Rain gear

[deadeye]

What rain gear is decent out there?

I have North Face stuff and I am disapointed in it. In canada it rained light and steady and I ended up soaked. That makes for a long week when it rains steady every day. Even in a couple short downpours here in town I was still wet. I wish I would have had the receipt, I would have returned it. My luck was that I bought the stuff and it didn't rain when I went fishing (good luck I guess) until I went to canada 4 months later.

I have looked at Frogg Toggs and while I know they are really waterproof I don't like the look and lack of pockets. I also feel like there is a lack of "substance" with it.

I have looked at the cabelas stuff and I know gore-tex is decent. Im not against it if its worth it but I really don't dig wearing their name. I have a love-hate relationship with that place but thats another story for another time.

What's the Gander Mountain tech-H2o stuff like? I was in there tonight and almost pulled the trigger on it but decided I would ask on here about it.

How about the stuff at fleet farm? I think its called walleye hunter?

My deal is I don't mind making a investment but I actually want to be dry. I thought the north face stuff would be good but it stinks.

Opinions? Experiences? Thoughts? Thanks!

[Esox_Magnum]

Wife has the Gander stuff, it's ok but it's not what my Guide Ware is. I swear by my Guide Ware, I have tried about all of it and nothing else has come close. Spendy but worth every penny. I have the unisulated stuff and ware it year round, just a couple good layers under it and you stay warm. I even used it for snowmobiling earlier this year and kept me warm and dry.

I'm not a big fan of logos's either, I have the older version not as much advertising.

FYI you may get a day or week out of the Frogg Toggs but eventualy they will come apart on you.

[Alagnak]

I've had the best of the best gore-tex made and still use the stuff for certain days. Many companies make similar stuff that isn't cheap and is light, packable, etc but the water shedding coating wears out over time and you have to 'dress' the material a couple times each season with Revivex or similar products. It's great for those partial day rains here and there. But if you want to ACTUALLY stay dry during a hard driving rain, or a rain that lasts all day or all week don't $hit yourself and waste your time- get some real rubber rain gear. You can get a Helly Hanson set or Grundens for $75-$125 bucks and it will out last any gore-tex and actually keep you dry. There are sacrifices- it's not something you're going to hike in all day. Great for the boat storage box. There's a reason everyone of us in Alaska wear it. If you have a tiller boat get a pullover top so you don't have a zipper or buttons on the front of the jacket either- best thing you could get.

[Bassinbob84]

I have the hodgeman. The bibs go higher up my chest than all others i've tried. Not sure if that's a benefit or not but they keep me dry and warm.

[mojogunter]

I have both Cabelas rain gear and Ganders guide rain gear. The Gander stuff started leaking in the crotch area after a couple of years, and since then I have gone back to my Cabelas stuff that is seven years old now and I still stay dry in that.

[Larson15]

I have been using the gander h20 rain gear for the last 2 years and have been 100 percent happy with it. I have been is some pretty heavy rain with it running in a bass boat and have been completely dry. For the money I dont think you can beat it. I have recommended it to a few others who have been happy with it as well. What I really like about it is that its not to heavy to wear in warmer conditions compared to the heavier goretex gear.

[deadeye]

Good info guys. Thanks.

Another question, you need to re-treat the rain gear? What does that entail?

[Jason Boser]

I have used gander h2o also and it is good for around 3-5 years then it starts going bad. I do treat it with that camp dry every year

it works good

Jason

[Esox_Magnum]

I have use Rivivex on other brands of rain gear with mixed results, havent had to do anything to my Guide Ware yet.

[slurpie]

Look into Arctic armor. Been out the last two days and i hav;nt got wet yet. Thats what i'm gonna use it for now suit sucks if ya want to stay warm in it and its colder than 20 outside.

[MIDNIGHT777]

Like others have stated I have had the Gander Mtn. Tech2o and now have Guidewear. For the price the Gander stuff was pretty good, but not near the quality of the Guidewear. I would spen the few extra bucks and go with the guidewear and plan on having it for years.

Matt

[walleyeseeker]

I would look at Gamehide. I know on another site there is mention of a 20% discount. You just enter STORM in the coupon code. Great product and very reasonable.

