Having had six rain jackets, three pairs of rain pants, and a number of ponchos of various weights and composition (emergency, heavy PU coated, Dri Ducks) - I usually take an umbrella unless it's an actual storm system on the radar, in which case I'll throw in a poncho and rain pants (I have PreCips and Kimtahs).
Rain jackets are largely indistinguishable from each other - anything that says 3 layer blah blah blah is likely just another Goretex clone, which is neither breathable as the label says nor always entirely waterproof - if there is dirt in the pores of the jacket you can plan to end up with a five pound jacket after a downpour, as happened to me while watching a thunderstorm one afternoon in Evolution Valley. Rivers going under my tent flowing down the granite, everything was bone dry. I ended up soaked to the skin standing there in my "waterproof" jacket.
Event, however, is a different animal. It's breathable, but not what I would take in all cases. REI Kimtahs are mega-expensive and sometimes, I end up in brush. So I also have the Precips and somewhere, a cheap pair of PU laminated REI brand pants, for low elevation cold and wet days.
Thunderlight, given the price, is likely PU coated nylon. It'll be sweaty hot if wearing them while moving in 50F or above temps. All rain jackets and rain pants are. Therefore I never put them on in rain unless it's cold as well, say below 55F, due to hypothermia concerns - I know that if I wear them while hiking I will be WET from sweat instead of rain, so all things being equal I'd rather not wear them.
I use an umbrella some trips for sun (A GoLite Chrome Dome, with carbon fiber pole) when it's going to be lots of treeless hiking, and prefer that for the afternoon showers in the Sierra over the rain gear. Dri Ducks is what I prefer for on trail hiking due to the phenomenal breathability and light weight. If I think I'm going to get rain dumped on me I'll take the real rain pants and jacket and an emergency poncho or trash bag - what actually happens will determine which item gets used.... The pants and jacket make walking around camp and staying dry easier, and the poncho is easier in some conditions for hiking (can be easily ventilated) and for midnight potty trips (works kind of like an umbrella to provide a dry area to "work" under).
Yeah, I've worked on the rain issue for a while now... like shelters or sleeping gear, I ended up with options for various occasions.
Haven't even touched the winter gear...