Not this XXX-breathe-when-a-mouse-farts on the other side of the planet "stuff"...but water PROOF!!! pants that stay DRY on the INSIDE when walking through wet fields, medium rain, etc...etc...etc...
Can you tell I got WET in my $90 Cabela's "ultimate rainwear" stuff????
(OK, I only paid $20 for them on the rack in Cabela's, but just because they were last year's models and in my size...but HEY, they SUCK!)
Thanks for letting me vent...
Marc
I have some military issue pants with Gore Tex, they work great and won't break the bank. But they are noisy when walking, I guess that's the GoreTex?
Dan
Yup the noise should come from the goretex.
Must be new stuff; they didn't have anything for rain when I was in, but I've been out for ten years...I'll take a look.
Thanks!
Marc
I bought a set of packable waterproof pants made by Field and stream, They are great. where I hunt it is ALWAYS WET, And these Really do keep me dry. the come with a stuff sackthey are quiet and seam sealed!! $50 at Dicks.
Huggies :biglaugh:
Frog Togs are pretty nice but don't think they come in camoflage.
Well, This is my first post here. Ive been doing MUCH lurking for the last month, so dont bash me to hard...
Try "Rivers West" for quiet waterPROOF and breathable gear. VERY nice stuff, but not too easy on the wallet. I believe its the only waterproof clothing that lives up to its name. They had a neat little display at our local Sportsmans Warehouse that constantly pours water on a vest throughout the day, and the inside stays dry.
Casey
Hi Marc.
In my opinion there isn't a pair of water proof pants made that I would pay 15 cents for.
I have found that what works best for me is a pair of good fitting fleece pants with a set of polypro long under wear under them.
You will get wet wearing these but they are fairly warm, quiet and they dry almost instantly.
The waterproof pants that I have tried are hot, noisy and most are not waterproof anyway unless they are rubber rainwear.
Wool also works well in a wet climate.
I do wear a gortex parka but it eventually lets water through.
Good Luck.
John
Although I detest so much of what Cabela's stands for, politically and morally, sometimes they are the only choice for having what hunters need. I have a pair of their Dry-Plus wood/Gore-Tex pants, a couple years old, about $100; Smart-Wood type material (doesn't shrink) with G-T liners. They are heavy but quiet and absolutely waterproof so far. If there's any chance of rain or snow and it's not hot, I wear them for hunting and don't have to bother with rainsuit bottoms. I also have a suit of (sorry) X10 or somesuch that's at least 10 years old and still doesn't leak. And for lightweight and cheap, you can't beat the English Peter Storm. It's my feet I have trouble keeping dry! dave
Yes, that't wool, not wood. dave
Uh, that's wool, not wood.
I just saw some frogg toggs in camouflage at Dicks Sporting Goods. I think it was around $50 for the legs and jacket.
Frogg Toggs come in camo. I have some. I got an ad about a week ago for a jacket and overalls on close out for 20.00. I almost bought another pair just to have on hand. I waited to order the next day and they were sold out.
Mr. insttech 1,
Our Filson's Tin Pants are waterproof but noisy when on the move.
Best Wishes
Marc,
Gortex isn't that new for the Army anyway. They had them in 94-95 or maybe earlier. Wasn't an issued thing for us but a few people bought the jackets. I believe it was around then anyway. I got out in 1998 and most of my time in people had them.
I always wanted them but never got them. They should be fairly cheap now since they have gone to the digital camo.
Had some Browning gore-tex rain gear that worked well. I went on a diet and it got too big for me so I sold it. Have since picked up Rivers West rain gear. Haven't put it through the paces yet. Used it to pack out part of an elk in the raina week or so ago. Did build up some heat inside, but I think anything would under those conditions. Luckily, I had a fairly short pack. It's very comfortable, does seem to be quiet, and it certainly didn't leave any water in. Looking forward to giving it more rigorous tests.
Redhead Squalltex Pants. $60 I think, Not silent, but very close, and completly waterproof. Just don't wear them on a very hot day, they don't breathe out so well, but I guess thats the price you pay to be dry.
Couldn't think of it last night, but the Army pants are labeled "Trousers, Cold Weather Camoflage". May be called ECW (extreme cold weather) by some people when selling on that auction site.
They are NOT insulated, they are meant to be worn over your regular pants. They are oversize to fit over, and have slits way up the pants legs and big zippers. Pockets go all the way through so you can reach your regular pockets.
They are waterproof (so far), and windproof. They have GORE TEX labeled inside.
While fine for sitting, they are noisy when walking. Think I paid about 30 bucks for mine and have enjoyed them in bad weather.
