rain suit

[TruthWalleyes]

I thought frog toggs would be good too...I waited until they came out with a camo version in coat/bibs. LOL, Not meant for tall people Not At All! talk about camel toe! Bib straps are really short. Sleeves are short, coat is short. Don't bend over if its raining.

Been in an absolute downpour in those and got quite wet. Seemed to seap through. Dryer than without it, but not what i was hoping for. But, for the super hot days, i'll still wear it in a downpour and dry off when the sun comes out.

[Craigums]

Surely there has to be an economical rain suit that does a good job. Not everyone is spending $500 on a suit. I only fish in the rain 2-3 times a year but I would like to have a suit that is going to keep me nice and dry

[delcecchi]

Watch for sales. Also the lighter duty suits with goretex like the "packable" ones at Cabelas do the job, especially in summer. I have a ll bean jacket, and a cabelas jacket that were reasonable on sale and they both do a fine job.

Right now it looks like a lot of the stuff on cabelas is on sale, when I look at the web site. Must be clean out time.

[JohnMickish]

There are cheaper suits that will keep you dry, but not dry and comfortable. The cheap suits are basically rubber or rubber covered plastic and while they will keep the water out they also keep the heat and stink in. Your good suits will breathe to keep you comfortable all day long and stay with you for years.

A $500 suit that last 10 years is a pretty good investment if you ask me.

If you are really hooked on cheap,go to a Army surplus store and get an old military rain suit.

[Fish Head]

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

I love that!

[TruthWalleyes]

A $500 suit that last 10 years is a pretty good investment if you ask me.

Agree x100

I'm done spending money each year on boots, rain gear, winter gear, etc...It's also not that easy to find something anymore that lasts 10 years. I'll have to take a serious look at the good cabelas gear this year.

[Alagnak]

Great advice on buying some good gear right away. I just don't get some people priorities- if you enjoy to fish, hunt, take pictures, do ANYTHING in the outdoors basically this is a big purchase/investment. I just don't get why people try to save money on rain gear. There are SO many other things we pee money away on whether it's a one time use (stop for a steak instead of a sandwich in the boat) and you get nothing for it, or something that sits in storage and never gets used (some of my guns). To me a good set of rain gear is worth it's weight in gold. For me the weather is rarely an excuse why NOT to go out, and it keeps a lot of other people off the water. It might be hard finding a fishing partner on those rainy days (because they have chitty rain gear) but many it's worth it. When you HAVE to be on the water all day and can't go in because it's your job some days- it's a little different story and just 'gear' you need to do your job. It's a little different perspective-that's what MADE be first buy the good stuff. I'd certainly never go back even if I only fished a couple days a year in the rain. The rain gear isn't going old sitting in the basement on a hanger when it's not being used. And as long as you don't tear holes in it, modern high quality gore-tex can be revitalized to shed water like it was new. It's very cheap and very easy. I do it once a year or so with revivex.

[Craigums]

I just don't get some people priorities- if you enjoy to fish, hunt, take pictures, do ANYTHING in the outdoors basically this is a big purchase/investment.

Couldn't disagree with you more. Enjoying the outdoors isn't just for the rich. Infact I can think of more people than not that wouldn't understand my priorities if I dropped half a grand on a rainsuit.

[Alagnak]

Yep, we'll have to agree to disagree I guess. Like I said- a large number of people wizz away that half grand on a LOT dumber things. Some of us choose things like rain gear, some choose i-pads and x boxes. I've also never heard anyone with good rain gear say they only fish 2-3 days a year in the rain. ;-) If you're comfortable, who cares what the weather is?

[Raider4ever]

Some C-Store Guidewear is on sale at the HSOforum for half-off. I saw an article in my Bassmaster magazine that there's a combo that goes for $499.99 per. There's a full Grrr right there. THAT is out of my league. But, $270ish for a parka/bib set of Guidewear...works for me.

