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....."

What Have They Done to this Fair Earth?

 As Jim Morrison sang:

What have they done to the earth, yeah?

What have they done to our fair sister?

Ravaged and plundered and ripped her and bit her

Stuck her with knives in the side of the dawn

And tied her with fences and dragged her down

Pine leaves on barbed wire at a friend's farm near Igatpuri

On many treks, most in fact, I find wire and construction rods in nature, dividing the land or marking "this is mine".

Mule train on the way to Ghangariya notice the orange wire

On pilgrimage routes, housing there's wire in different forms and colours, in snow bound areas in bound areas, bright orange so that presumably the wire can be seen against the snow. 

Cormorants on cables near Mumbai

The birds, animals and insects have grown used to this intrusion into their space and in some cases have adapted to these unusual perches.

Barn Swallow chicks on a wire near a house being constructed at Pangot

No matter how ecology is affected, the attitude of most humans is "Ecology is fine as a noble cause, but be sure it is not in my backyard".  

Bird on a electric cable in Chanfi

Witness the smartphones, flyovers and oodles of other progress, everyone knows that they are bad for nature but who will be the first to do away with them? 

A tree growing around barbed wire

Considering the recent Government ordinances in various countries on reining in consumption, one would think that such wires and "marks" of  advancement would be detrimental to nature.  

Barbed wire ends, but does it end?

But it seems business as usual for big corporates who make disposable goods so that you and I can have the "latest model." Impediments to this business causes inconvenience and delay, which you and I are not willing to countenance.

Construction bars bear mute testimony to the frantic pace at which "progress" is advancing

To quote Jim Morrison again:

This is the end, beautiful friend
This is the end, my only friend, the end
Of our elaborate plans, the end
Of everything that stands, the end
No safety or surprise, the end

Let this not be the end