Dan
I know duck hunters swear by the Rivers West stuff. Of course, some of the duck hunters I know have nice heated blinds where they cook breakfast after the morning flight. :coffee:
Wow some of you guys were spoiled...gore-tex military pants?? All I had was a nasty old poncho...LOL!!
Thanks for all the tips everyone!
I will look some of them up, and we also have a new Dicks by me that opened up last year. Guess I'll have to take a look around, and peak at the old auction site as well.
Take Care,
Marc
I spent several winters creek boating here on the Olympic peninsula, gore-tex is initially waterproof depending on the quality of the seam sealing when manufactured. Even the best gore-tex garments (which aren't quiet) depend on a dwr (durable water repellent) finish on the outer material to keep the water beading and rolling off, if it gets wetted out the gore-tex no longer breathes and you are miserable. It takes regular maintenance with a product like nik-wax to keep them working well. For myself if I'm not moving much I use good quality raingear or the poncho you mentioned and if I am on the move it's a sil-nylon poncho and clothing that will be warm wet and dry fast once it quits. (Goretex garments can be made quiet but that makes the outer layer much more prone to wetting out)
I think all this talk about waterproof clothing made it rain here today.
I have rivers west. They are really nice, until you move and then you sweat from the inside. I think mine have worn fair, but the material seemed to "pill" up more than I thought it should. I agree with someones statement that there are not any waterproof pants........ Good luck and let us know if you find the perfect pants!!
Please forgive me, I can't help it......"who makes waterPROOF pants"?......Depends!
Seriously, you can send the pants back to Cabela's. Spend the difference and buy MTO50 stuff. I've had mine for years and they work well. I pack with Frogg Toggs to go light, but they are too flimsy (and a little noisy) for the briars around here.
Another vote for Rivers West. It's the only raingear on the market with a 10 year waterproof guarantee.
It's so comfortable I wear it even if it's not raining.I wouldn't recommend it for the warmer climates though.
I just switched over to the Lakota jacket because of the thumb hole in the sleeve. I figure I can use my finger tabs and still keep my fingers dry and warm.
Scott
QuoteOriginally posted by Dave2old:
Although I detest so much of what Cabela's stands for, politically and morally, sometimes they are the only choice for having what hunters need.
Not quite sure what that means? :confused:
I recently bought a pair of Brownings Pack Lite rainpants. Last weekend I gave them a good workout in a good old Washington Cascade downpour. At the end of the day I was still dry.
I just returned from a ten day hunt. I wore a Rivers West jacket most of the time. It is quiet and comfortable, but the fabric does 'pill' up quite a bit. I would not recommend wearing it in the rain only because I think the outer layer would absorb too much water and take long to dry, even though the moisture would not soak through the waterproof lining.
I am VERY HAPPY with my Cabela's Silent Suede rain gear. I wore the bibs almost every day and never got wet. It is quiet, and thin enough that it won't aborb much water in the outer 'quiet' shell, dries fast, and is tough enough to wear throughout the day hunting through brush, etc. I also wore the Silent Suede jacket in the rain/snow and I was dry. No complaints here.
I know that Browning makes a good rain coat, very packable. Maybe the same stuff that Longbowz mentioned. It kept my partner dry on our entire trip. He also wore Cabela's Silent Suede bibs and stayed dry.
One more vote for Filson. I am a forester in N.Cal and I spend almost all my time in the field. On rainy days I wear my tin pants and I am always dry and warm while my co-workers are complaining about the waterproofness, or lack of, of their gor-tex. They aren't real quite though and they do get a little stiff when it is real cold. Just my two cents.
Jon
Best rain pants I've found have been Hodgeman Rubber hip boots. Scent free too. Add a long rain jacket to get below the tops of the boot and usually you're pretty dry for the day.
Ive used rivers west for 3 years now and for the money I would look elsewhere. For one if sitting in rain after a couple hours the fabric holds water so you better have a dryer or it wont due you any good until it dryed somehow,next the stuff is not bullet proof my pants have multiple holes from briars. The suit is quiet and I know I was hard on it but you should get what you pay for.
I can understand what Dave2old says, I returned a $300 set of rain wear, that I think was lacking in quality , of course they are made in China, I called to see if they had any quality usa made rain gear and the answer was no, it was all "imported" I am sick of all the chinise stuff. but that is another rant. I have yet to find rain gear that isnt just pvc that will keep ya comfortable and dry in a long really hard rain, I have gotten where I just layer up, where I will stay warm and accept getting wet.
Sitka Gear. Quiet, durable, zippers for airing out when cooling down.