Tyvek suit as emergency rain gear?

[Julian]

Had to work in a tyvek suit all day yesterday and the thought crossed my mind it would make good emergency rain gear while on a backpacking hunt or possibly even a layer to wear in your sleeping bag if it was gonna be extremely cold. Any thoughts? Anybody tried it?

[nineworlds9]

Frog Toggs are the same general idea, but breathable.  This to me is vital.

[Julian]

I had a pair of frog toggs but walking through wet vegetation I got completely soaked on a hunt two years ago. I stayed wet the whole trip. And the pair my hunting partner had on the pants came apart at the seam while we were hiking. Left me a little less than confident in them.

[bunyan]

My experience wearing tyvek suits is they work but can rip out in the crotch if you are active in them. They may work if you're sitting out a rain shower or if they are better fit to you. They might be a bit loud and rustle at bowhumting distances. I have a nylon, military poncho as emergency raingear, but it isn't quit either. G. Fred asbell discusses using ponchos in his groundhunters bible book.

[YosemiteSam]

If it's just emergency gear, then cheap frogg toggs are fine.  Rain poncho works too.  Planned trips in the rain should merit better rain gear, though.

[nineworlds9]

Yep I favor a camo poncho myself.  The Tyvek idea is valid, but I just picture myself a sweaty sausage roasting alive.  Sweat and cold don't mix.  If the Frog Toggs are out and money is available you can't beat Goretex.

[calgarychef]

Your idea about it in a sleeping bag has a LOT of voracity.  You'll sweat like a pig until you reach a certain point then you'll quit sweating.  The bag stays dry and you'll gain 10 degrees of warmth.  Look up vapour barriers for cold weather mountaineering and you'll see what I mean.

I've worn the suits for dressing moose and they rip pretty easily which is a shame because they're sure light.

[Julian]

Yeah I was thinking it would have to be pretty cold to wear one for sleeping. We have a style where I work that are pretty tough. I've worn them all day long without tearing them. I don't think it's a true tyvek. It's yellow and has more of a plastic feel to it. It's not a true chemical suit though.

[Roadkill]

Tyvex works like goretex. I tell Boy Scouts in my survival class to carry a 8X10 piece in the pack for use as ground blotch, poncho, signal device.  I have one of those one piece things I carry for emergencies-better than nothing and it does break the wind

[bowslinger]

The yellow stuff described by Julian sounds like Saranex which has a splash/water proof coating.  It is more durable than Tyvek but is not breathable.  Moisture (sweat) will accumulate under Saranex, even in cold temperatures.  I have worn Tyvek and Saranex for work.

Saranex has the added safety feature of being yellow so it shows up better than Tyvek in snow/snowfall.  Tyvek is lightweight and cheap but I would probably go with a lightweight poncho or cheap tarp if it were me.  Tarp could be purposed for other uses.