Lite rain gear for hunting
- Thread starter muleman69
- Start date
codybrown
Silver $$ Contributor
Ive got some "space rain" gear from Cabela's and it seems to work well and breathes.
https://www.cabelas.com/browse.cmd?categoryId=734095080&CQ_search=space+rain&CQ_zstype=REG
https://www.cabelas.com/browse.cmd?categoryId=734095080&CQ_search=space+rain&CQ_zstype=REG
Kuiu Yukon. Tough as nails/bomb proof. Very comfortable. Not too loud for rain gear. Has vents for letting heat out. I bought a bunch of their gear last fall and its by far the best Ive had. Its not cheap but in my opinion is worth it. I bought their super down pro outfit also which is their extreme cold outfit. The pants and jacket fold up into their pockets for easy transportation. Say for example you have a ways to walk to where your hunting you just fold em up an put em in your backpack. Then when you get where your going take em out and stay warm in anything the weather can throw at you. You will sweat walking around in super down pro and clothes underneath. All their clothes are very lightweight and very comfortable. Even when fully bundled up it feels like Im wearing sweatpants. No constriction anywhere. Ill be using it up in Alaska in a couple weeks. Going after grizzlies with my grandpa and some great friends that have an outfitting business. Will be a trip of a lifetime.
Take a look at these. I pack and use them in Afghanistan. Lite, waterproof and very pack-able , which comes in handy due to the large temp changes we see. Not so expensive that I worry about ruining them, which is what this country does to anything and everything. https://www.froggtoggs.com/
Kuiu Chugach is the best rain gear money can buy. You'll spend around 500.00 for it but it sounds like its what you want. Personally I really like Cabela's packable. Durable and comfortable. Dries fast too. Much lower priced too.
jepp2
Gold $$ Contributor
That is kind of a relative term. I have hunted in a lot of Gore Tex (TM) and until it gets dirty it is very breathable. But if you think you can do heavy exertion where you start sweating a decent amount, and you think all the moisture is going to pass through the tiny pores in the membrane, you are kidding yourself. If you are just walking slowly on level ground without much exertion, but just know it has limitations.
Vents will pass a lot more heat and moisture. Is quiet important to you? Meaning the absence of "swish" when it contacts itself.
Id say avoid Gore Tex all together. It does'nt have the breathability some of the other gear does which matters if your using it for anything but sitting still. Kuiu rain gear is excellent as mentioned. For less money fx kryptek rain gear is also excellent, good fabric, wear proof, breathable and keeps you dry.
I've had pleny of Gore 2 and 3 layers, living where it often rains 250 days a year, i have yet to find a Gore Tex offer that breathes well and actually keeps me dry from rain, works okay usually until it gets a bit dirty and worn.
Good vents with proper waterproof zippers is the way to go for keeping yourself dry when under heavy excertion.
I've had pleny of Gore 2 and 3 layers, living where it often rains 250 days a year, i have yet to find a Gore Tex offer that breathes well and actually keeps me dry from rain, works okay usually until it gets a bit dirty and worn.
Good vents with proper waterproof zippers is the way to go for keeping yourself dry when under heavy excertion.
A real man don’t need no stinking rain gear
Note that for membranes like GoreTex, waterproof/breathable is a continuum. You have to pick where you want to be on that. And yes, if you get quality gear, it'll have ratings in obscure numbers about this, and you can generally compare them. Without a baseline, it can be hard, but it gives you something to go off.
In general, more breathable will be less waterproof: but this is only in really driving rain, or when soaked. You can get soaked more than you'd think. A pack up against your back will provide a way for water to run across the fabric, etc.
(Gore Tex is the best known, and we use it like Kleenex or Band Aid, but it's a brand name. There are knockoffs, and some are very dominant in other markets. Hellytech (Helly Hansen) is common in the UK). Mil surplus outside the US will often, even if they do use Gore brand lining, not say that but call it something else. Be aware of this when shopping.
The membrane is on The In Side. This is critical. Because what it means is you have to make the outside water resistant in the standard old way. If the water resistance sucks (or wears out) then 1) You can be technically dry, but effectively uncomfortable because a cold, soaking wet thing is up against you 2) The soaking fabric will stop at least the breathability, and may defeat the membrane entirely, so you get wet through the fabric.
VERY high quality garments never get the outer water resistant layer worn out. I have early 1980s French Army stuff, not at all coddled in the 20 years I have had it, that is better than most commercial stuff the day the wrapper is opened in shedding water. But most will wear out. So, pay attention to washing and re-waterproofing. There are many words to be said on this but easiest answer is just to trust whatever Nikwax says. Techwash and whatever their re-waterproofer are, are amazing.
Do. Not. Machine. Dry. Gore. Tex. Do not even get it too near a fire to dry it out or while roasting marshmallows. It is fragile in a few ways, and overheating will ruin it.
