Rain Gear ?

[Rebeleye]

Anyone try the Gander Mtn Guide Series H20 rain gear? I bought a set recently. It's not "Gore-tex" which leaves me wondering how this stuff will fair in the tough conditions...

Any info is appreciated!

Thanks

[Ufatz]

This is not a direct answer to your raingear question, but take a look at Frogg Toggs. Best value for the dollar. I've had a few suits of it around and it is tougher than you might at first think. Plus its made of your old plastic pop bottles!

[Norsky]

I've had mine for 3 years now and they still work great and have held up to some very tough conditions. The nice part about them is that they breath well. I put them on before setting out across any large lake, even if it isn't raining, just to keep dry from boat spray if it's choppy. The question is how long will they keep the water-proofing abilities, so far so good, but time will tell.

[Rebeleye]

Cool thanks,

I was going to look into getting some kind of spray that might help seal it even more. I've seen the stuff for tents, but not rain gear.

Maybe someone knows of something that might "enhance" raingear into being even more waterproof???

thanks again.

[yellowsubmarine]

I bought a set last year. I love them. They have kept me dry in the all day soakers and the long trips across the lake in big waves and spray. I am totally satisfied with the stuff.

[Gus]

I talked to a sales guy at Cablelas about store brand waterproof breathable fabrics such as their own dry plus brand etc etc. Basically what he told me is that they are all waterproof and breathable but the biggest difference is the PSI it which the fabric will remain waterproof. Example he gave me (and he had specific PSI #'s which I don't remember exactly and he could have easily just made up) was something to the effect that you could be completly dry with both standing up, but now sit down or kneel down on the ground and the Gore Tex brand had a higher PSI resistance to keep that water out. I think he gave me #'s close to 11-13 PSI for the Cabelas brand stuff and 18-20 for Gore Tex labled stuff. Can anyone confirm or call talk on what I was told? He could have been just trying to get me to buy the more expensive jacket rather than the cheaper one and I'll never know. I did end up going with the cheaper Dry Plus jacket because of price. I've always been kept dry with it so I have no idea how relavent any of that technical talk he spouted off really matters. Anyway, I would not be shy to buy a store brand. I think they work just as well. And if anyone can tell me if there was any truth to what that sales guy was saying I'd really like to hear it.

[SCCO9803]

I just ran into this exact thing yesterday only with hiking boots. The way it was explained to me was that "Gore-Tex" is a brand name. They sell their vapor barrier material to companies to install in their clothing, boots, etc. Many companies now have the technology and resources to manufacture their own brand of vapor barrier similar to "Gore-Tex" thus was born hyper-dri, etc. etc. I'm not sure on the PSI #'s but they may be true. I think the important thing is to weigh out the price v. use. As long as you aren't getting the old gloves with the plastic lining I think you'll be fine. The thing you have to remember is that companies like Columbia, Gander, Cabelas etc. are not going to be in the vapor barrier clothing selling business very long if their brands of water proofing fail.

"Gore-tex" is one of the longer standing vapor barrier brands and they have a reputation but remember they are just that a brand. If you like Heinz Ketchup better than Cub brand then I guess you get Heinz but remember they are both ketchup.

[Tom Wilson]

I have tried a lot of the so called "same as Gore tex" brands, and they simply are not the same. Cabela's Dry Plus, Columbia's Omni Tech... etc. I have been soaked in them all. This has been on going for 15 years or better, and I tried them all due to the expense that garments made with actual Gore Tex usually come with. I have learned the lesson hard--Nothing in the world works like Gore Tex. I have been dry in the other stuff, and I have a pair of duck bibs that are the Cabela's dry plus that I have been wearing for four years, but everything I own that is actual Gore Tex is far superior. I'm not saying the other stuff isn't good, because a lot of it is...But you get what you pay for when it comes to rain gear. PSI's I don't know about, but the Gore tex will keep you drier longer. With that being said, there is nothing that will keep you dry forever...every product has limitations. The only thing that will keep you totally dry in a very long heavy rain (4 hours of rain or more) is a suit of rubber, or vinyl of some kind, however most of us cannot or do not want to stand that, and even at that you will eventually get wet from the rain coming in at the neck, down the sleeves, etc... The same limitations apply to Gore tex, even in the best--given the right conditions you're gonna get wet. For the money however--there's nothing better.

[moby1]

I bought the bibs 2 seasons ago and I love them as well. I use them year round. They are great for ice fishing and open water. Not too cold for ice and not too warm for open water season. Hopefully I will eventually buy the coat as well. I give them two thumbs up. I was originally thinking about going with the frogg toggs but just dont like how thin they are. They seem like a tyvex suit.

[ejj]

You need to find out more about the product.

1. Does it have taped/sealed seams? It doesn't matter how WP your jacket is if the shoulder seams are open.

2. Is it a barrier or a coating? Goretex is a barrier that is under the outer layer of the jacket. Some fancy names are simply a coating (durable waterprof coating, or DWR).

3. Goretex is waterproof, but you still sweat. Even when you are cold! I wet out my GT jacket from the inside out. You need to wear layers underneath, otherwise you will freeze due to the accumulated moisture.

4. GT will NOT make the water bead up on your jacket. This is a DWR feature. Buy Revivex and spray your jacket down each spring. This will help the fabric repel water.

[Rebeleye]

Last night while I was hanging up my rain gear, I noticed the stuff Gander is called Tech2O, not "H2O"...

I was close. Just didn't want anyone going to Gander asking for "H2O" rain gear. They might look at you funny (like they do me).

Tech2O....