Rain gear for work

[JjamesIII]

I work in excavation and am about to enter that crappy time of year for Ohio, late October and November rain season. I’m so tired of spending money on rain gear that wets out in an hour or two. I know, you can buy the helly hanson rubber coats that are impervious to water, but you’ll be wet from the inside out as soon as you are active.
The challenge faced with rain gear for what I do, is the fact that it’s got to sustain me for the entire work day, and it’s going to get muddy, which seems to really effect the dwr coatings. I’ve not been impressed with anything carhartt has made in regards to rain gear.
Do you guys know of anything that is bombproof for those all day soakers where you should have just gone to the bar- lol.

 

[Robster]

Tagging this thread. I'm curious as well. I've tried waxed canvas but even that doesn't breathe well. And can be very stiff. A guy I work with wears regular rain gear then puts on a poncho. It goes over the back of the seat of his machine and no water runs down between him and the seat back. Stopped the whole wet seat and butt problem but he isn't on and off the machine all day. Just gets off for fuel or break.

 

[Htm84]

For what it’s worth most guys up here use Helly Hansen or grundens from my observations. I don’t work in the rain anymore (what we don’t can’t be done in the rain) but when I did I used Helly Hansen imperfect bibs and a grundens neptune jacket.

 

[JjamesIII]

For what it’s worth most guys up here use Helly Hansen or grundens from my observations. I don’t work in the rain anymore (what we don’t can’t be done in the rain) but when I did I used Helly Hansen imperfect bibs and a grundens neptune jacket.

Good job getting out of the rain!Smarter than I am.

 

[MattB]

Might focus more on inner layers that move moisture well and go with the rubber rain gear. Or bring a second jacket.

 

[49ereric]

Waxed or tin clothed coats are an option but spendy

 

[JjamesIII]

I’m on and off machines. Some days in the ditch, some days pulling sticks. Waxed cotton isn’t waterproof, even if you retreat it often. I have worn Filson, it’s only good for about an hour of light rain in my experience.

 

[Htm84]

Good job getting out of the rain!Smarter than I am.

I thought so at first. But every nice sun shiny day my ass is working.

 

[541hunter]

This is what I used working in the woods of the Oregon coast every day. I’d even put it on sunny days when I had to walk through walls of blackberries. The stuff is tough!

Nasco Tuff Black Rain Gear for Idaho Oregon and Washington Loggers Alaska – Clearwater Saw Shop

It rains a lot in the Pacific Northwest, and loggers need a rugged rain gear that will keep them dry and that won't tear on snags and branches. The Nasco Tuff Black Rain Bibb Overalls are just one piece of the set that will make an excellent choice for workers out in the rain and elements for...

clearwatersawshop.com

 

[Erict]

You should look at "U.S. Military Surplus GORE-TEX Waterproof APECS Parka" and pants. I was a heavy equipment operator for Uncle Sam for some time and they served me well in similar environments.

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[49ereric]

I’m on and off machines. Some days in the ditch, some days pulling sticks. Waxed cotton isn’t waterproof, even if you retreat it often. I have worn Filson, it’s only good for about an hour of light rain in my experience.

I tin clothed old artic carharts myself for duck hunting but they are heavy.

 

[Colterw]

8 years on a pipe crew on the wet side of Washington and the best rain gear I have come across is the Grundens Neptune line. It's light and flexible with a bit of stretch. I use the pants and anorak. I have a set of bibs too but I prefer the regular pants. I've been through three sets of pants and two coats in the last 5 years. Before that I tried watershed, frog togs, carhartt and the "waterproof" hi viz jackets the company issued us.

Nothing comes close to the grundens stuff.

 

[CCooper]

Grundens Brigg Jacket & Herkules Bibs.

 

[JjamesIII]

Another vote for military issue goretex rain gear. Went through about every version of camo produced while living in the mud and rain before I figured out one of my career goals was to suffer less. You can usually find a set for cheap at any military surplus store, especially if you’re near a base. Nothing is 100% though and all rain gear will wet through or out. That said, I personally prefer the HH Impertech for hunting and any extended periods of rain with medium to light work/activity.

I’m curious- what career path to emancipation did you take? It’s been a frickin’ grind. I can deal with summer and fall, winters just suck balls more and more every year. Weed burning tracks in sub zero temps just to get started working has lost it’s luster.

 

[JjamesIII]

8 years on a pipe crew on the wet side of Washington and the best rain gear I have come across is the Grundens Neptune line. It's light and flexible with a bit of stretch. I use the pants and anorak. I have a set of bibs too but I prefer the regular pants. I've been through three sets of pants and two coats in the last 5 years. Before that I tried watershed, frog togs, carhartt and the "waterproof" hi viz jackets the company issued us.

Nothing comes close to the grundens stuff.

Sounds like a popular choice! I will check into their gear- thanks man, if anyone know about rain- people up in your region do.

 

[yfarm]

Read a rainwear review from a coastal alaska bear guide about staying dry in cold wet conditions. She wore moisture transporting base layer with a frog toggs top with impertech over that. Said the froggtoggs moved the condensation out to its surface and the impertech kept the outside moisure out. Was hunting inNW Wy 2 weeks ago in freezing rain and snow, had Grundens w/b jacket over my base layers, got back to camp and had water inside the grundens but the synthetic bases were dry. Hands were another story, was wringing water out of fleece shooters mittens all day long, had cold hands for 3 days. someone needs to make a 3 finger 2 layer fleece mitten dipped in latex like the gloves that are made. Or a HT Polar 3 finger mitt.

 

[JjamesIII]

Gloves are also a tough one. Especially when you need dexterity. Wool Glove mitts are what I hunt with, you won’t keep your hands dry, but you’ll be warm.

 

[JjamesIII]

8 years on a pipe crew on the wet side of Washington and the best rain gear I have come across is the Grundens Neptune line. It's light and flexible with a bit of stretch. I use the pants and anorak. I have a set of bibs too but I prefer the regular pants. I've been through three sets of pants and two coats in the last 5 years. Before that I tried watershed, frog togs, carhartt and the "waterproof" hi viz jackets the company issued us.

Nothing comes close to the grundens stuff.

Thanks for the recommendation- I’ve been wearing the Grundens for a while now and am super happy with them.