Gore-Tex Thinsulate Rainwear

[Bob_D]

Anybody know of another option besides the Cabalas Guide wear? I can't seem to find any mfr for it. $400+ is a hard pill to swallow. I'll do it if I have to but I'd like another option. I want it for ice fishing gear as well as real late season fishing.

[Northlander]

Gander Mt. has some decent gortex outfits at a decent price. They are moving the Duluth store and had some 4X suites on sale for about $75 last week. Marine General in Duluth also carrys some nice lines. If your looking for a lighter weight try the Helly Hanson line. I have had mine for about 5 years and just as good today as they were new.

[Bob_D]

Any of those insulated? I need some insulated stuff.

Anybody tried the Clam Ice Armor?

[muchowja]

I have looked at the ice armor suits and they seem really nice. However, they are not insulated either. Just buy it a little bigger and layer clothing underneath it. They stop the wind and that helps a lot.

[Bob_D]

Hummmm...That's odd. Cabelas site says that they are insulated. The Clam site does not say anything about insulation. It would seem crazy to make a ice fishing suit that was not insulated.

I guess I need to do some research.

[caster]

It's not insulated, but I bought GameHide's new line of rain gear and used it ice fishing this winter. I like to do the layering thing and I was not cold at all. I like the features on the parka style jacket, the rubber knee & elbow patches. Check out their stuff online. They are known for their hunting clothes but I really like this line of rain gear.

[augernaut]

The Ice Armour suit is not insulated. Actually, a non-insulated suit is ideal, because they are designed for layering underneath. About the best system you can get is a good quality pair of long underwear - NO COTTON, followed by polarfleece, then covered up by waterproof, windproof jacket/bibs. Amazing how warm you can stay in them.

BTW - the Ice Armour suit runs quite large for layering. If you wear a size large, don't buy an extra large so you can layer - you will swim in it!

[Northlander]

I also recomend layering under a good set of rain gear. That way if you get hot you can take a few layers off. Big thing is rain gear is wind proof and that helps keep you a lot warmer.

[Superduty]

For $400 you could buy a waterfowl parka such as a columbia or any of the other brands and an insulated pair of bibs. One thing about gore-tex though, it will wear out eventually. Depends on how much you use it and wash it. No gore-tex product is waterproof forever. I got about 4 years out of my last gore-tex suit before I "restored" it with a spray on product made specifically for gore-tex.

[Bob_D]

I understand the concept of layering. However, I'm interested in having my outer gear be one of my insulating layers and not just a shell. If I just want a shell, I'd wear my Stearns gear.

[LocalGuide]

I just got a gore-text parka. I went to cabalas and got their guide series coat. If I would of paid $400 for it I would got something else a little cheaper and got some more fishing equipment.

I went to their outlet mall and they had one in there for $185, originally $399. I'm normally a XL Tall but this was a 2XL regular and it fit just fine over my sweatshirt that I was wearing. So I figured for that price I couldn't pass it up.

It also had a liner in it so I can use it in the summer and not have to worry about getting to warm. IMO its a sweet coat. Now all I need to find is a matching pair of bibs that I like that and can find on sale.

[Captain B.R.K]

Hey D- I have the ice armor suit and love it. It has a light insulation in the jacket and the bibs have a thick neoprene layer in the knees and butt. VERY nice, very WARM on any day this past winter when I was out.

Biggest thing to do is layer underneath.

I conteplated over what to do before I got the ice armor. IF you are looking for something that is water proof/resistant and fully insulated, then check out Carhartt's line of gear.

Otherwise there is NO happy medium.

[Northlander]

Carhart doesnt offer a waterproof bib or jacket that Im aware of, only water resistant. I love their stuff so I wish they would. Has anyone ever seen any Carhart Rain Gear thats 100% waterproof not just resistant? If they do make it Im getting some because I know it would be made well and last. I love my Carhart Extreme bibs!

[Ed Carlson]

I know of two top options for a waterproof full body insulated suit that may fit your needs.

The Cabela's MT-050 coverall is a bulletproff system and if you get cold in it...your likely dead.

The other has very good all season, or at least a 3 season, use potential plus the added advantage of being a flotation suit. The Mustang Anti-Exposure coverall & worksuit features neoprene wrist closures for weather protection. Tug-Tite at thighs & ankles for improved fit, an ergonomic

insulated hood that folds into collar, two chest pockets offer additional storage, a large inside pocket, hand warmer pockets and extra large hip pockets. SOLAS-grade reflective tape enhances visibility.

