Rain Gear

[Jmeyers]

Looking to pick up some good rain gear that will last me the next couple seasons...don't want to spend more than $100, any recommendations?

[blakeb]

frog toggs

[Esox_Magnum]

Problem with most $100 or less rain gear is every year or 2 you need another set. I myself did this for near 20 years before finaly giving into a qaulity gor tex set and only regret is not spending the money 20 years ago on it, it would have saved me $100's or more over the years.

[goose89]

Problem with most $100 or less rain gear is every year or 2 you need another set. I myself did this for near 20 years before finaly giving into a qaulity gor tex set and only regret is not spending the money 20 years ago on it, it would have saved me $100's or more over the years.

+1. Bite the bullet and go with a quality suit. If you can't now, get another cheap ($50-100 suit) and start saving or hinting for Christmas / birthday. Good, quality raingear is an investment over the long haul. $100 every 2 or 3 years?? do the math over 20-30 years....good luck...

[itchmesir]

I have the same Columbia jacket that i've had for the past 4-5 years.. got it cleared out for $20... doesn't seem to be failing me any time soon.. been through plenty of thick stuff too to get stream side.. On that note.. Columbia has always been very dependable whether I spent $20 or $100 and that's why I still always recommend Columbia gear over most anything else

[Ed Carlson]

For $100 or less..Frog Togg Pro Suits are a good suit. Gander has some H2O rain wear on sale that is also very good.

A key part of a suit is user care. Don't wash them in liquid detergents. Use a re-proofing system like ReviveX® when you need to, and use the ReviveX® wash. The H2O suits are one that re-proofs very well if you fallow the directions.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

I you go with frog toggs, get the bibs not pants. Pants leak in the pocket area.

[mww24]

I have the gander mountain H20 tech. It was right around 100 bucks. I'm starting my third year with it and so far so good. I never wash it and use the revivex on it though. Have to take care of any of the stuff you buy to make it last.

[Sifty]

Frog Togs have worked well for me.

Sifty

[herefish101]

I have always used Columbia products, never wash them, just keep them clean until it's time to replace them, a set usually runs around 70 to 80 bucks un sale and will last 6, 8 , maybe even ten years, I have two sets one is like 7 years old and this is the first year i'v ever had to retreat it, plus their light and packable, so they get real small and won't fill up an entire storage compartment in your boat.

[Northlander]

Save up and get a good set of rain gear. Frog Togs have been junk for me. Put my foot through 2 sets and said never again. I have nothing but Gortex sets now. Lund, Gander and I will also use my Arctic Armor when real cold out but they are not the best rain gear. They hold way more water than the others. The Gander H2o is ok if you take care of it. You can get it cheap on clearance racks at time. Mine lasted me 4 seasons wich was pretty good for the price.

[Jmeyers]

Save up and get a good set of rain gear.

How much does a "good" set of rain gear cost on average would you say? I don't want to end up spending more than I need to...

[Esox_Magnum]

Get lucky in the bargin cave under $200. Retail your looking at $300+ and well worth it. Mines 4-5 years old now and used all year round for fishing, sledding, ect and still keeps me dry and never been treated.

[Steve Foss]

I've had the good stuff and the great stuff and the cheap stuff. Out in the boat, simple PVC cheapo stuff is as good as all the rest, as far as I'm concerned. To he!! you say? Here's why. PVC is waterproof and stays that way for a few years, until it gets torn or kinked hard, and it's really cheap. The excellent GoreTex type stuff is waterproof until it gets torn or until you have to re-treat it, and it's really expensive.

Because a dollar is important to me, I end up spending more time worrying about tearing my GoreTex and less time enjoying the fishing. I'm better off keeping a set of $40 PVC rain gear in the boat.

In winter, for nature photography and ice fishing, I have three premium insulated GoreTex suits, some camo (photography and late season hunting), some not. That's because PVC is loud (bad for photography and hunting) and can't stand the gaff in the woods and on the ice.

I did pick up a featherweight non PVC waterproof rain jacket/pants combo for $30 on clearance last summer, and I wore that all summer and several times this year in the rain out in the boat with great results.

So I'm the last guy who will tell some other guy who only wants to spend a hundo or less and have solid raingear that lasts 2 or 3 years that he needs to abandon his plan, spend $300 on premium stuff, and watch it get torn up the third time it gets worn.

Just my perspective.

[itchmesir]

Steve couldn't have hit it on the nuts any better!

I guess the real question you have to ask yourself Jmeyers is what do you plan on using your rain gear for? what kind of outdoorsy things do you do in the rain? are you bushwacking to a stream? are you sitting in a boat? on a dock/shore?

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Yup, some guys don't need a premo suit if your just wanting to stay dry until zip into the dock and run into a cabin. Like most things, a tent, bike, canoe, boat, locator, or rain gear the use dictates the proper equipment.

[bobbymalone]

i'm not one for mondo expensive rainwear, but i've seen if you go too cheap you will get complete junk. I won't go below fifty or above a hundred. i've had good results with quality and durability in that price range, without it being so spendy that i'm afraid to get it dirty.

