Junk That Expensive "breathable" Jacket

It is raining buckets as I climb, there is no shelter nearby, so I continue upward and forward, drenched to the skin. I am wearing a 'Waterproof and breathable' outfit, a poncho, waterproof over-trousers, waterproof boots and a waterproof hat. The gear keeps me dry for all of fifteen minutes till I feel the first trickle of ice-cold water or is it sweat?  This scene has played out for me on almost every hike I have done.

At the Sarovar at Hemkund Sahib, in a "waterproof" jacket

They say that the pores of these tightly knit fabrics with a special layer for breathability, are too small for water molecules to penetrate (read rain), but large enough to allow water vapor (sweat) to pass through. But every time I have worn a "breathable" garment I have got wet, seriously wet.  I have invested a lot of money in every conceivable brand of waterproof and breathable fabric, even expensive brands have not kept me dry. 

Soaked on the way to Tungnath, that's a "breathable" poncho I am wearing

This is, I think, because they say, that the sweat vapor stays in the (steamy) vapor state till it exits the "breathable" fabric.  However once it reaches the inside surface of clothing which is cooler than body heat the vapor will condense and the inside surface of the rain garment will become wet with sweat.  Though most times what I think is actually happening is that the sweat vapour is drying on the surface of the skin. For sweat to actually move through the fabric that has been made "waterproof and breathable"  there would need to be an airflow warm enough to keep the sweat in a vapor state till it goes out of the fabric. 

This situation seems to be made worse in the warm, wet Indian climate, where the humidity and rainfall is such that waterproof fabrics simply give up. So I had this "waterproof and breathable" poncho and I wore it twice, once when climbing up Tungnath and once in Matheran. The poncho became slick and gooey, I suspect the waterproof layer was coming off. It got so sticky that I had to finally discard it. I Have tried such garments in the mountains and in the plains with nearly the same results.

In the Valley of Flowers wearing a waterproof and breathable Jacket, and waterproof shoes, none of these kept me dry 

In my opinion, spend small money on a rain garment at a local store, use it for a season or two and discard it.  Buy a cheap poncho that allows air circulation when climbing, that is likely to keep one dry more than any breathable jacket. If the breeze is too much, tie a cord like a belt around the poncho, it doest fly.  That, at any rate, is what I do. It may be better for a fabric to dry fast, which waterproof garments, particularly shoes, do not do. Read many blogs on mesh vs waterproof trail running or hiking shoes and you will understand what I mean.

 I have found that a quick or stay dry type of fabric, particularly in hiking pants (trackpants) tend to dry very fast. Spend a little more money on stretchy and thin trackpants they are worth it.

"There's a hole in the bucket....."