Wind Shell vs Rain Shell: Stop Carrying Both

Your pack is heavier than it needs to be if you are hauling both a wind shell and a rain jacket. Most hikers can drop one and never miss it, depending on where they hike.

Choose the one your climate demands.

• Dry alpine climates favor a featherweight wind shell
• Wet coastal trails need a real rain shell, full stop
• A wind shell breathes far better on hard climbs
• A rain shell doubles as wind protection in a pinch

Carry the rain shell where it actually rains, the wind shell where it does not. One jacket, right for the place, beats two that each do half a job.

Check your local forecast pattern before the season. One look at whether it actually rains where you hike settles the whole shell debate for good.