Hiking/trekking garment employing a special suspension harness and bat-wing type sleeves configured to permit the garment to be partially doffed in a gathered transport mode yet is retained on the hiker's back for rapid deployment in case of unexpected change in the weather. The backpack and garment may be donned or doffed independent of the other and without assistance of another person. The harness prevents the garment from riding up and back to not choke the wearer. The garment is specially configured with expandable backpack cover panels. A backpack may be donned or doffed by the wearer alone without assistance and independent of the garment, even while the garment is deployed in the inclement weather use position. Conversely, the garment can be independently put on or taken off without disturbing the backpack and without assistance. The length of the garment may be selected to form a cloak or a jacket.

Hiking/trekking garment employing a special suspension harness and bat-wing type sleeves configured to permit the garment to be partially doffed in a gathered transport mode yet is retained on the hiker's back for rapid deployment in case of unexpected change in the weather. The backpack and garment may be donned or doffed independent of the other and without assistance of another person. The harness prevents the garment from riding up and back to not choke the wearer. The garment is specially configured with expandable backpack cover panels. A backpack may be donned or doffed by the wearer alone without assistance and independent of the garment, even while the garment is deployed in the inclement weather use position. Conversely, the garment can be independently put on or taken off without disturbing the backpack and without assistance. The length of the garment may be selected to form a cloak or a jacket.

Disclosed is a backpack, shelter, rain poncho/rainfly/pack cover combination. The combination is configured such that the tent is stored in a zippered front pocket of the backpack, a removable hooded rain poncho/rainfly/pack cover is stored in a pocket on the top of the pack, and a telescoping frame sits in an integrated sleeve within the pack, preferably against a foam backpanel. The front of the backpack is configured to form a wall of the tent, when the tent is erected. The telescoping frame typically consists of (i) one horizontal hollow tube arm; (ii) an adjustable hinge connected to each end of the horizontal tube arm, each hinge configured to lock at 90 degrees as well as a wider angle; and (iii) a vertical leg assembly connected to each adjustable hinge, each vertical leg assembly containing two telescoping hollow tubes.

An article of apparel such as a rain jacket includes a composite fabric formed of a textile layer including a plurality of yarns, each yarn including five to twenty-five filaments having non-circular cross-sectional shapes and a sealing layer applied as a coating directly to the interior surface of the textile layer and having a thickness of about 10 micrometers to about 30 micrometers.

An article of apparel such as a rain jacket includes a composite fabric formed of a textile layer including a plurality of yarns, each yarn including five to twenty-five filaments having non-circular cross-sectional shapes and a sealing layer applied as a coating directly to the interior surface of the textile layer and having a thickness of about 10 micrometers to about 30 micrometers.

A garment attachment includes a first connector and a second connector. The first connector is freely connectable to and detachable from a right front part of a front-open garment. The second connector is freely connectable to and detachable from a left front part of the front-open garment. With the first and second connectors, the garment attachment is freely attachable to and detachable from the front-open garment between divided front parts of the garment.

A garment attachment includes a first connector and a second connector. The first connector is freely connectable to and detachable from a right front part of a front-open garment. The second connector is freely connectable to and detachable from a left front part of the front-open garment. With the first and second connectors, the garment attachment is freely attachable to and detachable from the front-open garment between divided front parts of the garment.

A garment in a preferred embodiment includes front, rear and first and second side panels and a hood all formed from a single piece of a high performance, water-proof, breathable material. The user may use releasable fasteners affixed above fixed connection points along each opposite side of the front and rear panels to adjust the size of the sleeve openings. Releasable fasteners are provided below the fixed connection points to allow the user to open or close the side edges of the front and rear panels below the fixed connection points. A plurality of releasable fasteners is provided along the bottom edges of the front and rear panels to allow the user to selectively adjust the fit about the user's torso.

A garment in a preferred embodiment includes front, rear and first and second side panels and a hood all formed from a single piece of a high performance, water-proof, breathable material. The user may use releasable fasteners affixed above fixed connection points along each opposite side of the front and rear panels to adjust the size of the sleeve openings. Releasable fasteners are provided below the fixed connection points to allow the user to open or close the side edges of the front and rear panels below the fixed connection points. A plurality of releasable fasteners is provided along the bottom edges of the front and rear panels to allow the user to selectively adjust the fit about the user's torso.

Disclosed is a backpack, shelter, rain poncho/rainfly/pack cover combination. The combination is configured such that the tent is stored in a zippered front pocket of the backpack, a removable hooded rain poncho/rainfly/pack cover is stored in a pocket on the top of the pack, and a telescoping frame sits in an integrated sleeve within the pack, preferably against a foam backpanel. The front of the backpack is configured to form a wall of the tent, when the tent is erected. The telescoping frame typically consists of (i) one horizontal hollow tube arm; (ii) an adjustable hinge connected to each end of the horizontal tube arm, each hinge configured to lock at 90 degrees as well as a wider angle; and (iii) a vertical leg assembly connected to each adjustable hinge, each vertical leg assembly containing two telescoping hollow tubes.