I’m a believer that the right gear can make or break your hike. When it comes to rain or wind, I admit that I’m not the happiest camper. I will happily take a zero-day to avoid the rain. However, on a thru-hike, sometimes it’s unavoidable.

On the Appalachian Trail (AT), I picked up a set of Frogg Toggs in Hot Springs, North Carolina right before I entered the Great Smoky Mountains National Park section. Rain is a constant on the AT but by mid-November you can expect snowy conditions as well. Frogg Toggs are inexpensive though you can't count on them for long-term durability in bushwacking conditions or deep snow travel. By the end of my AT hike, the Frogg Toggs pants were in shreds at the ankle and I was losing pieces of the material as I hiked, which is not great for following Leave No Trace.

I decided to upgrade to the Outdoor Research(OR) brand when I planned for my thru-hike on the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). I wanted protective rain and wind gear that would last an entire thru-hike.

Women's Helium Rain Jacket $159

My favorite features:

• No hand pockets or armpit zippers keep it lightweight at only 5.6 oz/159 g
• Durable with Pertex® Shield Diamond Fuse 2.5L, 100% nylon, 30D ripstop
• Fully Seam-Taped
• Elastic drawcord at the hem

I noticed this Outdoor Research Women's Helium Jacket for the first time when I worked at Mountain Crossings, a popular gear shop and resupply on the Appalachian Trail. Thru-hikers were switching to this jacket and the Outdoor Research brand started to catch my eye. I started hearing good reviews and began to do my own research since I was looking to upgrade for the CDT.

In my experience, rain jackets typically have a few bells and whistles, but I loved the simple minimalist design. Of course this contributes to its' overall low weight at only 5.6 ounces.

Women's Helium Rain Pants $119

My favorite features:

• Lightweight at only 6.1 oz/173 g
• Windproof yet breathable
• Durable with Pertex® Shield Diamond Fuse 2.5L, 100% nylon, 30D ripstop
• Ankle zippers for easy pull-on or removal

To complete my rain kit, I added the Women's Helium Rain Pants. I was pretty excited to try a lightweight rain pant that is more durable than Frogg Toggs. I ended up loving these pants so much that I wore them even if it wasn't raining. I'd pull these pants on over my leggings when I got to camp for added warmth. I get cold pretty easily and always have a pair of these pants on days hikes or long-distance hikes.

It sounds dramatic, but I truly believe these pants are a lifesaver. Towards the end of my time on the Continental Divide Trail, I was hiking in knee-high snow through most of Colorado. I wore these pants almost every day and I might not have gone as far as I did if I didn't have them.

Women's Backstop GORE-TEX® INFINIUM™ Sensor Gloves $40

My favorite features:

• Lightweight at only 1.8 oz/52 g
• Touch-screen compatible
• Windproof fabric: Radiant Fleece™ 95% polyester, 5% spandex shell - GORE INFINIUM™ with WINDSTOPPER
• Clasp to connect the gloves together

The search for the perfect pair of gloves is over! I absolutely love the Backstop GORE-TEX® INFINIUM™ Sensor Gloves for any adventure. With three sizes to choose from, Outdoor Research makes it easy to find the perfect fit. The touch-screen capability is a no-brainer when you want to pull out your phone and snap a quick photo without removing a glove.

I brought these gloves on my 2019 Continental Divide Trail thru-hike and they are still going strong. As a layering strategy, I paired these gloves with OR's rain mittens but unfortunately, they no longer makes the mitts. Regardless, these gloves stand alone or as a liner glove for warmer layering.

I have a funny history of losing gloves so I loved the clasp detail that connects these gloves and makes it super easy to keep them together. On cold morning hikes, I will wear these gloves until I warm up and then clasp them together through a pull on my backpack shoulder strap. This keeps them out of pockets where I might drop them and easily accessible if I want to wear them again.