The lightweight version of their salt flats fishing shirt, the Island Hopper has mesh vents in front and supremely light weight. Great for sailing, fishing, watching the kidlins frolic in the pool, or going out for cerveza later.

I sound like a copy writer, I know. But these are the shirts I reached for during 100° weather this week. A light wash and drip dry, and ready the next day. All clothing should be so self-effacing.

I adored my old Patagonia Torrentshell rain jacket, with H2NO and simple features and fit. Hiked in it, skied in it, gently washed, rinse, repeat, hardly showed its age ... until some hooligan ripped it from my Jeep one weekend. Damn I missed that jacket, even while wearing a full-featured Gore-tex Patagonia Fusion jacket (which takes an R3 jacket as a zip-in liner).This replacement -- slightly upscale from Patagonia's basic rain shells, on a diet from its heavier big brother -- has the same light weight, easy fit, well thought out features, with the addition of a hideaway hood (with multiple adjustments for fit), dual-zipper pit zips, internal net pocket for stashing things. Like their other shells, it has a waist adjustment that is self-tied out of the way ... versatile velcro cuffs ... storm flaps on all the zips ... easily grabbed zipper pulls. One of the significant features in hot, humid, rainy climes is the net fabric liner, which glides over your first layer, and wicks moisture away from your body (so they say). It makes it much easer to get on and off.So. Another faithful buddy for sudden drenchers ... until someone rips it off again. I'll be en garde this time.