Crossing the Bridge in Rain Gear

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The chap under the tatami mat has a thick shield between him and the downpour. It should work, for a while, and he has his own little tent under it. One of the most effective pieces of rain gear is the poncho, a flat sheet of coated fabric that folds over the shoulders, has a pop-up hood in the middle, and lots of room inside. Because the tatami and the poncho are impromptu kites when the wind blows, practical hands slimmed the poncho profile and made a cagoule, a large hooded bag with sleeves that slips over the head and comes down below the knees. The poncho and this walking tent have advantages. There is enough room inside them to promote circulation.

The three mates under the umbrella are moving right along, trying to get under cover. They are discovering the hardest thing about staying dry while making any effort in the rain: Even in this chilly scene they will begin to sweat. When rubber found its way from the jungles, we had a perfectly waterproof covering. The rain gear that professional fishermen use today is often the stiff, almost bulletproof Black Diamond gear or Helly J. Hansen's robust rubber-and-polyurethane bib sets. Unfortunately, shutting out the elements doesn't keep anyone dry. A human body performing light to strenuous exercise regulates the critical temperature of its cells by throwing off one to two pounds of water vapor each hour sweating. The vapor passes from the skin and through porous, absorbent clothing. As it moves away from the body it loses heat (which is what it's supposed to be doing). At some point it will reach its dew point and condense, either on the inside surface of the cooled rubber or somewhere in the clothing. The inhabitant of this two-way water barrier will be soaked in a short time. Then the water will carry heat away from the body even more efficiently through the damp clothing, and chill will set in.

I wish there were someone who looked comfortable on the bridge, because staying dry begins to look hopeless. The fact is, keeping dry was not asked of clothing until the last few decades. We have an exaggerated expectation of comfort. As an example, oilskins (canvas soaked in a polymerizing oil) worked as well as any sailor expected them to work. He knew that they leaked at the seams, soaked him with his own sweat inside, and made him smell like the back room of a taxidermy shop, but he was only concerned with staying warm. He trusted wool serge pants and wool sweaters to insulate him even when they were damp. And, come to that, he didn't mind the cold as much as you do.

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