[Esox_Magnum]

I would look at Gamehide. I know on another site there is mention of a 20% discount. You just enter STORM in the coupon code. Great product and very reasonable.

Had it to, replaced them yearly for leaking. Still use it for ice fishing though.

[deadeye]

So I think I am going to get the guide wear and put hso and nitro circus patches over the cabelas logos. That seems reasonable. I think it should be all good then.

[Skeeter2000T]

I have a set of Guide wear I will sell hardly used Black and Grey, send me a e-mail.

[DTro]

Why don't people wear the rubber suits very much anymore. It it because of the breathing issue?

I've had great luck with the Cheap Stearns Rubber suits.

[Esox_Magnum]

Why don't people wear the rubber suits very much anymore. It it because of the breathing issue?

I've had great luck with the Cheap Stearns Rubber suits.

For me it's a mobility issue, I'm up casting, and when it's 40 degrees out sweating is cold in a rubber suit. Amazing how warm you stay throwing 13oz baits for 12 hours

[deadeye]

Honostly, I have had a couple of those rubber suits and they just aren't durable enough for me. For what I have paid in those I probably could have bought the guide wear by now.

I was looking at those carhartt rubber suits and they seemed really decent but I would get sick of wearing it all day in the boat cause they don't breathe.

I think I will just suck it up and pick up the guide wear. It seems like thats the best bet out of all of it.

[Skeeter2000T]

[Note From Admin: Please read forum policy before posting again. Thank you.]

[deadeye]

Well if I see you post it on the hsolist then I will maybe bite on it.

[delcecchi]

So I think I am going to get the guide wear and put hso and nitro circus patches over the cabelas logos. That seems reasonable. I think it should be all good then.

Have they changed the decoration? My guidewear is green and black and you can't see the Cabela's logo from more than about 5 feet, not like BPS.

[propster]

Skeeter, what size is your outfit (both jacket and bibs) and how much do you want for it? For whoever was asking about the re-treatment. Aside from the Helly Hanson-type rubber or pvc stuff, most waterproof outfits use a membrane laminated to the backside of the outer shell material. This is what provides the "waterproof." And it must be taped, meaning seams must be sealed. Windprood garments often use the same membrane as waterproof do, but usually forego the seam tape process. Water "resistance" comes from the type of material used for the outer shell and the type of treatment it gets. The better stuff is woven vs knit and is treated with DWR or some similar chemical that helps the fabric cause water to bead up on the shell. It's usually only good for several washes, which being out in the rain actually simulates that effect, so sometimes it helps to spray a temporary treatment such as Revivex on the shell again. Think of it like Rain X on your windshield/ Doesn't roof it but helps shed water. The better woven materials and better treatment it has the less water and water weight your garment will pick up outside the membrane. That's why your outer jacket can actually be soaked but you are dry inside. However, in most cases, if your outer garment is wet, you will eventually get wet inside as well, as the water is forced through the membrane, especially when you sit or kneel on it.

[deadeye]

Have they changed the decoration? My guidewear is green and black and you can't see the Cabela's logo from more than about 5 feet, not like BPS.

I really like and despise that place at the same time so I wont wear anything with their logo on it. I have been treated very poorly many times when I go in there. However, they have stuff that I can't get elsewhere so its like a necessary evil. I love going in there because its like walking into some kind of fix for a fishing junkie but I never know each time if that is when I am gonna get treated like pu-pu again.

[stifler51]

i have a cabelas guide wear set and i LOVE it, but then again ive never had problems with Cabelas. Tons of pockets, shake like a dog and the coat has zero rain on it. I always throw it in the boat, wear it camping, wear it to the store in a down pour.

[3_Olives]

I have had my same pair of Helly Hansen pants for 8 years, I have gone through 2 jackets during that time due to my own stupidity, but they would have help up nicely as well.

ok, fine one I lost in a fire, not a house fire but a beach fire when I accidentally tossed my jacket too close to the fire.

The other was "accidentally" as the captain says blown overboard while we were going from one fishing spot to the next. No one ever saw it get blown overboard.

Kinda lame, but the end result is Helly Hansen makes a quality product, it is the owners who should be questioned.