I would like to hear some opinions on high end raingear with packable and durable first concern.thanks
High end is the way to go. I had rain gear that did not breathe and you would sweat so much that you would be just as wet as if you wern't wearing rain gear. Pella rain gear is top notch.
I have only owned Cabelas MTO50...it is excellent and packable. I wore it through hell in a caribou hunt on the isle of Newfoundland constantly on the move. Rained every day.
My friend bought the Alaskan Guide jacket from Cabelas for an Alaskan hunt, but said it was no better than the MTO50.
I use ECWS(us military cold weather parka and pants) the stuff is great and works as a rain gear(gortex) and an outer layer for cold weather. Its not cheap!$200.00 for the parka and $100.00 for the pants. The parka has inner chest pockets,outer pockets and sleeve pockets,under arm vent zippers,inner waist snow seal cuff. and a ton of other extra extras.
I bought sitga gear rain gear 3 years ago..it is pack able, breathable, durable, and it works. Kuiu would be an alternative that works just as well.
Don't see it much anymore, but I have used Peter Storm raingear for years. Best test was a week of rainy weather hunting moose in Maine. Good stuff
A few years ago, I got some Mad Dog raingear while on a trip to the Oregon coast. Folks over there know something about rain. Last year, we went to Alaska and it rained constantly, and the Mad Dog stuff kept me dry.
X2 on cabella's MTO50 packable raingear. Have used several times hunting Kodiak Island where rain is a fact of life.
If you tree stand hunt-your needs are different from ground hunting and different again from close in stalking. I have tried many many outfits and concluded none work for heavy exertion or closing in for the kill. Now I go with wool mostly; some of the "almost rain gear" with that DWR treatment seem to work better as a compromise than gore-tex. Right now I'm wearing sitka downpour-not bad; you won't get wet from the outside-you will from the inside, and the pants are too crunchy if you are trying to be really quiet.
I have Cabella's space rain gear, bibs and pullover, I have used it twice in northern BC on MG hunts, and many times for elk and mule deer. its light, packable and block wind, rain and wind driven rain. my only complant is it flaps alittle in heavy winds but in some of the winds it has flapped in have been 30-40 + mph. " we should have not been hunting"
Best: Kuiu Chugach Jacket and Pants
Excellent (and quieter than the Kuiu): Core4Element Torrent Jacket and Pants
I think the Sitka rain suit is comparable to the Core4Element, but maybe not as quiet.
I also have the Cabela's MTO50, and it is good as well as being much less expensive.
I personally would pick the Kuiu if packable and durable are your main concerns. The others are not in the same league, in my experience (my experience is somewhat limited since I would rather not spend all my time outside testing rain gear), but the best rain gear, like the Kuiu Chugach, currently needs to be a true hard shell, so it is significantly noisier than some of the other makes. That's why I have the Core4Element for the times when the noise factor is important and there won't be heavy rain throughout the hunt. Not that the Kuiu stuff is super noisy, either, but it certainly is not nearly as quiet as a brushed polyester.
Allan
Thank you everybody for there coments.a little noise would not bother me I would mostly be useing it for heavy rain and wind ,My wool does a good job in light rain.
rivers west, stayed dry today..
X2 on the Mad Dog and it is quiet too! I wear it on the outside when it is windy and cold also.
X3 on Cabelas MT050. Don't take a trip without it.
X2 on the ecwcs the pants are a bit noisy but wind and rain proof they are.
Rivers west worked for me for about 8 days... That's a lot of hiking through soaked brush. Now it's not to water proof but comepared to other I have used I was happy with it. I might try Sitka next but the price tag is a bit steep for my blood.
I for early season I like the cheap plastic type packable stuff that packs into a small pouch. It's loud, but in OR during early season rain is not a major issue so I get by with it and it keeps my pack lightweight
Rivers west works good for me. interesting bearsfeet I havnt had mine leak yet. Nice and warm to for the winter.
Cabela's space rain gear. Very light and packable.
I also like cabelas mt050. Have never got wet.
ttt
Cabelas MT050 pants have never failed me. I use Cabelas Dry Plus wooltimate top and it has never leaked and is very quiet. Not good for warmer temperatures if you are hiking though(above 35 degrees) because you will sweat, and it is a little heavy. I would not consider it packable.
I have gone the route of a patagonia or helly hansen lightweight breathable packable jacket worn under wool. Wool gets wet, but you stay dry.
I've had my Peter Storm now for 15 years and it still works great, very quiet too.
I use the mad dog rain gear now for several years and it has stayed dry even in sudden downpours where the rain was coming down sideways.
Any votes for the Helly Hansen rain gear? Is it similar to the old Peter Storm material -- sort of a rubberized outer shell with a lining? The Peter Storm was tough, quiet, and very waterproof.
I use MT050 also.
You guys convinced me so I just ordered the MT050 in Outfitter camo
Another fan of Rivers West here. The stuff is bombproof in all conditions. Get one with pit zips for warmer weather.
I was given a military gortex set but I don't hunt in rain heavy enough to wear it so I wear it fishing.
I have the same experience as Bjorn, They all work if I am still but hiking around I get wet frem condensation. They all "breathe" when they are dry but water vapor does not go out through the sheet of water on the outside surface of the clothes.
The Cabelas MT050 is good stuff. I also have the Cabelas space rain pullover it also works well and is super lightweight. I do not think it would be as durable as the MT050.
Kuiu Chugach Jacket and Pants
X2 lpcjon's. suggestion. Only I found mine at a rummage sale for $ 50 or so, Don't remember for sure except it was cheap. Very good, durable stuff. Only thing I don't like is it all is noisy to some degree. Although, after a rainstorm I did stalk to within about 15 yards on two mule deer bucks one time.