After hunting for 6 hours in a terrible down pour yesterday. My 15 year old Gortex rain gear let me down. I was soaked fron head to toe. It is time to get some new gear. What is the best way to go in this day and time? Are there new products on the market now or should I go back the the gortex?
There was a guy in upstate New York; in Plattsburgh; named Rudy something; and he worked all the time in the rain. Everyone went to him about what to wear in bad weather- until they found out he was a communist.
Its too bad that alienated him- because Rudolph the Red knows rain gear !!
have a look at stoney creek gear from New Zealand. good stuff!
have a look at space rain gear in cabela's or bass pro. one or the other. It rolls up into a pop can size pouch. I use it during spring turkey and it is tuff and lite. I ordered an XL so i could get it on over everything else.
I love it.
Look into the Cabelas packable rain gear. It's lite weight and packs down very small to stow in a pack when not in use.
Gortex is still great stuff but I think it degrades over the years. Mine did the same thing after about ten years.
Depends where you're going. In Prince William Sound I wouldn't consider wearing goretex. It never dries once wet and it all gets wet from sweat. I use Helly Henson Impertech. Doesn't have a lining, pretty light weight, and drys easily.
There was a posting on Stikbow or Bowsite about a sale someone was having.
I like to wear my whools and on top the Cabela's packable rain gear.This way you have the protection on the out side and mantain the core warm and dry.
Brian krebs that was priceless,luke
QuoteOriginally posted by john luka:
Brian krebs that was priceless,luke
I agree. Where do you come up with stuff like that? Do the voices need another poke with the Q tip? :biglaugh:
Another vote for Cabelas packable...all season wear with the right layers. Only downside is that it does not breath...so keep the activity slow.
I still can't figure out why people don't use ponchos. They are light and packable. By definition they breathe, so you don't get soaked from condensation. You can buy one without having to mortgage your house.
I was wearing one opening day this year when I killed a doe. Just flip it over your shoulder - like Clint Eastwood prepping for a gun fight - and do your thing.
I got some Helly Hansen for Christmas and it comes as advertised. Very well engineered and constructed.
I would recomend takin a peek at RiversWest gear. Best made IMHO!
I was where you was at a month and half ago. I was on the fence between Helly Hansen and rivers west. I decided to take the cheap one first, and you know what, the Helly Hansen though cost a little done the job. It is awesome, buy it and forget what you thought raingear was and redefine what waterproof is.
In light rain to medium rain I love my Cabelas dry plus slient suede stuff, In heavy rain I like my architecual shingles over 5/8" plywood supported by trusses!
I would go back to Goretex. It really improved since you bought you last one 15 years ago. Today it is much less bulky, more waterproof, and the outer surface of the goretex hunting gear is usually coated with silent micro fleece or other micro weave.
Now the choices vary between $100 generic Cabelas or $400 +
name brands.
Just ordered some Squaltex from Bass Pro Shops. I had a bunch of Christmas gift cards from the kids. It was on sale too.I should have in a few days. I'll give you a full report. I'll be wearing it during Winter Bow here in Jersey for a "Road Test" so to speak.Yes I know it's not wool and it is camo folks. Thought I'd give it a shot. :biglaugh:
Brian, I think you poked at the voices once too often! Great response! LOL Ben
Beware- not all gore-tex is "Gore-tex." There is a difference. Also, if you want waterPROOF (and you are going to be in constant rain) the only thing that will REALLY work is Helly Hansen and that kind (rubber). Everything else will fail. So it depends what kind of hunting you are doing; typical deer hunting (go home at the end of the day) you may do well with the lighter stuff. Wilderness (cold/out for days)get something truly waterproof.
I hunt mostly here in midwest. I found the extreme packable Cabelas space rain stuff (weighs just ounces and fits it your hand when packed) works great for packing and hunting on stand in the rain. I am not sure it would hold up well walking through brush however. I wear it over my wool as it still can get a little damp.
I did try the stuff that is gore-tex facsimile with the micro fleece outer for quiet. It did not work well for me as every burr in the country stuck to it. Besides I still got wet.
My personal conclusion: 1) Good rubber stuff (Hansen and the like) for walking, with wool underneath to keep warm with sweat/condensation; and 2) my Cabela's space rain to pack in for on stand.
Dan in KS
I have never gotten wet in my Cabela's Guidewear. I buy the unlined version and layer up underneath.
Brian I only hope that in some Christmas future I get asked about raingear so I can use that gem.
I have a set of military gortex woodland camo. If you get wet in that you must have gone swimming. If you can find it surplus its 1/4 the price of commercial stuff and i like it better but these bones normally dont go out in the rain unless im on a travel hunt.
If you move around in the rain hunting on the ground, with even moderate exertion, Gore Tex will get soaked from the inside. I have tried GT a number of times and have wound up returning it each time.
The non GT house brand from Cabelas has worked much better for me.
Rivers West,I don't know about the Hansen never tried it but I do know about Gore-tex. If you want to stay dry in the heaviest rain go with the Rivers West.
Rivers West
Peter Storm
I have:
Helly Hanson is great, but it's a little noisy.
I use it duck hunting.
Rivers West is the best rain gear I've ever had.
I use it for archery.
I always have the Cabelas space rain bibs and jacket in my pack on day hunts and backpack hunts here in the lower 48.
When I go to AK in August I will have Helly Hansen Impertech ii because no one I know that has hunted AK would do so without the HH. The only thing I have heard is better is the thicker stuff the guys on "deadliest catch" and other pro fishermen in AK wear.
Good luck
Never used
rivers West but worked outside for years when I was younger and went through a LOT of cheap raingear. Some brands didn't survive trying to get my boots through the legs....
Helly Hansen is the best I've personally used but if it was raining bad enough that I needed it, I'd probably head for the house. Can't blood trail in that kind of rain anyway. It would probably be noisy too.
In certain situations like hunting in Alaska where you can't just leave and go to a warm house, I'd pack it along just to save the hunt.