I will mention that I am not a fan of the frogg toggs. Never owned them myself but I've seen three different pairs turn to carp over the course of rainy week long fishing trips. They get these weird rolled up linty things on areas were it rubs on a surface. areas like where your butt meets the seat. Then they start to leak and you have a wet butt for the last couple days. didn't look like fun. My $100 gander set up kept my dry through both of those weeks and plenty more.

[Northlander]

I got some gander h2o bibs and parka for $110 on a sale rack. They were well worth the jing. If you cant afford the expensive gear than so be it. Get what you can afford. Myself I spent more $ in the long run on cheap rain gear. The plastic stuff doent breath and I hate feeling clammy and cold in it. Its terrible on hot days when all you do is stick to it.

I also found some Helly Hanson gear on clearance and got a complete set for like $90 and they were great. The bibs lasted me 3 years and I still use the jacket when its warm and raining.

Not everyone needs a $50,000 boat but many get them because they have the $ and find they want/need the best they can afford. Same with any piece of outdoor equipment! Get what you think you need and can afford.

[Chris Barlage]

I will throw one more vote at the Gander TecH2O suite. i have had it a few years now on it still is working great.

[Down Deep]

I just spent a week in Canada and we had a week of on and off storms, high wind and white capped rain and lakes. I have Guideware, but a couple of guys who were with us had some Frogg Toggs which were bullet-proof to the weather conditions we had all week. I would recommend them for someone who wanted an inexpensive suit.

[Hoffer]

Ok...so dont want to hijack this thread but this is kind of on the same line.

First of all, where do you guys get your tech H20 for a hundred bucks? I have seen them on sale - but to get a full set that would have to be like half price. I bought a pair of tech h2o about 6 years ago. Last summer in canada we had a lot of rain and I was wet in the them...soaking wet the end of the first day. So, when I got back I bought the stuff you wash them in to 'rewaterproof" them and also the spray after they were washed. However, I havent had them in the rain yet again - so I dont know if it worked? I am very close to buying another set- but dont know if i want to if that is just going to happen again? And by the way...my first set was very lightly used. In my opinion they shouldnt have lost their waterproofness from the light wear they had. On the other hand my friend went in to Gander the other day and talked to a salesperson there. She said they key with them is once they are wet - do NOT hang them up to dry. I guess this "stretches" out the fabric and is what causes them to lose their waterproof quality. You are instead supposed to just lay them flat to dry. My question back, has anyone "retreated" their stuff and has it worked? I am heading up next week for a week and we are supposed to get rain ( if you can trust the weather forecast these days...). So, I am still thinking it over on whether or not to trust the rewaterproofing or just buy a new pair?

[Ed Carlson]

I fallow the directions on the Revivex...wash...toss in the dryer...cures the waterproofing in.

The key to using the stuff is to fallow the directions. Do not rinse...allow the wash in stuff to work. Then hang to drip the bulk of the water out and toss in the dryer to cure it in.

[Northlander]

Ok...so dont want to hijack this thread but this is kind of on the same line.

First of all, where do you guys get your tech H20 for a hundred bucks? I have seen them on sale - but to get a full set that would have to be like half price. I bought a pair of tech h2o about 6 years ago. Last summer in canada we had a lot of rain and I was wet in the them...soaking wet the end of the first day. So, when I got back I bought the stuff you wash them in to 'rewaterproof" them and also the spray after they were washed. However, I havent had them in the rain yet again - so I dont know if it worked? I am very close to buying another set- but dont know if i want to if that is just going to happen again? And by the way...my first set was very lightly used. In my opinion they shouldnt have lost their waterproofness from the light wear they had. On the other hand my friend went in to Gander the other day and talked to a salesperson there. She said they key with them is once they are wet - do NOT hang them up to dry. I guess this "stretches" out the fabric and is what causes them to lose their waterproof quality. You are instead supposed to just lay them flat to dry. My question back, has anyone "retreated" their stuff and has it worked? I am heading up next week for a week and we are supposed to get rain ( if you can trust the weather forecast these days...). So, I am still thinking it over on whether or not to trust the rewaterproofing or just buy a new pair?

I got my set on a clearence rack at the end of the season. I think they were so cheap because they were XXXXL's. Im 6'6" and about 280 and like the extra room for layering when needed. Nothing worse than tight rain gear.

I didnt think the H2o were a very durable set. Like you after about 4 or 5 years the bibs got real leaky. The revive X or whatever was ok for a bit but after a year that wouldnt hole either. Maybe if I used it yearly it would have been better. Since paying for a more expensive pair of Lund Gortex I have been very happy with them. Im on the 3rd year and they are still doing very well.

Like I said before get the best you can afford. Gortex if ya can.

[Down Deep]

. You are instead supposed to just lay them flat to dry. My question back, has anyone "retreated" their stuff and has it worked?

I'm not so sure I would take the word of a salesperson at Gander about maintenance of a rainsuit. That's just my opinion.

The one thing that kills a rainsuit's ability to keep water out is mildew. Mildew is caused by moisture, so drying it out everytime it is used is essential as well as storing it in a water tight bag between uses. I've checked out H2O and it looks like a rugged suit so I don't think hanging it up is going to do anything that hurts it. Laying it flat isn't going to get the air flow it needs to dry quickly and thoughly. This goes for any rain suit, tent, tarp etc. that you want to keep waterproof.