes a sound underfoot, that is the life in it screaming as we crush the air out. For necessary work in these conditions, I have multiple sets of good backcountry trailwork grade rain gear I rotate through as the wet pairs dry. The main key is to keep working hard, and you will stay warm enough. When a break is needed, change out of wet clothes and put on dry ones for the next shift after a meal. What keeps us warm is the sunlight imbued into the food we eat, and insulation around that. When I am backpacking in the rain, i try to stay warm and dry in the morning as long as possible, eat a good breakfast, then change into shorts and a quick dry top, and keep moving as fast as I need to stay warm. Then I make camp and change into dry clothes I have in a garbage bag inside my tent.
 
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A nylon hooded poncho, made for going over a backpack. I have one attached to my backpack (which is how I transport my laptop and all the other geek paraphernalia of my life; also a hank of paracord, magnesium fire starter, and a good knife for when the apocalypse comes) in a pouch attached to the MOLLE straps, for when a trip to campus turns rainy.

At the remote hunting cabin being slowly turned to retirement haven, another poncho hangs by the door for those runs through rain or snow to the "wilderness toilet".  For those unfamiliar, with the term, this is a hole with a wooden box over the hole, with a seat to sit on. No walls. No roof. Just you and nature, communing. Keep a tarp over the top to keep the hole from flooding. The great thing about a poncho for that is it covers your legs, keeps rain out of your pants, and the toilet paper dry until it is applied where needed. Speaking of TP, a plastic coffee can is ideal for keeping your TP dry while it sits next to the box. A can of mosquito repellent is handy to keep stashed nearby, because mosquitos love exposed cheeks.

If the poncho is too flappy while you work in a light rain, one can always tie a length of paracord around it at your waist to enhance mobility. If it's really pouring, I don't bother trying to work.  And one should always remember that ponchos are incompatible with moving machinery, even cinched at your waist. But machinery tends to be unhappy about rain, and slippery wet surfaces make it hazardous to be around machinery anyway.  I don't risk it, so that stuff waits for dry weather.
 
pollinator
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If I have to do chores out in a rainstorm, I wear an oilskin drover (the short kind) and a cowboy hat.
 
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Timothy,
Having a strong aversion to wet socks, and having a friend who was looking for any way to slow or divert the flow of water away from his front door and away from his dog kennel...,
I encouraged my friend to put a couple of 5- or 6-inch-wide mini swales on his property on the contour of the rise of his property about halfway up the rise. The result was he has much less issue with the runoff of the rainwater.
As am not sure of the detail of your design but if you have to deal with wet socks, it may be a partial solution for you.
A shade cloth has mildly helped with both the shade loving plants here, and with light rains we are able to stand under the one that runs awning to anchored porch rail.
Best of luck!
Larry
 
pollinator
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Timothy Norton wrote:We have been having an unusually rainy year so far in my neck of the woods, and I realize that I might not be as prepared as I should be to keep dry outside.



What do you wear/use that helps you keep dry in the rain? Any ways you improved your homestead specifically for rain?


Here in the Netherlands rain is not unusual. This is a rainy country. So we know what to wear in the rain (at least people like me, who are not always in houses and cars, we know).

In my garden shed (at the allotment) I have an old rain coat. It's a Danish brand and was fairly expensive originally. It looks dirty now, but that doesn't matter, it keeps my upper body dry when I am gardening in the rain. My feet and lower legs are in rubber boots (the kind that English people call 'Wellies'). So only around my knees I get wet. I'm used to that, but I could wear rain trousers (pants) if I wanted to.

When I ride my bicycle through the rain I wear a 'rain poncho'. That poncho is so large, it covers my hands on the handle-bar and then it goes around my (upper) body and at the back I sit on it. Depending on the wind I stay totally dry, or my feet and lower legs get wet. Again: if I wanted I could wear rain trousers ...

Why don't I wear rain trousers? When I am actively moving I get hot and sweaty. If I am totally covered in rain-proof gear the transpiration has nowhere to go. It feels better (to me) if part of me is cooled down.
 
