Did Snow Peak Just Drop the Perfect Kit for Your Next Camping Trip?

The brand we know and love for its aesthetics just upped the ante on performance, thanks to Gore-Tex.

a man fly fishing off a cliff rock wearing snow peak goretex outerwear

Published March 18, 2024

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Updated March 18, 2024

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Aesthetics are subjective; performance is not. At the end of the day, this dynamic is what defines outdoor apparel: Do the clothes merely look nice, or will they hold up against inclement climates? If you care how your apparel looks as much as you prize its functionality, you’d hope for both in equal measure, but the unfortunate reality has often been that you must pick between the two.

Thanks to one very important new ingredient for the brand, Snow Peak’s latest collection gives us hope for a more equitable future, where form and function can coexist in harmony (and comfort).

Say Hello to the Snow Peak Gore-Tex Rain Series

I live in Southern California, which for the past five-ish years has experienced actual rain during our winters and springs. This shift in the weather has forced me to invest in clothing that can hold up against all-day rain. As a precipitation newbie, I’ve come up again and again against rainwear and apparel that doesn’t have a modicum of the design features I expect out of my everyday wardrobe. Much of it, especially on the women’s side, features designs, patterns and fits that I consider slightly archaic — and have a great aversion wearing.

So it was with genuine excitement that I opened the latest email from Snow Peak — the rare outdoor brand with aesthetics I love — informing me about its brand-new Gore-Tex Rain Series. Finally, some apparel that would look good and function even better against the unfamiliar downpours I’ve been experiencing.

snow peak rain series worn on man by river — The Gore-Tex Rain Series Cap, Jacket and Pants work as well on the river as they do in a rainstorm.

Consisting of pants, rain jackets, hats and caps, the entire collection marries Snow Peak’s minimal Japanese aesthetic with Gore-Tex’s performance-driven fabrics. Made from 100 percent recycled polyester, each garment in the collection has complete seam sealing — even the hats and caps — and that includes waterproof zippers on all of the apparel.

The Gore-Tex Rain Jacket will run you five hundred bucks, which is pretty steep, but its two-way adjustable hood, adjustable waist and hem, waterproof zippers and thoughtful pocketing — plus the nylon Gore-Tex Performance Shell backer and PFC-free DWR treatment — make a compelling argument for purchase. Same goes for the Gore-Tex Rain Pants: Yes, they’re almost $400, but they’re also waterproof and wind-resistant, feature a knee-to-ankle zipper to accommodate boots and bulkier footwear and come in the same elevated colorways as the jacket: olive, taupe and black.

snow peak gore tex rain series fly fishing — The Rain Series Hat will keep the sun out of your eyes — and the rain off your head.

snow peak gore tex rain series — This cap is made to be worn on the water.

Rounding out the collection are the Gore-Tex Rain Hat and the Gore-Tex Rain Cap, both fully waterproof and constructed with the same Gore-Tex materials that make the corresponding jacket and pants fully waterproof and wind-resistant. I imagine the headwear would be great for a rainy hike, day on the water or even some fly fishing — with a waterproof hat and cap, the sky is the limit. The hat goes for $120, while the performance cap costs $90.

If you’re a fan of Snow Peak, you know these prices are in line with the unique products it creates for cooking, sleeping and chilling under the sun and stars. You may also know this isn’t the first line of technical apparel from the brand. However, as the first collection from the brand to utilize tried-and-true Gore-Tex materials and membranes, this one takes the brand’s embrace of “outdoor living” further into the elements than ever before.

The entire Snow Peak Gore-Tex Rain Series is available now in the apparel section of its website.

Snow Peak Gore-Tex Rain Jacket

Made from 100-percent recycled polyester Gore-Tex fabric, Snow Peak’s rain jacket fuses form and function for a lightweight, waterproof and wind-resistant shell made for the elements.

Specs

Shell	100% recycled polyester, PFC-free DWR
Backer	100% nylon Gore-Tex performance shell

$499.95 at Snow Peak

Snow Peak Gore-Tex Rain Pants

These hard-wearing pants can easily transition from camp to bar, and feature details including two zippered side pockets, two angled zippered rear pockets a knee-to-ankle zipper on each leg to accommodate roomier footwear.