Rain gear

[QueBota]

Looking for recommendations on your favorite rain gear.

Don't mind spending some $$ for quality but don't want to spend needlessly(good value).

I am looking for something that will keep you dry, lets moisture escape from inside the clothing ( I sweat like a horse) and that you can actually work in and not worry about ripping or compromising the water proof ability of the clothing.

Thanks,
Dave

 

[LMTC]

Cabelas----anything cordura (very tough nylon) and goretex. Cordura is fairly puncture & snag resistant but a sharp edge will go through it like any cloth (don't ask). I own three coats from Cabelas with cordura as the outer material and it is very very tough----it wears a long time. It is not quiet, so it's not much count for hunting.

 

[Willl]

Helly Hansen.

 

[pennwalk]

My LL Bean long goretex coat has kept me dry through more rainy soccer and field hockey games than I can count but I doubt that it would stand up to work. I wonder if there is a point at which your body overwhelms goretex?

Chris

 

[RoyJackson]

Take a look at Filson.

Super quality outdoors gear.

I have the Tin Cloth packer's Jacket, packet hat and wildfowl hat.

You do want a liner for the jacket, or wear a wool sweater under it in the winter. I've never had a jacket that so effectively stops wind and rain before this one.
The packer hat really keeps your head dry and the wide brim keeps rain away from your collar. The wildfowl hat works great in the winter. I don't hunt, so I guess I don't get the advantage of setting in a damp swampy area in a chilly pre-dawn while waiting for the geese to get moving. But when there's a bit to the wind, folding those ear flaps down make being outside much more bearable (especially on one of those clammy rainy late October or November days).

 

[czechsonofagun]

I wear aussie duster when the rain is bad. Works better than anything I ever used for rain. Duster

And riding gloves from the same company are the best I ever had.

 

[Blagadan]

You can call me old fashioned if you like, but my preference is oil skin jackets. I have several jackets of different lengths and weights. I have a light short jacket for regular damp outdoor work, but for those really horrible wet stormy days, I use my driza-bone, full length jacket.
I think it was made in australia? I've owned this jacket for nearly 15 years and it has it has kept me dry in the worst mother nature has thrown at it... If you have horses, there is also provision for unbuttoning the lower portion at the rear of the jacket to cover your saddle and bags when you're on your horse. Theres also ankle straps inside the lower portion of the jacket to keep the wind from blowing under the jacket.

If you ask me these jackets improve with age. The only maintenance involved is to re apply the oil about once every 2 years which is not a big deal since you can get the oil in a rattle can these days.

The jacket is comfortable to wear and I dont get hot n sweaty like I do in my other cordura jacket. I have a pair of similar "over trousers" to wear under this jacket to keep me all buttoned up.

 

[tommu56]

i have a goretex knock off but the guys i hiked with liked thesefrogg toggs Outerwear i'll try them next

tommu

 

[QueBota]

Thanks for all the ideas, I am looking for something that is waterproof and will stay that way all day while doing chores in the rain. Also want something that offers a fair amount manuverability and can take some rought treatment and will allow moisture to escape.

I have a really good quality vinyl/pvc set a friend of mine in the Coast Guard gave me. It keeps the rain out but I end up soaked with sweat and it isn't very easy to climb on/over/around things while wearing it.

I guess I am going to try to find the best value/performance in some waterfow/hunting type gear, that may offer most of what I am looking for. In addition to wearing it for chore work in the rain and plowing snow ( no cab ) I can use it for hunting in wet condtitions.

Thanks again,
Dave

Looking for recommendations on your favorite rain gear.

Don't mind spending some $$ for quality but don't want to spend needlessly(good value).

I am looking for something that will keep you dry, lets moisture escape from inside the clothing ( I sweat like a horse) and that you can actually work in and not worry about ripping or compromising the water proof ability of the clothing.

