rain suit

[camando56]

So I'm looking at buying a good rain suit this year for Canada since it seems to rain almost everyday that we are up there. I want something that i can wear in long down pours and not get wet. If I have to pay a couple hundred for the bibs and a couple hundred for the coat I'm fine with that. Any suggestions on a rain suit?

[JohnMickish]

I have two suits, a Cabelas guidewear and the Clam blue suit.

The Cabelas suit has been an awsome suit and has kept me dry in 8 hour downpours more times than I want to remember, but they have kind of priced themselves out of the norm. In the last catalog I got they want close to $500 for the bibs/jacket combo.

The Clam blue suit is an incredably comfortable suit to wear and has kept me dry and warm on one very rainy ice fishng trip. The Clam suit is much cheaper than the Cabelas suit and has the added padded knees and but. Another nice deal about the Clam suit is if you can find one now it will have a GREAT price on it. I would have to give it a serious look.

Both suits are the non insulated ones and I just layer up as needed.

The Frabill stormsuit is supposed to be a great suit too. I have several friends that own this suit and they run about a 50/50 split on liking it or hating it.

With the money you have in your budget you will get a great suit for sure. You don't want to skimp on the rainsuit.

[goose89]

The Cabelas suit has been an awsome suit and has kept me dry in 8 hour downpours more times than I want to remember...

The Frabill stormsuit is supposed to be a great suit too. I have several friends that own this suit and they run about a 50/50 split on liking it or hating it.

You don't want to skimp on the rainsuit.

+1 on the Cabelas (Guide Wear). My favorite, unless it'w summer / warm. Then I like my StormSuit (Frabill). Much more comfortable, IMO, esp. in warmer weather.

mnfishinguy, just curious....what are the reviews / low points that 1/2 the Stormsuit "haters" are? I stay dry, but I'm not convinced it breaths (feels dry) as well as a good Gortex suit. Curious what others are experiencing...still pretty new. Thanks in advance.

[TrollnDrift]

I have the cabelas guide gear goretex as well and love it, i got it on closeout so i got a killer deal on it as well.

I also have cabelas packable goretex too for those days its not supposed to rain. I keep it packed down in one end of the tacklebox all the time for emergencies.

[Esox_Magnum]

Cabelas Guide Wear her to, 6-8 years old and still keeps me dry...

[BartmanMN]

Bought my guidwear in the Fall. 169 for Tall jacket and 149 for tall bibs. Sale price since they released new guidewear models for 2013. Plus a got a free IM7 rod for each piece of the suit. Sweeeeet deal!

[JohnMickish]

mnfishinguy, just curious....what are the reviews / low points that 1/2 the Stormsuit "haters" are? I stay dry, but I'm not convinced it breaths (feels dry) as well as a good Gortex suit. Curious what others are experiencing...still pretty new. Thanks in advance.

I have never worn this suit so take this at whatever value you want. I was going to buy one but got turned off.

Like I said, it's a 50/50 love hate with it. The haters get wet. Not so bad in July, but in October is kind of ruins your day. If it was just one person I'd say that it's a bad suit, but I'm talking about 10 people I know that hate the suit, which is really odd since Frabill is known for good stuff. Maybe a bad batch, maybe the people I know don't know how to wear a rainsuit??

[FisH_SLaYer24]

I own the Frabill Stormsuit Jacket and every time I have worn it, I've been dry. I need to invest in the bibs this coming season because I have a pair of cheapos that soaks my @$$ when fishing for long periods of time. I have heard very good reviews about the Cabela's Guidewear, but no personal review. I don't think you can go wrong with either suit.

[gunner55]

+1 for Cabela's Guidewear even when it's warm I just slip the bibs over some shorts & a t-shirt with a hoodie to get out on the lake then peel when it warms up.On my 2nd one as I out grew the 1st,no problems with that one & it must have been at least 10-15 yrs old.They are on sale at least twice a year for around $300 for both.

[Down Deep]

Guide Wear. Going on year 16 for my suit and its still in excellent shape and keeps me dry. It gets lots of use fishing 45 to 60 days a year up here in northern MN and Canada. It is also a great wind suit. Got a buddy who bought the insulated suit and is sorry he did so stay away from that.

[Fish Head]

another +1 for the cabelas guidewear. I love mine. Always keeps me dry.

[harvey lee]

Cabela's Guide wear for me. I went through plenty of less spendy suits and always had a terrible time in the rain.

Now I have a great suit even though it costs a few more bucks.