Inge Leonora-den Ouden
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Maieshe Ljin wrote:I tend to wait for breaks in the rain to garden...


In some countries that's possible, to wait for the rain to stop.
Here that's impossible. If I let everything in my garden go it's own way until the rain stops ... it will become a jungle!
 
Inge Leonora-den Ouden
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The big problem here in this rainy climate is: clothes that are wet do not get dry soon!
I read comments here about just getting wet. But if my clothes are all wet (and I am cold and wet), and the rain goes on, they won't be dry that same day (not even if I hang them in a heated room. No I don't have a dryer). Only if the rain stops and it gets sunny (often the rain stops, but the clouds stay), then I can hang the wet clothes outside in the sun and wind and then maybe they'll be dry soon enough.

 
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We do have lots of rain in the spring over here. Then it gets very dry. I have an umbrella in our house and every vehicle. Even our granddaughter has her own umbrella which she loves
 
steward & manure connoisseur
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We are in the same situation with lots of rain. I stay in unless garden/animals require care, in which case I suit up wearing motorcycle rain gear (usually just the jacket) and a huge-brimmed hat meant for shade that keeps the rain off my head and shoulders. It's woven straw so it's not waterproof, but it keeps my glasses dry, which is the point.

I got soaked yesterday trying to adjust rain barrel overflow, and my wet clothes just stayed wet here in the house (despite the dehumidifier going).
Wet clothes is the hardest thing since we do not have a dryer, all clothes must hang outside. I have a weather website I trust and it says that today we will not have rain, so I'm washing clothes even though it looks like we're about to get a blizzard..... We get into certain weather patterns where it might rain for a month straight, and everyone has their laundry piling up until they're wearing that old sweater in the bottom of the closet.... if it comes to that I'll wash a small batch of real necessities and set up a tiny line and rack in the bathroom and run the dehumidifier in there overnight. It won't work for jeans but if you need socks, underwear and a uniform shirt, it'll do the trick.
 
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I don’t mind getting wet but I can’t abide being damp once I’m out of the rain. In college in San Diego I wore flip flops on rainy “winter” days (when it got down into the 50sF(gasp!). That way I didn’t have to sit in class in wet socks. I’d rather have cold feet on my walk than damp socks all day. I’d also wear shorts when outside to avoid wet jeans.

Living in a place where it’s colder now I’ve invested in some proper boots- Blundstones- which have remained waterproof for 3+ years and counting with near daily use.

I’ve acquired a few pairs of ‘camping pants’ and while they don’t necessarily keep you dry they don’t stay wet for long and don’t seem to keep water against your skin. Throw a thigh-length rain slicker on (not too stiff/plasticy) and I’m good to go.
 
Maieshe Ljin
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While we are talking about this I wanted to bring up oilskin. I made a tarpaulin some time ago—last summer—out of an old cotton bed sheet, beeswax, and powdered dirt (clay). I melted the beeswax onto the sheet, folded it up, put it in the oven at 200F to let it soak a bit more, re-folded in a different way and repeated the process, and once all that was done, rubbed it all over with dirt to close up the pores and gaps. It works well!—but it ended up being chewed by voles one night and so I am looking for the best way to repair it. Or maybe I should make another and turn that into a rain coat. Anyway it’s quite possible to stay dry without plastic! Even with the way the world is going now that would make you believe otherwise…
 
Maieshe Ljin
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I was slightly inspired by this, but you will see in the video why I made some different choices.

 
Josh Hoffman
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Tereza Okava wrote:

I got soaked yesterday trying to adjust rain barrel overflow, and my wet clothes just stayed wet here in the house (despite the dehumidifier going).
Wet clothes is the hardest thing since we do not have a dryer, all clothes must hang outside.



Have you heard of a spin dryer? It does not use heat and used very little electricity. We can spin out our clothes and hang them inside the camper with the dehumidifier on and they will dry. You can place it in you shower or tub while it is spinning or catch and reuse the water it spins out.

Makes a HUGE difference in drying time compared to soaking wet or out from the washer spin cycle.