Most good jackets will additionally have zippered vents. How many, how big, how they work, where they are all varies. Make sure they work for you, and you can get to them. A great one for keeping cool is across the back vents but... impossible to get to (you need a buddy) and again, blocked by packs, or even just sitting against a tree.
Aside from checking the breathability, fit varies a lot. Try to try a bunch on. No idea where the good hunting brands are carried, but search a bit. For other high end commercial I say REI but some hold political grudges and it's unsat so if you think so: keep it to yourself. They have a wide selection (up through Arcteryx (SP?) and other high dollar, very good brands. Try them on before you dismiss the $500-900 price tag. You may not want to spend the money, but it is good to see where the money goes when you are shopping for it.
If you want to start cheap to have a starting point, go surplus. Not US. After a lot of wearing in bad conditions, not a fan of the ECWS parka. These are a few VERY good, generally lightweight ones from a place I like to deal with who is nice about returns if they get the order wrong, etc:
No hood, very nice soft collar, other good features. Pretty darned light, but not UL backpacker light. Pretty much my favorite hardshell in my life to date: https://www.keepshooting.com/british-army-mtp-rain-jacket.html
Hood. Light-ish: https://www.keepshooting.com/british-army-mvp-woodland-dpm-combat-jacket.html
Hood, a whole grade sturdier than the above but also heavier. I tend to think better for fall/winter than spring/summer. Crazy good waterproofing: https://www.keepshooting.com/french-army-mvp-cce-parka.html
A spare hardshell is always good to have, so it's not like you will be throwing away the $40-50 these cost. Get, use, then make the secondary one for walking the dog, shoveling the walk, behind the seat on the truck, or loaning to the dumb friend with the poncho
In general, more breathable will be less waterproof: but this is only in really driving rain, or when soaked. You can get soaked more than you'd think. A pack up against your back will provide a way for water to run across the fabric, etc.
(Gore Tex is the best known, and we use it like Kleenex or Band Aid, but it's a brand name. There are knockoffs, and some are very dominant in other markets. Hellytech (Helly Hansen) is common in the UK). Mil surplus outside the US will often, even if they do use Gore brand lining, not say that but call it something else. Be aware of this when shopping.
The membrane is on The In Side. This is critical. Because what it means is you have to make the outside water resistant in the standard old way. If the water resistance sucks (or wears out) then 1) You can be technically dry, but effectively uncomfortable because a cold, soaking wet thing is up against you 2) The soaking fabric will stop at least the breathability, and may defeat the membrane entirely, so you get wet through the fabric.
VERY high quality garments never get the outer water resistant layer worn out. I have early 1980s French Army stuff, not at all coddled in the 20 years I have had it, that is better than most commercial stuff the day the wrapper is opened in shedding water. But most will wear out. So, pay attention to washing and re-waterproofing. There are many words to be said on this but easiest answer is just to trust whatever Nikwax says. Techwash and whatever their re-waterproofer are, are amazing.
Do. Not. Machine. Dry. Gore. Tex. Do not even get it too near a fire to dry it out or while roasting marshmallows. It is fragile in a few ways, and overheating will ruin it.
Most good jackets will additionally have zippered vents. How many, how big, how they work, where they are all varies. Make sure they work for you, and you can get to them. A great one for keeping cool is across the back vents but... impossible to get to (you need a buddy) and again, blocked by packs, or even just sitting against a tree.
Aside from checking the breathability, fit varies a lot. Try to try a bunch on. No idea where the good hunting brands are carried, but search a bit. For other high end commercial I say REI but some hold political grudges and it's unsat so if you think so: keep it to yourself. They have a wide selection (up through Arcteryx (SP?) and other high dollar, very good brands. Try them on before you dismiss the $500-900 price tag. You may not want to spend the money, but it is good to see where the money goes when you are shopping for it.
If you want to start cheap to have a starting point, go surplus. Not US. After a lot of wearing in bad conditions, not a fan of the ECWS parka. These are a few VERY good, generally lightweight ones from a place I like to deal with who is nice about returns if they get the order wrong, etc:
No hood, very nice soft collar, other good features. Pretty darned light, but not UL backpacker light. Pretty much my favorite hardshell in my life to date: https://www.keepshooting.com/british-army-mtp-rain-jacket.html
Hood. Light-ish: https://www.keepshooting.com/british-army-mvp-woodland-dpm-combat-jacket.html
Hood, a whole grade sturdier than the above but also heavier. I tend to think better for fall/winter than spring/summer. Crazy good waterproofing: https://www.keepshooting.com/french-army-mvp-cce-parka.html
A spare hardshell is always good to have, so it's not like you will be throwing away the $40-50 these cost. Get, use, then make the secondary one for walking the dog, shoveling the walk, behind the seat on the truck, or loaning to the dumb friend with the poncho
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