[Basseyes]

Surely there has to be an economical rain suit that does a good job. Not everyone is spending $500 on a suit. I only fish in the rain 2-3 times a year but I would like to have a suit that is going to keep me nice and dry

I'd stay away from Togg Frogs. Owned them and you get what you pay for. Look toward the evil C empire. If you keep your eyes open for sales and stuff, you can get gortex stuff for reasonable prices. If it doesn't say gortex don't buy it, period. If you are looking for stuff for summer rain gear, go very light. If you are looking for colder weather stuff, go a size bigger and layer. The amount you'd use it for 3-4 times, you don't need the guide gear. Look towards the lighter, warmer weather, packable jackets is what it sounds like you need. Buy the jacket the first year and the pants the next. You should be able to find a jacket for $50-$100 on sale. The jackets more important in the summer time. Then keep an eye out for pants, not bibs. Good bibs are worth their weight in gold. But not fro 2-3 times a year or in the summer. I found a great gortex jacket for $90 and liked it so much I bought two. One for me and one for the wife. Layer with it and you can go to the mid 20's with no problem.

Good luck with it.

[Down Deep]

Watch for sales. Also the lighter duty suits with goretex like the "packable" ones at Cabelas do the job, especially in summer. I have a ll bean jacket, and a cabelas jacket that were reasonable on sale and they both do a fine job.

Right now it looks like a lot of the stuff on cabelas is on sale, when I look at the web site. Must be clean out time.

I have a the Cabelas Rainy River Gore Tex Suit that I pack when traveling. I frequently travel in the Northwest and the rain can really come down in northern Cal, Oregon and Washington and the Rainy River fits the bill for traveling and costal hiking. The suit is comfortable and dry, but IMO not all that durable in the long run. I doubt if it would hold up to the rigors of fishing and camping in the north country bush.

[camando56]

Thanks for all the responses, think im going with the cabelas guidewear, just need to get it alittle bigger so i can layer up since we go to canada in may, gets alittle chilly still.

[Fishook]

I own the Cabelas Guidewear in the insulated version. I fish Canada late May/early June; late July/early August; and mid to late September. I will say this, when that water temp is in the 50's and the wind is blowing and it is raining or snowing - I love the warmth of my suit. If I get too warm I take off a flannel or sweat shirt and all is well. If you have it on, you can take it off - if you don't have it with you, you can't put it on! In the summer trip, the wife and I use the Frogg Toggs which work fine for those conditions - they are not meant for rough, cold conditions.

[delcecchi]

Thanks for all the responses, think im going with the cabelas guidewear, just need to get it alittle bigger so i can layer up since we go to canada in may, gets alittle chilly still.

For a while they had two styles. One had velcro over the zippers, the other had a zipper that sort of sealed together. They said it was a waterproof zipper.

I prefer the velcro flap arrangement.

[PerchJerker]

I have a couple Stormhide suits from Gamehide. Probably the best rain gear I have ever used. It's not anything I wear above 65-70 degrees, but it's some great stuff for cooler temps.

[Fish Head]

I have a couple Stormhide suits from Gamehide. Probably the best rain gear I have ever used. It's not anything I wear above 65-70 degrees, but it's some great stuff for cooler temps.

Thats odd... I have one and I don't care for it. I get wet in big downpours. Purchased Gander guidewear and couldn't be happier.

[Ballyhoo]

Helly Hansen makes good gear. I don't know which model I have but it is like the guide wear, not the rubber suit. I have had it for 15 years and wear it every year. I know several guides on LOW that wear it also and you don't get wet. The only draw back is that if it is 70+, you will sweat in it if you are moving around alot.

[BTL]

If you're just looking for something that you can leave stashed in a boat compartment, you can get a good suit for cheap.

The best one I've ever owned was a $30 blue/gray Coleman suit from Wally World. It's light and the material is stretchy (pvc/nylon blend I think) so it doesn't hinder movement at all. I went to buy another recently and couldn't find it, so they may not be available anymore.

There are other Coleman suits there that are horrible. They're the single-color PVC suits, and they're heavy, hot, stiff, and smell terrible. Avoid those.

[Northlander]

Check out gander and bass pro for sales on their gear. For the people that dont have $500 for a suit they are the next best thing.