Thanks,
Dave

 

[thatguy]

Id be curious to get some feedback from someone that has used the Frogg toggs.. They are made of Tyvec I believe...

Brian

 

[dmccarty]

The problem with rain gear and work is that it seems like you have two choices. Get wet from the rain? Or get wet from the sweat?

I have a nice Goretex jacket and pants. It keeps you dry as long as its not too warm outside AND I'm not workng/walking too much. Once you start burning calories you just start to sweat and it overwhelms the Goretex. My jacket is old at this point so maybe they material has improved.

Given what I paid for the Goretex there is no way in heck I would wear it when there was a good chance of it getting tore up. If its cold out and rainy I'll wear my wool jacket and pants. They might get wet but at least I'm warm and they are quiet. Some of the new Fleece materials are supposed to do the same while being lighter.

It interesting that the old "technologies" seem to work best for doing work in the rain.

Later,
Dan

 

[ray66v]

I have never found rain gear, tough enough you can work in, and not end up just as wet, as if you did not wear it.

If it exists, I'll buy it.

 

[studor]

Oil cloth like Filsons, Barbour, Australian Outback or DrizaBone will keep you dry, are usually in colours suitable for hunting, last a long time with little care and look better as they get older. I wear mine every season except summer -- cause then who needs it? I tried the modern stuff like goretex but always found it hotter then the oilskin and not as waterproof JMHO

 

[pennwalk]

The power company linemen who have to work out in the rain ( OK one guy works and 5 guys stand around and watch him ) Anyway they wear those yellow rain suits that look like rubber coated fabric. Looks pretty durable but I'll bet they are wet on the inside all the time.

Chris

 

[browns40]

Used to be a sternman on a number of commercial F/V... Wet gear coming at you or swinging just above you all day... only PVC impregnated canvas with neoprene cuffs can keep you mostly dry all day, and them you still will be damp with sweat here & there...

Favorite set I ever had were actually Carharrts, then Grundens, followed by Helly Hansens... look for neoprene cuffs, double lined knees & elbows, and double/triple stiched construction thats heat sealed on top of it...

My buddy knows of a place you can custom order just exactly what reinforcement, clips, pockets, neoprene, etc. you want, plus your actual dimensions (tailored), and they'll send you one perfectly cut for your body... think in National Fisherman there's an ad...

 

[QueBota]

Appreciate all the input, went with some "medium" budget stuff from Calela's. I will post the link if anyone is interested in taking a look. (Herter's FowlTech Rainwear)

Cabela's -- Herter's FowlTech™ Rainwear

I went with the Parka and Pants, I'll post back when I get a chance to field test them.

I have a Goretex shell and pants that are suitable for hiking in the rain, or bird watching or going to a football game in the rain but I wouldn't wear them while doing farm/woodlot chores.

My PVC/vinyl suit is good quality and will keep you dry but it is very clamy(sp) inside, you get more wet from sweat than the rain and it limits my mobility.

I have "waterproof" fleece and wool clothing. The waterproof fleece eventually soaks through but does keep you warm while you are wet, but you are wet. Same with the wool, although it soaks through faster and gets heavy when it gets wet.

I don't have a problem getting cold, I'm not a guy that tends to get cold. I spent my first 20 something years in western PA, and it can get cold up there, and only remember being cold a few times in my life. I would like to be able to work in wet weather and stay dry.

I guess I am looking for a product that does it all. The part of the Peoples Republic of Maryland where I live features cold rain from November through March, not much snow and when it does snow it usually turns to rain/sleet/freezing rain before the storm ends.

Thanks again,
Dave

 

[Egon]

Dave, you may have your work cut out for you trying to find clothing that keeps you dry from the rain and lets condensation out so the interior stays dry.

My best answerer would be a layered system using silk, fleece or wool and then a water resistant outer shell. As long as you are working you will stay warm.

When I was out back country skiing this was a very common system with Gortex in the bag to put on when you stopped working.