Hello all, well, I have had enough!!!! I have hunted the last few times in the rain and tired of the cheap stuff. Been doing this for years, now I need your advice on rain gear that will keep me dry, when on stand. I don't plan on going to alaska (which to me is a totally different envirormentand world). I want to wear it on stand not stalking, got mixed results for rivers west, peter storm, frogg troggs, yada-yada, give me your experiance and ideas, thanks.
King of the mountain wool ......
It's not truly rain gear per se, but Gray Wolf Woolens Wolfskin fabric does a great job of keeping me dry on stand. Certainly not during a down pour, but the light rain/drizzle type of weather we often find is no problem for the Wolfskin. And it is about the quietest stuff this side of wool as well! It is about all I wear anymore. I have a Peter Storm outfit that I might carry in my pack just in case it really starts coming down, but for those light rain days Wolfskin is all I need and use.
Hey Todd, I have some packable stuff from Cabelas that is pretty good, but normally my wools will get me thru quite a bit before I need it. Hunting around here, I pretty much figure that if I need real raingear, I don't need to be hunting. One place where good raingear really helps is letting you be on stand before the rain stops.
I know wool is more "traditional" than the high tech stuff out today. But for my money, and it's not cheap, the Sitka Gear "Downpour" works great. I wore it last year in the late Blacktail season here in Oregon. It was storming pretty good one weekend that I went out. Never got wet, it has ventilation zippers under the arms, didn't sweat a lot, and it was quiet enough for stalking.
I've been using Gander Mountain's TecH20 stuff for several years. You can get a jacket and pants for less than $150 total and it works great.
Try lite weight pullover rain top under a wool sweater. Mine has plenty of airholes. It will get hot if you're stillhunting. In a stand, same with a rainproof cover draped over your legs. Wool by itself stays warm when wet.
I bought a Mossy Oak Raintamer II at Cabela's a year ago on clearance and it has been the only rain jacket i have really really liked.
Get a thin (backpacker friendly is good) poncho. I killed a nice doe opening night this year while still-hunting in my poncho. Before you shoot, just move it up over your bow arm shoulder (like Clint Eastwood) and let it rip.
It's cheap, works great and it's light and airy.
Lol - I really don't get why more archers don't try them.
Helly Hansen Impertech in the OD green has been excellent rain gear for the money. When it wears out I plan on replacing it with the same stuff. It works great.
x2 on the Helly Hansen, best rain gear I've owned.
Rivers West
Frog Toggs are great. I just wish they had pockets.
Wool-Hap
Military surplus stores offer Gortex ECWS is what I use. Used it when I was in the Marine Corps and I still love it!
I agree with Jason, I bought the Gander Mountain stuff on sale a few years ago and its always kept me dry...
Helly Hansen
Goretex or wool.
Space Rain Gear at either cabela's or Bass Pro, I can't remember which one I bought it from but I bought it for spring turkey hunting initially and ended up wearing it this week in my stand and stayed bone dry. It's quiet and packs up in a pouch the size of a pop can.
I got it so I could carry it in my turkey vest and have it for those "where did that come from spring down pours".
don't mind being wet in spring, hell end up wet anyway chasing the bronze barons around.