Hiking in the rain: how to kit yourself out properly (the guide)

A downpour should never turn a great walk into a nightmare. Properly kitted out, walking in the rain even has a bit of magic to it: empty trails, saturated colours, swollen waterfalls. Poorly kitted out, it's the opposite — soaked, freezing, and a real risk of hypothermia. The whole difference comes down to a few well-chosen pieces and one golden rule: stay dry to stay warm.

Let's look at the method that really works: the three-layer system, zone-by-zone protection, how to keep your rucksack dry, and our tips from the trail. But first, here are the three pieces that do 80% of the work.

Our pick for rainy days

Three must-haves for tackling a downpour without a second thought: the waterproof jacket that blocks rain and wind, the membrane shoes that keep your feet dry, and the cap that keeps rain out of your eyes. You can also browse our full collection of walking jackets to compare waterproof styles.

THE ESSENTIALS

The 3rd layer that keeps the rain out

Lightweight Waterproof Jacket

£38.90

MODEL

Sky Blue / S — £38.90 Sky Blue / M — £38.90 Sky Blue / L — £38.90 Sky Blue / XL — £38.90 Sky Blue / XXL — £38.90 Sky Blue / XXXL — £38.90 Sky Blue / 4XL — £38.90 White / S — £38.90 White / M — £38.90 White / L — £38.90 White / XL — £38.90 White / XXL — £38.90 White / XXXL — £38.90 White / 4XL — £38.90 Fluorescent Yellow / S — £38.90 Fluorescent Yellow / M — £38.90 Fluorescent Yellow / L — £38.90 Fluorescent Yellow / XL — £38.90 Fluorescent Yellow / XXL — £38.90 Fluorescent Yellow / XXXL — £38.90 Fluorescent Yellow / 4XL — £38.90 Blue / S — £38.90 Blue / M — £38.90 Blue / L — £38.90 Blue / XL — £38.90 Blue / XXL — £38.90 Blue / XXXL — £38.90 Blue / 4XL — £38.90 Silver Grey / S — £38.90 Silver Grey / M — £38.90 Silver Grey / L — £38.90 Silver Grey / XL — £38.90 Silver Grey / XXL — £38.90 Silver Grey / XXXL — £38.90 Silver Grey / 4XL — £38.90 Black / S — £38.90 Black / M — £38.90 Black / L — £38.90 Black / XL — £38.90 Black / XXL — £38.90 Black / XXXL — £38.90 Black / 4XL — £38.90 Pale Pink / S — £38.90 Pale Pink / M — £38.90 Pale Pink / L — £38.90 Pale Pink / XL — £38.90 Pale Pink / XXL — £38.90 Pale Pink / XXXL — £38.90 Pale Pink / 4XL — £38.90 Fluorescent Pink / S — £38.90 Fluorescent Pink / M — £38.90 Fluorescent Pink / L — £38.90 Fluorescent Pink / XL — £38.90 Fluorescent Pink / XXL — £38.90 Fluorescent Pink / XXXL — £38.90 Fluorescent Pink / 4XL — £38.90 Fluorescent Green / S — £38.90 Fluorescent Green / M — £38.90 Fluorescent Green / L — £38.90 Fluorescent Green / XL — £38.90 Fluorescent Green / XXL — £38.90 Fluorescent Green / XXXL — £38.90 Fluorescent Green / 4XL — £38.90 Fluorescent Orange / S — £38.90 Fluorescent Orange / M — £38.90 Fluorescent Orange / L — £38.90 Fluorescent Orange / XL — £38.90 Fluorescent Orange / XXL — £38.90 Fluorescent Orange / XXXL — £38.90 Fluorescent Orange / 4XL — £38.90

