Best rain jacket that works??

[doc holiday13]

You want unlimited waterproof??? Its gonna cost you in weight adn flexibility and once you start sweating you'll stay weight inside it

True rain slicker like a fisherman would wear. Grunden or HH poly coat jacket you're looking at ~4# jacket

 

[movett]

Outdoor research makes solid rain gear

 

[alderchokedhellhole]

Outdoor research makes solid rain gear

I’ve been wearing the OR Foray for a few years and it has been great.

 

[alderchokedhellhole]

I am 100% on the poncho train. With typical hunter rain gear, for me anyway, YMMV, it's a choice of wetting out from rain from outside or getting wet from sweat on the inside...or both at the same time. A truly waterproof poncho that breathes great by mechanical design vs hi-tech fabric has been $$$. I use the Ferrino Trekker that goes on right over my pack. Paired with tall waterproof gaiters I'm a comfortable happy dude. Some light waterproof chaps and poncho would be good combo also IMO for big, sweaty sasquatch types like myself.
Ferrino Trekker

I’ve been thinking of testing out a poncho this year.

The snugpak enhanced patrol has caught my eye.

 

[dgfavor]

I’ve been thinking of testing out a poncho this year.

The snugpak enhanced patrol has caught my eye.

Yah that one was on my radar as well. Ultimately I went with a zip up style wanting ability to dump as much heat as I could if necessary.

I use my poncho a fair amount as a quick ground cloth when I'm glassing and there is dew/recent rain or snow on the ground. I haven't done it but couple trekking poles or tying off to brush and they make good shade or rain fly while glassing or waiting out weather.

 

[Idagnome]

I’ve been wearing the OR Foray for a few years and it has been great.

Another vote for the foray. I’ve been using it for 4 years now. The combo of 2k waterproof rating with pit zips that go all the way to your hips make it a rain jacket that can provide massive venting. Not sure about the new DWR treatment, but I’m sure there are reviews out there.

 

[Thegman]

Yah that one was on my radar as well. Ultimately I went with a zip up style wanting ability to dump as much heat as I could if necessary.

I use my poncho a fair amount as a quick ground cloth when I'm glassing and there is dew/recent rain or snow on the ground. I haven't done it but couple trekking poles or tying off to brush and they make good shade or rain fly while glassing or waiting out weather.

Yeah, I saw that yours zips all the way up and down. I like that idea, I think. Not only more cooling/drying when possible, but probably a little easier on/off during the day than my Snugpak, and more versatility as a tarp.

 

[ThreeOhSeven]

You cannot choose by brand, you have to choose by fabric and laminate. Nearly every company is going to have multiple products that use different fabrics that perform very differently. Not always, but most of the time when people complain about leaking they also have an issue with perspiration getting them wet from the inside, as well as inner garments wicking water into the jacket. The only truly waterproof jacket for mega wet conditions is a rubberized or coated jacket…that doesnt breathe at all. Depending in conditions and how you use it that may or may not be “better”.

Waterproof breatheable fabrics rely heavily on the dwr coating to bead-off water without wetting-out the fabric. Dirt in the surface structure of the fabric usually causes them to wet-out faster. You may need to wash it more frequently.

The best-performing dwr’s have all been discontinued because they are banned in most markets due to the production of them being a significant environmental problem. Im a few years out of that industry, but my experience is that the newer dwr’s are inferior, and friends who work at some of the fabric manufacturers confirm this. It may take a few years for the newer dwr’s to reach the performance they used to have, and its possible they never catch up.

This.
Buy up older goretex pro with pfas while you can still find them.

 

[carsonkeys]

I’ve gone back and forth on rain gear. Last year my partner and I both wore rubber tops and breathable bottoms on our sheep hunt, and that seemed to be the ticket. One of the things I liked the most was that I didn’t have to baby it. Lean against a jagged rock to stabilize my glassing, yup all day. Curl up on rocks behind a boulder to wait out fog? No issues.

My major dislike is that, when you do sweat, it’s a terribly cold and clammy feeling. It takes a while to dry out when you sweat it up really good, too. My partner had a seamstress in town put pit-zips in his jacket and said they worked well.

 

[Luke S]

Is that a HH Impertech on the sheep hunt? I wasn't sure how rugged those were. Something like that with pit zips would be cool.

 

[kylem]

I’ve gone back and forth on rain gear. Last year my partner and I both wore rubber tops and breathable bottoms on our sheep hunt, and that seemed to be the ticket. One of the things I liked the most was that I didn’t have to baby it. Lean against a jagged rock to stabilize my glassing, yup all day. Curl up on rocks behind a boulder to wait out fog? No issues.

My major dislike is that, when you do sweat, it’s a terribly cold and clammy feeling. It takes a while to dry out when you sweat it up really good, too. My partner had a seamstress in town put pit-zips in his jacket and said they worked well.

I really like this idea of a rubber top and breathable bottoms. Most of the time when I use my impertech bottoms it’s cold enough that I don’t overheat as easily. I seem to either just take the top or switch to breathable stuff if it’s warmer and/or not calling for tons of rain. I might have to upgrade my breathable bottoms and give this a try next season.