Enlightened Equipment Rain Wrap Review

Overview

The Enlightened Equipment Rain Wrap is a rectangle of waterproof nylon with a shock-cord waist and a few snaps. That is the whole machine. It is aimed at three-season hikers in shorts or trail pants who want to keep their thighs and their jacket runoff off their legs without the steam bath of rain pants. The trade-off is plain: it covers the upper legs well and the lower legs not at all, and it does not love brush.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	58 g
Fabric	7D Sil/PU Nylon
Dimensions	28” x 64.5”
Waist fit	38”–48”
Waist adjustment	Shock cord
Closures	Snaps (rotatable to side or back)
Extras	Tie-out loops for tarp or ground-cloth use
Sewn-in stuff pouch	Yes

Performance

Ventilation and stride. This is the reason rain skirts exist, and the Rain Wrap makes the case cleanly. A Trailspace reviewer who had been skipping rain gear because rain pants left them steaming described the wrap as never impeding their stride, even on steep climbs. The vertical opening lets the fabric ride up and down the legs, and because the skirt hangs straight, water sheds downward as the hiker walks. After hours of heavy rain, the same reviewer reported upper thighs staying dry.

On and off. The wrap goes on over shoes and over a loaded pack, which is the practical win over pants. Users describe a sub-minute routine: tie the waist, close the snaps, keep walking. A Swiss hiker who calls it a regular companion on wet days singled out the lack of one-legged balancing and muddy shoes threaded through pant legs.

Closures and fit. The waist uses two snaps set several inches apart. Using both gives an overlap and extra security; using just one eliminates the overlap and opens up airflow. A third snap farther down the opening can be fastened to close more of the slit in wind-driven rain. A shock-cord waistband keeps the skirt from sliding as the hiker moves, and an owner with a 34-inch waist found the medium of an earlier version loose but workable with the cord cinched. Rain jacket hems should overlap the waistband so runoff doesn’t find its way inside.

Wind and weather limits. A hiker who tested an early version in the shower concluded that water beaded and shed readily, and that only heavy wind or sideways rain would be likely to push water in through the slit at the back. In a sustained gale or in cold, wet conditions where the lower legs matter, a skirt is the wrong tool. Reviewers consistently pair it with a jacket or short poncho and describe it as best suited to open trail.

Durability. The fabric is the main caveat. Current wraps use 7D Sil/PU nylon (earlier versions used 15D silnylon), which keeps weight near 2 oz but is not built for abuse. One owner reports good results in waist-high wet grass but warns against pushing through thorny bushes; another reviewer flagged that bushwhacking leaves legs wet. Hikers on overgrown trails should expect to baby it.

Second job as a tarp. Tie-out loops around the edge let the wrap double as a small ground cloth, vestibule mat, or a minimal cook-area cover strung between trees. At 28” x 64.5”, it is a sit-pad and gear mat more than a shelter, but for a piece that already earns its weight as clothing, it is a useful bonus.

Value. Enlightened Equipment lists the wrap at $48, marked down from a $60 MSRP. That is mid-pack among cottage-built rain skirts. It sits close in weight to the ULA Rain Kilt’s category rivals and lighter than the Velcro-and-barrel-lock designs, though a Zpacks DCF kilt shaves a touch more weight at a higher price.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 58 g, and it stuffs into its own sewn-in pouch
• Far better ventilation than rain pants
• Goes on over shoes and a loaded pack
• Multiple snap positions for venting or closing up in wind
• Shock-cord waist keeps it in place on climbs
• Tie-out loops add ground-cloth and mini-tarp use

Cons

• Thin 7D fabric is vulnerable to thorns and brush
• No coverage below the knee, and the slit lets in wind-driven rain
• Not a substitute for pants in cold, wet, or windy conditions
• Pricier than basic silnylon skirts from larger brands

Who Should Buy This

Three-season backpackers and thru-hikers who walk in shorts or lightweight trail pants and carry a rain jacket will get the most from it, particularly in humid climates where rain pants turn into saunas. It also suits anyone who wants a cook-area mat or sit pad that needs no extra gear. Hikers who regularly bushwhack, travel in cold, windy alpine terrain, or want full-leg protection should carry rain pants or a more robust kilt.

Verdict

The Rain Wrap does one job well: it keeps thighs dry and legs free, at the weight of a couple of sandwich bags. Treat the fabric gently and match it to open, warm-to-cool rain, and it is one of the better returns on grams in a rain kit.