[Stick in Mud]

Another vote for avoiding the insulated ones. They get pretty toasty inside...at least for me...and if I'm trying to stay dry, it doesn't make much sense to get all sweaty on the inside anyways. It's easy enough to layer underneath in order to stay warm. Just my .02.

[Alagnak]

If money is not an issue, you want gear specifically designed for a fisherman, and you want the best of the best get a Simms jacket and bibs. Best waders and rain gear in the industry.

[GSP4ME]

I got a Helly Hanson at Fleet farm and I love it. Wore it on Vermillion for 4 days of non stop rain last summer and never got wet.

[kfk]

I'm a Cabela's Guidewear guy too. Both my wife and I have them and yeah, the suits are a bit pricey, but they'll last a long time and we know we'll never get wet.

[TruthWalleyes]

I wear HH too, but i know there is better suits out there. My HH suit will go in the trash this year after 2 great years...Green material is starting to peel off in many places...especially in the crotch - which is not a fun place to get wet Especially if it is the only spot that is getting wet!

I think the cause of the failure, especially in the crotch is from lots of walking when hunting.

[eyedr]

I got the cabelas waterfowl brush buster for hunting in the fall and winter and fishing in canada in the spring and fall. We go way up to norther manitoba and it can be pretty chilly during spring and fall. It's amazing when there's a cold rain. We got rained on for 3 days straight on a diver hunt on lake of the woods in october and I was warm and dry the whole time. For summer applications I have a lighter columbia suit. It's great for layering to fish cooler days as well as warmer sumer days.

[Craigums]

Does anybody have any experience with cheaper suits? There are several Frogg Toggs for around $50 for the jacket and $50 bibs

[Eric_Kruger]

Does anybody have any experience with cheaper suits? There are several Frogg Toggs for around $50 for the jacket and $50 bibs

I wore a pair of frog togs at a tourney in may on gull....rained both days with wind and cold.....I was soaked and miserable.

[Eric_Kruger]

you could also check out the Striker Guardian suit. Its a thin outer shell that is perfect for warmer weather!

Heres the Specs on it and its listed on the striker brands HSOforum..

Men's Guardian Jacket

Light Weight Waterproof/Breathable 320D Tussor Shell

Hydrapore™ 5000 with 5,000mm/5,000gr Rating

50g Thermadex Insulation

210T Interior Lining

Sureflote™ Flotation Assist

Pre-Curved Elbows

Lycra Inner Cuffs with Closures

Four Front Pockets and Inner Cell Phone Pocket

Underarm Zippered Vents "through-to-skin"

Reflective Elements for Safety

HYDRAPORE 5000

HYDRAPORE system technology is specifically designed to provide maximum protection against extreme weather elements. HYDRAPORE has a superior 5000/5000 rating for resisting water penetration and for breathability.

WINDPROOF-WATERPROOF-BREATHABLE

SUREFLOTE

SUREFLOTE is made from expanded low density polyethylene foam that traps air in closed cells constructed into multi-layer membranes to create internal air pockets for added buoyancy. The SUREFLOTE membrane is moisture resistant and provides superior user mobility and added protection in the extreme cold. The combined jacket and pant/bib with SUREFLOTE provide flotation assistance for up to two hours for an average person. SUREFLOTE is designed to provide added buoyancy to a person's body weight for flotation assistance. An average sized adult needs 7-12 lbs of buoyancy to keep their head afloat. Suits with the SUREFLOTE system are designed to provide approximately 10-12 lbs of buoyancy depending on size and style.

[Eric_Kruger]

They have matching bibs as well

[goose89]

I might be missing it Eric, but i'm not seeing anything on the Guardian suit. Tried googling it.....notta. I see Artic Armor stuff, but no light rainsuits. ??

EDIT: I found it....just not through your links in post. Google "strikerbrands" (no space)....looks nice.... i've had good luck with my Artic Armor.

[Eric_Kruger]

yeah I didnt wanna direct link it. but click on striker ice by the "shop now" and it should bring you to it. They are also coming out with an actual rain gear line called Striker Dry shortly.

[delcecchi]

Does anybody have any experience with cheaper suits? There are several Frogg Toggs for around $50 for the jacket and $50 bibs

Look around on the forums here. There was another rainsuit thread with a long discussion of frogg toggs. As I recall, not so great was the consensus.

Let me conclude with a saying from a woodworking newsgroup (used in respect to buying tools)

"Buy the good one, cry once. Buy the cheap one, cry every time you use it"