This is the one we have, it used to be $100:  https://laundry-alternative.com/products/ninja-3200-rpm-portable-centrifugal-spin-dryer-with-high-tech-suspension-system
 
Tereza Okava
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Josh Hoffman wrote:
Have you heard of a spin dryer?


We actually have a spinner (many people here wash by hand and then use a spinner), but my washing machine does pretty much just as well. it's just really, really humid here!
for folks looking to avoid using a clothes dryer, they would be a great tool.
 
G Freden
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Inge Leonora-den Ouden wrote:So only around my knees I get wet. I'm used to that, but I could wear rain trousers (pants) if I wanted to.


I have some woven 100% wool skirts that fall below my knees (they are made in Scotland and are pleated--not a kilt but like it).  These, paired with a coat/hat and wellies, keep me pretty much dry.  I've found them in charity shops over the years and have three altogether.  

I really like wool for rain.
 
Carla Burke
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Inge Leonora-den Ouden wrote:

Maieshe Ljin wrote:I tend to wait for breaks in the rain to garden...


In some countries that's possible, to wait for the rain to stop.
Here that's impossible. If I let everything in my garden go it's own way until the rain stops ... it will become a jungle!



And, even here, where the rain does stop (supposedly - I'm beginning to wonder, lately), gardens may wait a while, but livestock can't.
 
gardener
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I thought I'd seen this type of thing in Vietnam, but now searching I can only find images of them in Northeastern India (where I've never been), and in Nepal where these images are more rectangular than I remember. There's a video of people working on a rice field in the rain using the Nepali ones, called "घुम Ghum, A Traditional raincoat of Nepal." There are images online of the NE India ones with plastic lining under an open weave bamboo frame.

I think the Vietnamese ones I saw were longer, and broad at the bottom, ie more triangular shaped overall, rather than these boat-shaped ones.

They looked very effective, and nice for creating a small rain free work space without being wrapped up in waterproofing. These are climates with an intense monsoon season where it is necessary to work outside despite downpours during sweaty hot weather.
bamboo-rain-shield.jpg
Woven bamboo rain shield from Northeastern India
Woven bamboo rain shield from Northeastern India
Ghum-raincoat-of-Nepal-video-screenshot.png
Screenshot from घुम Ghum, A Traditional raincoat of Nepal
Screenshot from घुम Ghum, A Traditional raincoat of Nepal
Meghalaya-bamboo-rain-shield-back.png
Bamboo rain shield, back
Bamboo rain shield, back
Meghalaya-bamboo-rain-shield-front.png
Bamboo rain shield, front
Bamboo rain shield, front
Knup-the-Khasi-rain-shield.png
[Thumbnail for Knup-the-Khasi-rain-shield.png]
 
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I'm mostly in the "I get wet" camp.  I don't like wet feet, so I put on rubber boots or just change into dry socks when I get back inside, but unless it's really pouring, I just ignore it.  I do generally wear a beanie, but that's because I have hearing aids and they quit working if water gets directly in them.
 
Carla Burke
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Rebecca, I REALLY like that petal shaped one! I think I could do at least some of the critter chores in it, though not carrying hay bales or feed bags. I do get tired of getting drenched, so maybe I need to look into learning to make them!
 
Carla Burke
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So, I watched the video, and realized the caning weave they use is the very one I'll be learning in a class next month, that I signed up for, back in March. I'm pretty sure I can find some local vines to use, and last year, there was a thread on making waterproof fabric, that I'll use, instead of plastic. Mine won't look the same, because I'll be trying it with materials I can source for free, locally, and it will be a while before I can even start working on it - but, I want to try making my own version of it!
 
