You're going to get wet with out without a rain poncho/jacket. We do a lot of our backpacking in the Southeast, during the summer: hot and humid with frequent thundershowers. Calf high gaiters will keep your boots and below the knee dry, or you can wear rain pants, but those will trap heat in the groin area. With a pack, it isn't going to be covered by a jacket, and if you use a pack cover, the pack straps are going to trap heat and cut off airflow. So how is wearing a tighter fitting, closed rain suit going to fare any better? I have a rain jacket and when moving, basically end up wearing it like a poncho anyway (completely unzipped, open, and hanging by the hood, on top of head. You perspire due to the build-up of condensation and an unpleasant experience. My experience in an extremely humid environment ponchos are ineffective. Something like this and there are others offering these. The silicone nylon material will get you a poncho around half the weight and pack size of a USGI poncho and the silicone water proofing is impregnated in to the material so no peeling or stickiness like urethane coatings. Get it made in silicone impregnated nylon(silnylon), then seal the seams with GE clear silicone II while stretching the poncho taut. Longer length is best for a pack with a way to shorten it when not using a pack and also improves performance as a shelter. Some backpacking ones are on the narrow side which start you out with the poncho hitting mid forearm which also means it won't work as well for a shelter. On the poncho, USGI width is a good starting point. I like softshell items when moving around. Choose material based on how much you sweat. If not(&/or in addition to the poncho) start looking in to jacket(large enough for insulating layers, pit zips/able to vent heat, functional hood) and pants(side zips, large enough to put on/take off with boots on which should cover cold weather clothes too). Assuming you are wanting a multi purpose item for hiking/backpacking?
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