Rain gear decisions

[Shraggs]

Hi gang, could use some help as I look at next phase of gear upgrades.

I have two sets of rain gear that have considered replacing:

Russell, can't remember the name maybe cyclone, the stretchy stuff... Actually served me well in Midwest for deer hunting, hasn't leaked on me, breaks wind fair and is super quiet drawing bow in tree stand. For backback hunting, it doesn't compact very well, does not vent and seems a tad heavy.

Cabelas Alaskan Guide series, touted as a gortex 3 ply. I have actually only used ice fishing on wind swept lake over my down - that was real nice versus my heavy wool ! Blocks wind really well, is quiet on draw, but makes a weird swoosh noise when walking in it. It has pit zips and back zips under a shoulder flap and pants can be vented from hip down, they are noticeably heavier then the Russell. I planned on these for wet parts of Alaska and new found land - but haven't made either of those trips yet.

In 2015 will most likely be Colorado elk, maybe Wyoming. Eventually will put a moose hunt together in next couple of years. There is some great rain gear out these days, but costly.

W/o going into all my other gear, I would say I have good sleep, shelter, pack but and in the moderate weight zone.

Would either of these make the cut for you, and/or if you have first hand experience with either on their effectiveness ?

Thx much in advance (traveling so will check in once a day).

John

 

[doverpack12]

I really like the Russell Cyclone rain gear. I have since switched to Core 4 Torrent but only because it was slightly quieter with a more brushed exterior and has pit zips. The Cyclone is quieter than 95% of the rain gear out there. The only rain gear I have found that is quieter than the Core 4 is the Sitka Downpour but this stuff is heavier and has no pit zips. The downpour is actually quiet enough I would consider going with no jacket other than the downpour. I am not a fan of 3 layer systems because you give up alot of ability to stay quiet. If some of the other rain gear is worn on the tighter side it could be stalked in and drawn quiet enough possibly but not always in my opinion. Gear is too expensive for me to justify buying noisy rain gear knowing that could be the difference in a successful hunt or not. You will have a very hard time finding something quieter than the russell and the core 4 is the only one I have found that is like russell but with pit zips.

 

[sodaksooner]

Look at Cabela's Space rain. I bought it on a whim at the last minute because it was "cheap"(relatively). It is light, packs well, fairly quiet and more durable than I expected. Has survived 2 seasons of relatively rainy elk hunting, and even some whitetail treestand hunting. May not be the "best" stuff, but for what I use it for it's great. I just couldn't justify $5 or 6 hundred for rain gear I wear a couple of days a year

 

[marc]

For Colorado I would go with the space rain pants and the lightest of the jackets you own. Only wear the pants if its really raining and use the shell as your outer layer.

 

[realunlucky]

I have the Russell and have a compression sack I pack it in. I often use it as an hard shell I also wish it had pit zips but no rain gear really breaths great. It is heavier but durable guess it depends on how you long you plan on wearing it

 

[Obi-wanshinobi]

I had the Russell stuff and I liked how quiet and durable it was. I have since switched to KUIU Chugach and it breathes much better than the Russell. I probably could have lived with the Russell as my only rain gear though.

 

[Vids]

I need new pants as well (mainly due to losing 50lb), but I've surprisingly been really happy with my Redhead waterproof jacket from Bass Pro. I bought it before any of the Sitka or Kuiu stuff came out, and I can't find a good reason to replace it. I typically don't wear a jacket when I'm hiking in, unless it's raining. The only problem I would have with it is wearing it while hiking. It doesn't breathe well, but what rain gear does? I hike into the woods without it and then throw it on as a wind/waterproof shell with base layers under, works great.

 

[Matt W.]

http://www.rokslide.com/2012-01-09-...let-it-rain-light-weight-rain-jacket-shootout
http://www.rokslide.com/forums/showthread.php?20853-New-Article-up-on-Hard-Core-Rain-Gear

More info for your research...

 

[Shraggs]

guys want apologize for not commenting on my own thread till now - murphy's law in my house past couple of weeks ! threw it now.

thanks a ton for the input. it looks like my russell gear will be worthy for a few upcoming western hunts and allow me to use funds elsewhere.

curious, if anyone has owned or tried the Cabelas Alaskan Guide Series 3 ply stuff ?

 

[Matt W.]

Yes, my buddy owns a set of it. No complaints, great camo, but heavy. He took it on a few sheep hunts, but has since gone with lighter weight stuff for Backpack hunts and saves the Guide series for when weight is not issue. Compares real well to the KUIU Yukon and the Sitka Stormfront. I've ran it a few times testing it. Its decent stuff, especially if you catch a good sale.

 

[Shraggs]

thanks HC

i got mine a while back on sale from cabelas havent used it for hunting yet, it is heavy. they have discontinued, or at lease my version is, fyi. guess i'll keep it for moose hunting where elevation won't be so bad and weight less impactful as your buddy is doing. really appreciate the comparative comments vs KUIU and Sitka since it is difficult to compare shop high end brands, and its only a matter of time before i cough on one of the high light weight sets of rain gear !

john

 

[Matt W.]

No problem John. The links I provided earlier should help you some with the light weight stuff. That Cabela's stuff is a pretty good buy if your looking for heavy duty rain gear. I saw some of the new stuff at Cabela's the other day it looks like they are really mixing things up.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

My Cyclone L5 is my GO TO rain suit for all day wet weather, I open the pit zips and am fine. Much quieter than my Sitka Dewpoint an Stormfront Lite.
I weat Nat Gear for light, psoriatic rain.

 

[wpwarren]

I bought the Cabelas 3 ply Guide jacket and pants but returned them after testing them in the shower. They were waterproof and pretty quiet for rain gear (other than the aforementioned swoosh) but when they got wet they soaked up a ton of water. They were easily 3 times as heavy once they were wet and it took 2 full days of hanging in the dry colorado air for them to dry out. I figured once they were wet they would stay wet and heavy for the entire rest of the hunt and transfer water to anything they touched while inside my pack so I returned them.

 

[Matt W.]

I bought the Cabelas 3 ply Guide jacket and pants but returned them after testing them in the shower. They were waterproof and pretty quiet for rain gear (other than the aforementioned swoosh) but when they got wet they soaked up a ton of water. They were easily 3 times as heavy once they were wet and it took 2 full days of hanging in the dry colorado air for them to dry out. I figured once they were wet they would stay wet and heavy for the entire rest of the hunt and transfer water to anything they touched while inside my pack so I returned them.

What's next on your list to try?

 

[wpwarren]

What's next on your list to try?

I've got a Kuiu Yukon jacket and pants that I like and when I want my rain gear to take up less room in the pack I will carry the jacket and a pair of goretex paclite pants from mountain hardware. I am happy with this setup. All the pieces breathe really well and have provided plenty of protection from the elements. I also have a really lite weight relatively cheap rain jacket from some mountaineering company that I can't think of right now that I use when just day hiking, but it is not enough protection for extended time in the backcountry.

 

[wpwarren]

I do think that the cabelas guide goretex raingear is pretty nice for the money. I could buy 3 sets (on sale) for what my Yukon set cost. I would recomend the jacket that has the pit zips if you intend to use it as an outer layer and not just a rain jacket.