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DRY FEET

Waterproof, breathable membrane

Waterproof Walking Trainers

£109.90

MODEL

Black / 36 — £109.90 Black / 37 — £109.90 Black / 38 — £109.90 Black / 39 — £109.90 Black / 40 — £109.90 Black / 41 — £109.90 Black / 42 — £109.90 Black / 43 — £109.90 Black / 44 — £109.90 Black / 45 — £109.90 Black / 46 — £109.90 Black / 47 — £109.90 Black and Red / 36 — £103.90 Black and Red / 37 — £103.90 Black and Red / 38 — £103.90 Black and Red / 39 — £103.90 Black and Red / 40 — £103.90 Black and Red / 41 — £103.90 Black and Red / 42 — £103.90 Black and Red / 43 — £103.90 Black and Red / 44 — £103.90 Black and Red / 45 — £103.90 Black and Red / 46 — £103.90 Black and Red / 47 — £103.90 Black and Blue / 36 — £109.90 Black and Blue / 37 — £109.90 Black and Blue / 38 — £109.90 Black and Blue / 39 — £109.90 Black and Blue / 40 — £109.90 Black and Blue / 41 — £109.90 Black and Blue / 42 — £109.90 Black and Blue / 43 — £109.90 Black and Blue / 44 — £109.90 Black and Blue / 45 — £109.90 Black and Blue / 46 — £109.90 Black and Blue / 47 — £109.90

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VISIBILITY

Keep the rain out of your eyes

Waterproof Walking Cap

£30.90

MODEL

Black / 56-60cm — £30.90 Olive Green / 56-60cm — £30.90 Light Beige / 56-60cm — £31.90 Light Grey / 56-60cm — £30.90 Light Turquoise / 56-60cm — £30.90 Burnt Orange / 56-60cm — £30.90 Fuchsia Pink / 56-60cm — £30.90

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The three-layer system: the key to staying dry

In the rain, it's not just about keeping the falling water out: you also need to let sweat escape, or you'll end up wet from the inside. That's the whole point of the three-layer system, the go-to method for hikers:

• 1st layer — breathe. A technical T-shirt that wicks away sweat. Never cotton: it soaks up water, stays wet and leaves you cold.
• 2nd layer — insulate. A fleece or lightweight down jacket that keeps your body heat in, adjusted to suit the temperature.
• 3rd layer — protect. The waterproof and breathable jacket: it blocks the rain and wind whilst letting moisture escape. It's the non-negotiable piece.

The classic trap is a jacket that's 100% waterproof but not breathable: you end up soaked in sweat, as if it were raining on the inside. A good breathable membrane changes everything. If you're new to layering, our guide to dressing for a walk explains how to combine layers depending on the season.

For women, the logic is exactly the same: it's the third layer, waterproof and breathable, that makes all the difference. Look for one with a good cut — an adjustable hood, sealed seams, and a fit that doesn't restrict your movement. There's no need to size up: a well-fitted breathable jacket protects better and stays more comfortable than a bulky jacket that turns your climb into a sauna.

Women's Waterproof and Breathable Walking Jacket

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 (16 reviews)

£76.90

Pay in 4 instalments of £19.23 with no fees using Shop Pay

MODEL

Fuchsia Pink / M — £76.90 Fuchsia Pink / L — £76.90 Fuchsia Pink / XL — £76.90 Fuchsia Pink / XXL — £76.90 Fuchsia Pink / XXXL — £76.90 Fuchsia Pink / 4XL — £76.90 Red / M — £76.90 Red / L — £76.90 Red / XL — £76.90 Red / XXL — £76.90 Red / XXXL — £76.90 Red / 4XL — £76.90 Black / M — £76.90 Black / L — £76.90 Black / XL — £76.90 Black / XXL — £76.90 Black / XXXL — £76.90 Black / 4XL — £76.90 Purple / M — £76.90 Purple / L — £76.90 Purple / XL — £76.90 Purple / XXL — £76.90 Purple / XXXL — £76.90 Purple / 4XL — £76.90 Green / M — £76.90 Green / L — £76.90 Green / XL — £76.90 Green / XXL — £76.90 Green / XXXL — £76.90 Green / 4XL — £76.90Add to basket

Protecting every part of the body

Rain gets in through the smallest weak spot. We protect the body from head to toe — here's the breakdown area by area:

Your feet deserve special attention: walking for hours with soaked feet is a guaranteed way to end up with blisters and cold toes. A waterproof membrane makes all the difference, but the right fit matters just as much — our guide to choosing your walking boots helps you get it right.

Keeping your rucksack and belongings dry

There's nothing worse than reaching camp with a soaked sleeping bag or spare clothes. Most rucksacks are not waterproof - rain eventually gets in through the seams and zips. Two habits make all the difference: a rucksack cover (a waterproof cover that goes over the bag) and, inside, dry bags to keep electronics and dry clothing separate. A hip belt pocket keeps whatever you want to protect first - phone, documents, battery - close at hand.

