This past Thursday several buddies and I were on a hunt and we got caught hanging stands in a torrential downpour.  We all had various types of rain gear... i was wearing an old pair of rivers west pants, another guy had Frogg toggs, another Bone Dry... everyone of us was soaked through.  
What rain gear do you have that actually works?  And I'm looking for something breathable too... I think half of my wetness was from sweat because those rivers west pants don't breath well.

Rain gear is something that you wear with arms down, so the wet drains off.  If arms are up ( setting stands, clearing lanes, climbing trees) the water goes right in no matter what you wear.

I also believe you play a game of breathe-ability and actually staying dry.  The best of one is not necessarily the best of the other.
ChuckC

When I really want to stay dry my go to is my Grundens Jacket and Bibs - 100% waterproof.  Inner cuff and outer cuff so when wearing rubber gloves no water gets in my sleeves no matter if my arms are raised or not.  I wear these primarily when fishing or waterfowling in big water, big waves, downpours, etc.  I've been damp due to my own perspiration but never from outside water.

If I need ultimate breath-ability I wear a set of Cabelas MT-50's.  Never been wet in them either and they are the most quiet of any rain gear I have used.  

I've had the Grundens going on 10 years I think and no issues.  Only had the MT-50's since 2013 - no issues with them either but since they are gore tex I don't expect them to last forever like the Grundens.

This is a question I have answered dozens of times for clients or visitors to Alaska.  The answer is not practical by any means, but it is rock solid.

High end breathable raingear for lite to moderate rain conditions and non-breathable PVC coated cotton for heavy to torrential squalls.  I prefer Grundens of Sweden, but other will work.  Many Grundens jackets have neoprene cuffs that allow for arms up position in heavy rain conditions all day long.

This is the gold standard of the Bering Sea.  Not cheap, not breathable, not lite for packing, but could save your arse in down pour that stranded you from basecamp.

 Grundens Websites-Briggs 44

~CB

Well in my experience  true breathability does not equal absolute waterproofing.  I have Cabelas rain suede and bone dry from Bass pro - both work well, but both have limitations.  Most camo rain gear, in an effort to be quiet, absorbs water in the knap of the fabric.  If it doesn't shed water - it will eventually leak, I don't care what membrane is in it.  On the boat I wear Bass Pro 100 mph gore tax - you will NOT get wet in that, buts it's a nylon shell that sheds 100% of the water, but it's a noisy material.  

There's just no perfect garment for breathability and quietness coupled with complete water protection.

I really like my rain suede set though.

When it comes to rain gear:
Breathable
Waterproof
Cheap

Pick the 2 that suit your needs best. All 3 doesn't exist

That being said, I really enjoy my Sitka rain gear. great product and customer service

First Lite' Bou day Stormtight. Got dumped on hunting spring bear thus year, stayed dry from the rain and on the inside, can't explain it but it's actually breathable and definitely waterproof. Love it

KUIU rain gear is amazing.

Vietnam military poncho. Works as well as anything I've tried and it will protect your weapon.

Kuiu and Sitka work well. But if you are working hard you will get wet from the inside. None are perfect.
What Chromebuck said above is spot on.

eVent is great stuff, definitely better then any variety of Gore I've tried by a wide margin.  Cheap it is not.

I got used German military goretex pants and jacket from the sportsmans guide.  Priced well and I've used it a lot. It's lightweight so you can use it in the summer or over some layers if it is cool.

Based on years of mountaineering,there is really no such thing as staying completely dry. Impermeable gear eventually results in getting damp/wet from condensation. 'Breathable' fabrics are not. Think about it - if the fabric is covered with water in heavy rain how is water vapor going to escape through the 'pores'? That being said, I've used the old Peter Storm raingear with (temporary) success.

I've tried just about everything over the last 40 yrs and I think the Kuiu stuff is the best out there right now. I'm going to swap my sitka pants [which are good]...for a set of the Kuiu. I just got back from Kodiak and that Kuiu is the real deal.

The problem with the stuff that has a soft outer shell is it "Wets out" blocking the pores...and eventually leaking. No such thing as effective quiet raingear...for longer periods of rain anyways.

Even good raingear you have to keep up the DWR outer finish with silicone based sprays.

I have used a lot over the years. Bad luck with Cabela's rain suede, water will get through in prolonged rain. I now have Kuiu which is certainly waterproof but its too noisy to bow hunt in. I think the best I have used is Peter Storm which I hear is no longer made. I have a pair of pants that's still useful after many years of use. I got it from Screaming Eagle so that's how dated it is.

First Lite Stormtight breaths well and has keep me dry.

I have a pair of Peter Storm rain gear that has suited me well over the years. I won't hunt if it is really pouring out so I don't know if it will hold up to that long term or not.

QuoteOriginally posted by Chromebuck:
This is a question I have answered dozens of times for clients or visitors to Alaska.  The answer is not practical by any means, but it is rock solid.

High end breathable raingear for lite to moderate rain conditions and non-breathable PVC coated cotton for heavy to torrential squalls.  I prefer Grundens of Sweden, but other will work.  Many Grundens jackets have neoprene cuffs that allow for arms up position in heavy rain conditions all day long.

This is the gold standard of the Bering Sea.  Not cheap, not breathable, not lite for packing, but could save your arse in down pour that stranded you from basecamp.

 Grundens Websites-Briggs 44

~CB

2X on this post

I did the Rivers West gear with 100% guarantee dry for 10 years and sent them back twice inside of 6 years.... The stuff ain't bad, but for pouring down rain all day long you need the PVC stuff.

This comes from Oregon....We do everything in the rain here, or you don't get much done.

grundens (though my colors stink with navy blue LOl).

or for hunting my helle Hansen!!!  

if you're sweating, you're wearing too much cloths!