They both run about the same $$$ ($350 +/-) so it all depends on what you want and need.

I have used the insulated Cabela's Guide Wear insulated parka and bibs for years and they have served me well. I can't get them to stay waterproofed any longer as the Gor-Tex Re-Vivex does not seam to hold after the treatments, so they get used mostly as a winter system now. My next investment will be in either of the systems I mentioned above and I am leaning more to the Mustang suit these days for the added safety and they are super warm and waterproof.

[widetrack]

Hey Ed,

I have both the insulated guidewear, and the mustang suit.

Just a fyi on the mustang suit. They are really stiff in the winter, and don't breath at all. They are really clamy if you work up a sweat, and I have under armour layering so I know that is good. They are decent spring, and fall suits though as long as you don't work up a sweat. The safety aspect during cold water periods is why I bought mine.

[Ed Carlson]

Yup..a great point!

Do you have the neoprene-lined suit? They also have a suit liner that is recommended for some applications. The first one I wore in the winter was a bit "stiff" and I was not all that happy wodlling around in it. This new series is more flexible so I started to look at them again.

I know the new work model is a bit more user-friendly in the cold, same suit the oil-riggers use on the North Sea rids and on the commercial fish boats.

They do make a line for sleders in a two piece set that is better looking...spendy though. The parka will cost as much or more then the whole survival suit and then you need to buy the bibs. I kinda like the one piece suit idea more.

Flexibility is the deal breaker for me too, yet the added safety is a big bonus as is the hypothermia protection.

[widetrack]

I've got the same one you have posted above. Mine is black with the orange upper though.

It's a good suit... only complaints are they don't breath at all, and they are stiff/brittle in the winter months.

I wear mine on early, and late ice... when you have to wonder if you should be out there at all... Also in the late fall in the boat.

[Jim Hudson]

Bob_D

Just another option for ya, check out columbia jackets this time of year as most places have them marked down a lot... I have not experienced a day yet on the ice where I have never been cold or wet... and I have fished in some cold and wet weather... and for bibs, I wear the cabelas roughneck gore-tex bibs, I see they are on sale right now for $159.00 and that is with 150 grams of thinsulate... had this set-up for two years now and no regrets... every so often just be sure to re-new the waterproofing with Renex and then lube up the zippers....

The mustang suits are great, but are a little cumbersome when it gets really cold... and the Ice Armor suits are great but I had no need to switch over form the set-up I am wearing now...

[Duffer]

i just got some of ganders gear and really like it the nice thing is they are decently priced

[Bob_D]

Thanks for the input guys. I need a 2 piece setup (bibs and jacket) because I'm long in the torso and shorter in the legs. The one piece ones just don't fit right.

I think I'm leaning towards the Ice Armor for a couple reasons. 1) My buddy sells Clam products at his shop, so I can get a deal on the suit. 2) It has padded knees which will be good for when I setup and fight fish. On a cold day when the slush freezes, I might as well be kneeling on crushed stone. 3)LOTS of pockets. I carry a lot of stuff on my when I'm fishing, so the pockets are a must.

The only down side is they would have my size until fall. The good news is they may be coming out with new colors (I called Clam yesterday). I put in a request for red.

If anybody hears anything bad about the ice armor, please let me know. Thanks

[stick]

I fished this season with the Ice Armor and have nothing but good things to say about it. I kept very toasty by layering and the padded knees are awesome on the ice. I have bad knees, and it made a big difference when kneeling by fish-holes. There are certainly no shortage of pockets, that's for sure. I end up searching for my equipment all too often in fact.

[hoggs222]

You could try HSOList or possibly go to google dot com & search for gore-tex thinsulate rainwear. Some people might have some on sale. That's usually how I find the best prices on just about anything.

[Captain B.R.K]

The ice suit is great! Enjoy it in red

[Hemlock]

I buy a Cabelas brand rain jacket every few years and wear it all year. It's gore, it's a wind breaker and you adjust accordingly for what to wear underneath it. I wear it in the coldest temps In January and just have polypropene first layer, good fleece, and then the shell.

They are usually around $100, but you can sometimes find them in the bargain cave.

My infamous Mustang survival jacket as you can see in my avatar is a good fall and spring jacket too, like Widetrack stated earlier.

Nice to know you aren't goin' straight to the bottom if you fall in, and I find it very comfortable to fish with.