Bring a packable jacket, even in fine weather

In the mountains as on the trails, the weather can turn in a flash: a clear sky can give way to a downpour in twenty minutes, especially at altitude or near the coast. Seasoned walkers have one trick up their sleeve: an ultra-light waterproof jacket that packs down to almost nothing and lives permanently at the bottom of the rucksack, ready to come out at the first drop. You barely notice it while you're carrying it - you'll forget it's even there... until the day it saves the walk. It's quite possibly the best-value rain insurance you can pack.

Ultra-Light Waterproof Jacket

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 (6 reviews)

£44.90

Pay in 4 instalments of £11.22 with no fees with Shop Pay

MODEL

Black / M — £44.90 Black / L — £44.90 Black / XL — £44.90 Black / XXL — £44.90 Black / XXXL — £44.90 Black / 4XL — £44.90 Dark Grey / M — £44.90 Dark Grey / L — £44.90 Dark Grey / XL — £44.90 Dark Grey / XXL — £44.90 Dark Grey / XXXL — £44.90 Dark Grey / 4XL — £44.90 Red / M — £44.90 Red / L — £44.90 Red / XL — £44.90 Red / XXL — £44.90 Red / XXXL — £44.90 Red / 4XL — £44.90 Fluo Yellow / M — £44.90 Fluo Yellow / L — £44.90 Fluo Yellow / XL — £44.90 Fluo Yellow / XXL — £44.90 Fluo Yellow / XXXL — £44.90 Fluo Yellow / 4XL — £44.90 Orange / M — £44.90 Orange / L — £44.90 Orange / XL — £44.90 Orange / XXL — £44.90 Orange / XXXL — £44.90 Orange / 4XL — £44.90 Pale Pink / M — £44.90 Pale Pink / L — £44.90 Pale Pink / XL — £44.90 Pale Pink / XXL — £44.90 Pale Pink / XXXL — £44.90 Pale Pink / 4XL — £44.90 Fluo Pink / M — £44.90 Fluo Pink / L — £44.90 Fluo Pink / XL — £44.90 Fluo Pink / XXL — £44.90 Fluo Pink / XXXL — £44.90 Fluo Pink / 4XL — £44.90 Blue / M — £44.90 Blue / L — £44.90 Blue / XL — £44.90 Blue / XXL — £44.90 Blue / XXXL — £44.90 Blue / 4XL — £44.90 Sky Blue / M — £44.90 Sky Blue / L — £44.90 Sky Blue / XL — £44.90 Sky Blue / XXL — £44.90 Sky Blue / XXXL — £44.90 Sky Blue / 4XL — £44.90 White / M — £44.90 White / L — £44.90 White / XL — £44.90 White / XXL — £44.90 White / XXXL — £44.90 White / 4XL — £44.90 Yellow / M — £44.90 Yellow / L — £44.90 Yellow / XL — £44.90 Yellow / XXL — £44.90 Yellow / XXXL — £44.90 Yellow / 4XL — £44.90Add to basket

Our tips for hiking in the rain (without the hassle)

• Check the weather — and any warnings. Before you set off, check the forecast and adjust your route: avoid exposed ridges and fords that swell with rain. The French Hiking Federation points out that hiking in the rain is perfectly doable as long as you plan ahead.
• Slow down and watch out for the cold. Rocks, roots and mud get slippery; the real danger in the rain is getting chilled. The moment you feel cold, add a layer before you're soaked through from the inside.
• Open the ventilation zips. On the climbs, vent your jacket (underarm zips, collar slightly open) to let heat escape and cut down on condensation.
• Dry everything out in the evening. At your stop, wring things out, air them, and set aside dry kit for the next day. Dry feet and a dry tee-shirt beat any gadget.

Frequently Asked Questions

Waterproof or water-resistant, what's the difference? A water-resistant fabric makes water bead on the surface for a while before soaking through; a waterproof fabric (with a membrane) keeps water out for the long haul while staying breathable. For proper rain, go for a breathable waterproof.

Do you need overtrousers? For a short shower, quick-drying trousers are often enough. For steady rain or a full day out, waterproof overtrousers stop your legs getting soaked and help you avoid getting chilled.

How do you keep your feet dry all day? Waterproof membrane boots + technical socks (never cotton), and avoid letting water reach higher than the top of your boot. Overtrousers that cover the top of your boot stop water running in.

Can you really enjoy hiking in the rain? Yes — with the right kit, you'll stay dry and warm, and get to enjoy deserted trails and spectacular scenery. It's all about having the proper gear and planning ahead.