rain suit

[Esox_Magnum]

Game Hide here to and Love it, and they will replace if it leaks and they are out of Minneapolis.

[Jim Almquist]

Cabelas guidewear is what I wear most of the time during the warm weather months just because it keeps me dry thru wind and rain. I run a tiller and fish Winni a lot so there is no other option in mid summer but put on the rain suit and buck the waves if you want to get out to the humps. This will be my first opener with Artic Armour so we will see how it works out but I am pretty sure it will work out great because of the light weight in the boat and how water proof it has been on ice. On a side note Cabelas is one great company when it comes to standing behind a piece of gear because my first set of bibs developed a leak in the crotch and I called CS and they said to send it in with a note and this was after 5 years of use and they sent me a brand new set of bibs so you have to look at raingear like a long time investment not a short time fix.

[Down Deep]

I have used all sorts of rain suits and I have no doubt in my mind that a good quality GoreTex suit is the best out there. I use Guide Wear and have had it for 10 years and have not been let down - ever. I found out how good it was on Saturday when I sat through a flood quality rain storm in KY.

Although I think that GoreTex is the best you can buy, I understand that there are other ways to skin the same cat(fish). I think a little discussion about how to prevent rain suit failure would be informative.

The first thing that you should do is always hang it up to dry whenever it is used. I also hang mine up whenever I've been out during humid conditions. Moisture causes mildew and mildew will render any waterproof gear worthless.

Also, if you have GorTex the directions tell you to put in the dryer every now and then to seal the fabric. If you have some of the inexpensive coated rain gear rolling it up and stuffing it under the seat will crack the finish and cause it fail.

Seams should be maintained and some gear needs to be recoated with waterproofing.

I'm sure there are other maintenance ideas out there so chime in.

[walleyewild]

Cold weather Artic Armour.

Warm weather Gander Guide Wear.

I have had 2 sets of the Stearns Wear wear out on me they last about 4 or 5 years of moderate use.

My Guide Wear has kept me dry for 6 years now and shows no sign of wear.

Good quality rain gear is an investment in comfort as far as I am concerned, it is no fun fishing when you're wet and cold.

Buy the best gear you can afford you won't be sorry.

[Sandmannd]

Yea, it won't keep you dry if you fall in, but it should if you are sitting out in the rain. I wore mine last fall and will wear it this spring. Just no way I can wear that in the summer though. Maybe I'll just have wet t-shirt contests on the boat this summer.

[Central Bassman]

I have been using the Guide Series Rain Suits for the last few years and have liked them.

[davesfriend]

Eddie Bauer rain suit. Not certian where I got it from though. I bought it with my camping gear. It has the open flaps for air but I think it has too many pokets. I can never find anything!! I have been through monsoons with terrible winds and stayed dry. I have also been out with out it. NEVER doing that again!!!! Had a sunny day on Millacs then the rain came out of nowhere. You could not see through it. Wish I would of had my suit that day..

[fishorgolf]

Yes you are correct the AA site says insultex is waterproof. The reason I questioned it is because I worn mine this year snowmobiling and my butt got wet. I REALLY like my AA but I would never trust it in a heavy rainstorm.

[walleyewild]

Fishorgolf,

It might have been sweat,

I have not gotten wet in my AA yet, haven't tried it in a downpour but a snowstorm and kneeling on the ice and cutting holes the water beads up on it and freezes before it could even soak through.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

 Originally Posted By: Esox_Magnum

Game Hide here to and Love it, and they will replace if it leaks and they are out of Minneapolis.

Anybody know of the Gamehide dealer out of Stillwater? He used to be at the Sportshow, but I didn't see him this year. As I recall he had some good prices in the past.

[wplatehunter]

I have a gortex suit from grander mt. approx $100 works great.

[muc33]

wish i were fishn, was it "stranded outdoors"

[fishguyd]

Bang for the buck--A good Stearns outfit ( not the $10 rubber/plastic) will work well for you. I use mine every week and am very satisfied with it. Works well in the winter as well, just put over the top of your other layers and your good for -35 winds.

[Boogaard]

Look for a mustang survival jacket. Built in life jacket. Good for cold and warmer weather. I use it furing late ice out along with going to alaska fishing where it seems to rain everyday!

[EBass]

Frog Toggs are not that much better than a garbage bag. A good rain and you're soaked. Sounds like Guide wear and Artic Armor is where it's at.

[Shoogs32]

I have the Stearns rain gear and like it very much. Like most of these posts said, rain gear is not something to go cheap on. I have had my jacket and bibs for 5 years, and they are in great condition.

[Shoogs32]

Who sells guide wear, Gander MTN?

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

 Originally Posted By: EBass

Frog Toggs are not that much better than a garbage bag. A good rain and you're soaked.

I have a pair of Frogg Toggs and have trouble with water entering through the pockets. The pants should be pocketless then they wouldn't leak. The bibs might be better.

The jacket leaks around the hood if you do not have the storm flap in the correct position.

Water runs up your arms when you position your arm any direction but down.

The fit makes me look like the Michelin Tire guy, or that I got beat up by a sheet of wind blown Tyvek from a building site. Arms are to long and they puff out. Same with the legs. No style points here. The fit improves somewhat after use, or you can wash them to soften them up.

Guess you get what you pay for, but they can be handy to keep in the boat for the unexpected shower.

For the guy that either can't afford, or want to spend $400 on a jacket/bib setup, they are better than a garbage bag. Light weight and they do breath. Just hope nobody's looking when you have them on

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

 Originally Posted By: Shoogs32

Who sells guide wear, Gander MTN?

Cabelas.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

There is a listing currently on hsolist for a Gamehide Typhoon parka (unlined). This is very high quality stuff!

It is listed with a "buy-it-now" price of $69.95 and sells for over $200 reg. and it is new.

I think it has a "North American Fishing Club" logo on it. Must be an over run from a promotion.

[Pyrex]

I have a Rocky rainsuit I got from a friend with backlands camo. Lightweight and takes a very long time to soak through, lets face it, either they soak through or you sweat so bad your just as wet, buy a nice swimsuit and a good full brim hat and take it like a man... I have the same hat, but a different suit this year if anyones interested, its a camo speedo, I'll be on lake sarah for opener, just hope its not too cold.

[fish4itall]

Last year I used my cabela's Gore-tex gear for fishing season, but was nervous the whole time since it's scent-lok. Not having it in a sealed bag is a cardinal sin and exposing it to the scent of fish is quite possibly the worst thing you can do to it. However once bowseason rolled around it didn't seem to make much of a difference to the deer. I was glad to see it, but this year i bought a pair of frogg toggs for the packable aspect. I needed something that could be stuffed in a compartment and left there without needing to worry about it getting stinky and moldy. I'm keeping my fingers crossed with all the bad things I've read about them recently