Carla Burke
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Look what found me!(nope I'm not buyin' it, but...)
https://www.amazon.com/GOSHELTER-Umbrella-Photographers-Activities-Sporting/dp/B0CMR4LN29/ref=asc_df_B0CMR4LN29

 
steward and tree herder
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We have rain here....I tend to garden around the rain - do indoor stuff on wet days and outdoor stuff on dry days. Sometimes you just have to work in the rain, but normally our weather is changeable enough that you can time it to a certain extent.
However, I walk to the shop, often twice a day; so if it is raining I don't want to get wet as being in wet clothes all day is not fun. Like Ben I have three raincoats, so that they can dry in between uses - they are ex-site clothing from a utilities company, all getting a bit tatty now though. If it is really raining hard I also wear waterproof trousers and wellies of course. I also was given an 'incontinence suit' for christmas - padded waterproof overalls with a hood - which are excellent for walking the dogs, but far to good to work in!
Umbrellas are not usually much use here because of the wind - even if the umbrella survives you get wet down your whole body as the rain comes in sideways....
I do have an old wax cotton coat which I'm thinking of resurrecting. I used to wear it all the time, but it got rather dirty and wasn't smart enough at the time for me. Maybe a good clean and a rewax though and it will be good for use again,
 
master pollinator
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If I'm already out there working when the rain starts, with a hat on to keep it off my face, I'm fine. Except during thunderstorms of the tornado watch variety. 'Cause that's like standing in a waterfall.

Now, away from home... I really don't hanging out in wet clothes. Ugh. I made a rain suit out of a tarp for Hunny. It works for me too.
 
R Scott
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I found a pattern for a waxed hood that includes how to properly size it. Extremely simple. She uses linen for authenticity but could easily be made of cotton. Any thrift store sheet or tablecloth would work.

 
master pollinator
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Lots of cool stuff above -- wow. Thanks folks!

In our current drought I defy the sky to get me wet. Soak me to the skin, I dare you! I will leave my favourite boots outside to hopefully taunt the gods to fill them with sky water.
 
Inge Leonora-den Ouden
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G Freden wrote:

Inge Leonora-den Ouden wrote:So only around my knees I get wet. I'm used to that, but I could wear rain trousers (pants) if I wanted to.


I have some woven 100% wool skirts that fall below my knees (they are made in Scotland and are pleated--not a kilt but like it).  These, paired with a coat/hat and wellies, keep me pretty much dry.  I've found them in charity shops over the years and have three altogether.  

I really like wool for rain.


Oh I would LOVE to find such a wool skirt! But 'charity shops' here don't have such garments. All they have is 'last year's fashion' ...
Even a new 100% wool skirt I can not find here. The only way I could buy such a skirt (or 100% wool trousers, or even some meters of tweed wool fabric) is to order online directly from Scotland. That's expensive (have to pay 'customs' too).

I do have one wool skirt. Bought some years ago from a German webshop specialised in organic and 'green' things (for clothing, household, gardening, etc.). But it is not below the knee (when riding the bicycle it's just above the knee). And that was the only wool skirt I ever found. And they stopped selling outside Germany now.
 
R Scott
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Douglas Alpenstock wrote:Lots of cool stuff above -- wow. Thanks folks!

In our current drought I defy the sky to get me wet. Soak me to the skin, I dare you! I will leave my favourite boots outside to hopefully taunt the gods to fill them with sky water.



Did you wash your car?  Plan a picnic or a garage sale? Cut some hay? LOL
 
steward
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I get *really* cold and tend not to be able to warm myself up if I get wet in anything but the warmest weather, so I have a multiple pronged approach depending on the specific conditions.

Most of my current solutions are from the Second Hand shops and aren't nearly as permie as I would like. I've got a second hand coat in my  "fix it" pile so I can shorten the sleeves a bunch.  Since we're entering the dry season, it's not critical.
 
G Freden
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Inge Leonora-den Ouden wrote:
Oh I would LOVE to find such a wool skirt! But 'charity shops' here don't have such garments.



Maybe ebay?  I did a search and found quite a few, at least, on the .co.uk version.  I kind of think of them as old lady skirts, but obviously people still buy them (and donate them) here.  I really do treasure mine, and even though one has got a few holes I still love it.
 
What's that smell? Hey, sniff this tiny ad:
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https://wheaton-labs.com/bootcamp
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