Opinions on rain gear

[RRock]

Well, it's time to breakdown and buy some new rain gear. What's your favorite brand and why do you like it?

[SilverTip]

the only rain gear that ever really worked for me is a Jack nickulas gortex rain suit for golfing. it runs about 300 bucks now. but the colors are not for hunting, Jack never played in camo much.
 But like I said its the only one that has not leaked for me, and I've tried most of them.

         Billy

[Atanarjuat]

SitkaGear Downpour (jacket&pants).
light, packs small, practical, perfect fit, durable, good camo pattern, and zippered options for breathability.

no "shortcuts" IMO in their system.

rob

[hunt it]

Helly Hansen Alaskan Series if you want waterproof. It's not for hiking far in, just keeping dry in heavy rain.

[Orion]

Rivers West.

[Bjorn]

Gore Tex is not worth a sore behind! Does not breathe and you are soaking wet in no time.
The Cabelas 'Rain Suede' with 'Dry Plus' works pretty good.

[woodchucker]

I just dress in wool pants and a wool sweater or two.    

I never really minded being wet.....

[rtherber]

www.peterstorm.com-just  be aware of the European sizing.

[Longbow rookie]

Helly Hansen...solid product that works at a fair price.

[Cal Bergsma]

In my opinion there is no better rain gear than the Rivers West. It will be the last time you ever buy rain gear for the rest of your life and it will allow you to hunt when others who aren't wearing Rivers West have to stay inside. It is dead quiet for the bowhunter, untearable and very warm.

[Gary Logsdon]

Peter Storm!

[Jason R. Wesbrock]

A few years ago I bought a Gander Mountain TecH20 jacket and pants. They're soft, comfortable and quiet, but mostly I bought them because of the wind/rain-proof Gore Tex. Since then I've been caught out in a downpour more than once and always stayed nice and dry under the jacket and pants.

[joe skipp]

I've been using Froggs Toggs past 3 yrs, really like the stuff. Wear it under my fleece jacket, never been wet yet.

[Brian Krebs]

When I was a kid there was a guy named Rudy; who knew everything about keeping dry in the rain.
 Unfortunetly he was a communist; and pretty much everyone hated him for it.
 But as everyone said: Rudolph the Red knows rain gear!!  

[NDTerminator]

I have Cabelas Dry Plus, both rain suit and various pieces that are insulated for late season (gets a mite cold up here in ND).

The rain suit is nice in that each piece compresses down into it's own attached pouch. The two little bundles take up minimal room in a pack or duffle bag.

The stuff is costly but it's a one time expense and worth it...

[snag]

I hunted in the Oregon rainforest last year in November clothed in Sitka Gear Downpour and stayed dry and it fits good.

[JimmyC]

For my applications involving fishing and hunting here in the midwest, I have been extremely pleased with my Cabela's Space Rain Suit.  The beauty of it is it's packability. Easily fitting into a fanny pack, makes it easy to have it with you ALL the time.  Rain wear does you no good sitting on the seat of your truck!

Not sure it would be my choice for hard core use in Alaska or the like, but for farm country jaunts and Great Lakes fishing trips, I don't think you can find a better system.  

Jim

[DGW]

Peter Storm and cabelas rain suede. Used p. s. in alaska and kept dry when it rained most of the time. it does not pack as well as the rain suede and is louder. Like rain suede for back pack elk hunts, and used it in canada.

[Stumpknocker]

Cabelas Dry-Plus has been excellent for me.  I have the jacket and the pants and have used both in serious rain for hours (toward the end of season just hoping it would stop raining and the darn deer would move) and stayed completely dry.  It's hot though, and a little on the heavy side.  I really have two rain gear systems, Marmot precip for hot weather or when weight is an issue, and the cabelas stuff for when it's cooler and/or I'm hunting from a stand.  I hate being wet unless I want to be.  

That Rudolph joke was seriously funny!

[Gnat]

I've been a backcountry ranger and field ecologist in Alaska for years. I've tried just about everything and pushed it to the limits of endless rainy bush-whacking.

Realistically, you may need two sets of rain gear--one rubberized super-waterproof and camo like the Helly Hansen gear or some others that have been suggested, for times when you are sitting in the rain, on a boat, etc.--and one for hiking around, backpacking, and bush-whacking+.

That being said, the best rain and snow gear I have found in the world is the Arc'Teryx (models Theta AR). They are expensive, although you can find them for almost half-price on auction sites. You need the 3-ply Gote-tex (called Gore-tex XCR or the new stuff is called Gore Tex Pro Shell).that has taped seems and no inner liner (the cheaper stuff is not nearly as good)...a few other companies make them as well, like Patagonia, Mountain Hardware, and Marmot, but Arc'Teryx is as good as there is, and I have battle-tested this...it's lightweight, ultra durable, super breathable, and as waterproof as you can find in a breathable material...almost as good as rubber and will last you years, and then will be replaced or repaired for free when it fails. Unfortunately it doesn't come in camo, but there's a black and a brown, and this is the kind of raingear you love every time you put it on.

    http://arcteryx.com/product.aspx?Theta-AR-Jacket