Crossing the Bridge in Rain Gear

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If you find yourself in rough weather, these Patagonia Storm Anoraks and Pants will keep your calm.

Gore-Tex works, but it is not the end of woe. The film simply can't deal with all of the body's output during exercise; some water vapor will condense if it isn't allowed to escape. In extreme situations the outer fabric's water-beading repellency breaks down and (sometimes abruptly) conducts heat away from the inner environment more efficiently; the temperature gradient below the Gore-Tex film changes and the dew point location moves deeper into the absorbent layers of clothing. Clothing is soaked with moisture. A clammy cold invades, which may be an occasion for some muttered Anglo-Saxon words in fortunate circumstances, and for genuine danger in critical times.

Staying optimistic in the rain is an old problem, older than the bridge at Ohashi, but some extraordinary companies are working on it for you. One of the best is Moonstone Mountaineering. Their Advantage Jacket ($295) has a durable outer fabric bonded to a Gore-Tex film. Beneath that laminate it is fully lined to "breathe" better. It has a detachable hood, a drawstring waist, and "pit zips" with double flaps that mechanically vent the hot spot under the arms.

The North Face's Triplex Jacket ($235) protects the high-abrasion, high-rain-strike areas with layers of fabric backed by Gore-Tex and a lining. Its cuffs are adjustable, and its zipper has a snap flap. It is only one of the products that have come out of their ambitious research and testing. The Triplex demonstrates one of the basic wet survival techniques: color. Buy rain gear bright enough to embarrass you just a little in the showroom. In the gray light of a cloudy day, bright colors glow like a uranium stockpile.

Patagonia is also one of the largest and most thorough explorers of outdoor clothing. The Storm Jacket and Storm Anorak ($220, $235) are beautifully made and constructed with Patagonia's proprietary vapor-permeable treatment, H2No. They are lined with nylon mesh and nylon ripstop, and have adjustable cuffs and a drawstring waist. Patagonia works in three repellent grades: H 2 Ho Light, very breathable, suitable for heavy activity in light mist or drizzle; H 2 Ho Plus, a middle range for wet snow or rain; H 2 Ho Storm for cataclysmic downpours and Seattle.

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