Rain Gear

Before you trust used rain gear in the woods, check these five things.
Military-surplus Gore-Tex can make excellent camping and hiking rain gear—but “surplus” also means every piece has lived a different life.
Before depending on a pair of rain pants or a jacket miles from camp, take a few minutes to check it over.

1. Look closely at the seams.
   Waterproof fabric won’t do much good if the seam tape has started separating.
2. Test the zippers and closures.
   Rain has a way of finding the one zipper that doesn’t close correctly.
3. Don’t confuse worn DWR with failed waterproof fabric.

Sometimes an older Gore-Tex shell stops beading water on the outside even though the waterproof membrane is still doing its job. Proper cleaning and a compatible DWR treatment can often make a big difference.

1. Think about your boots before choosing rain pants.
   Long side zippers are incredibly useful when a storm rolls in and you need to get rain pants on without removing muddy hiking boots.
2. Test your gear at home.
   A garden hose or a walk in a good rain is a much better place to discover a leak than five miles into the woods.

One of the things we enjoy about military surplus is learning why equipment was designed the way it was. Full-length zippers, reinforced knees, big pockets and heavy-duty construction weren’t added for looks—they solved problems in the field.
And many of those same problems still exist when we camp, hike, hunt or work outdoors today.
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