SGUK Outdoor Skills Challenge 61: Stand in Cold Rain for Ten Minutes in the Right Clothing

Being comfortable outdoors in cold, wet weather starts with choosing the right clothing before you leave. Waterproof outer layers, suitable insulation and sensible footwear can make a significant difference, but clothing also needs to suit the conditions and the activity.

Your challenge is to prepare for cold rain, check your clothing and experience the conditions safely without allowing yourself to become chilled.

Your Challenge

Dress appropriately for a cold, rainy day and spend up to ten minutes outdoors observing how your clothing performs. The aim is to assess your preparation, not to endure discomfort or prove how long you can tolerate the cold.

Only attempt this when the conditions are manageable. Do not go out in thunderstorms, severe winds, freezing rain or conditions that could make the location unsafe.

What You’ll Need

• A suitable waterproof outer layer
• Warm layers appropriate to the temperature
• Clothing that helps keep you comfortable if damp
• Suitable footwear for the ground
• A dry, warm place to return to immediately afterwards

Use clothing and equipment you already have. Do not rely on a waterproof jacket alone if the temperature means you also need insulation.

Take the Challenge

1. Check the conditions. Before heading outside, consider the temperature, wind, rainfall and how exposed the location is. Choose a sheltered, familiar place close to somewhere warm, and postpone the challenge if the conditions are severe.
2. Choose your layers. Wear a suitable base layer, insulating clothing and a waterproof outer layer. Avoid clothing that restricts movement or leaves large gaps where rain can enter. Make sure your footwear is suitable for the ground.
3. Check your preparation. Before going outside, check that your hood, cuffs and fastenings work properly. Make sure you can move comfortably and that you have a dry layer available for afterwards.
4. Go outside when it is raining. Stand in a safe, sheltered outdoor location where you can observe the rain without being exposed to dangerous weather. Start a timer and assess your comfort at regular intervals.
5. Observe your clothing. Notice whether rain beads on the outer layer, whether water enters around the neck or cuffs, and whether your hands and feet remain comfortable. Think about whether your layers allow you to move freely without becoming excessively sweaty.
6. Finish safely. End the exercise after ten minutes at most, or sooner if you become uncomfortable, start shivering, feel numb or notice any other signs of becoming too cold. Go indoors, remove wet clothing and change into dry layers.

Do not continue simply to complete the ten minutes. Cold rain combined with wind can chill you quickly, and the purpose is to learn how to prepare properly, not to test your limits.

Check Your Results

Check your clothing and preparation against these points:

• Were your layers suitable for the conditions?
• Did the waterproof outer layer keep most rain away from your inner clothing?
• Did water enter around any openings?
• Were you able to move comfortably?
• Did you remain warm enough throughout the exercise?
• What would you change before your next wet-weather outing?

Complete the Challenge

Your challenge is complete when you have spent up to ten minutes observing your clothing in cold rain, assessed how well your layers performed and identified at least one improvement for future trips.

Take a photograph of your outdoor clothing in the rain or photograph your kit laid out afterwards. You do not need to share a photograph of yourself if you would prefer not to.

How to Submit Your Challenge

Submit your evidence

1. Go to your SGUK member profile.
2. Open Social Activity.
3. Upload a photograph of your evidence to the activity wall.
4. Add the hashtag #SGUKChallenge61.
5. Share it for verification.

Challenge 61 Checklist

Want to Push Yourself?

After the challenge, review your clothing and decide which single change would make the biggest difference on a longer walk in similar weather. You could improve your layering, adjust how your waterproofs fit or plan a better way to keep spare clothing dry.

What’s Next?

If you haven’t completed the previous challenge, try SGUK Outdoor Skills Challenge 60: Practise Predicting What Could Go Wrong on a Route. You can complete the SGUK Challenges in any order.

Once you’ve shared your evidence and it has been verified, the SGUK Outdoor Skills Challenge 61 is complete and the completed challenges figure will be updated on your profile.

Learn. Practise. Master.

That’s what the SGUK Outdoor Skills Challenge is all about.