Rain gear on Colorado elk hunt
- Thread starter Huntinman57
- Start date
All depends on how you hunt and type of terrain
My elk hunting 'method' allows me to carry FroggToggs, as there isnt thick under brush, and the typical afternoon showers are more of a nuisance.
But, September of 2013 will forever be in my memory
My elk hunting 'method' allows me to carry FroggToggs, as there isnt thick under brush, and the typical afternoon showers are more of a nuisance.
But, September of 2013 will forever be in my memory
jmez
WKR
Mine as well. I had good rain gear thank goodness and will never hunt without it.
5MilesBack
"DADDY"
In 2016 I hunted in a bunch of beetle kill pine. It rained the day I shot my bull, with varying intensities of rain. When it's really coming down, that beetle kill doesn't stop much of anything.
But the bull was already down so I had to work through it. Normally, you can find a good dry tree well that blocks most all the rain. That works for those quick afternoon showers.
Core4Element rain gear Jacket/Pants. Now Sylo brand, really like it.
Three years ago in CO it poured for 3 days during archery. Needed the rain gear.
Two years ago, two days of pretty heavy rain and 1 day of light rain. Needed the rain gear.
Many other years, no rain gear needed.
Play the odds of no rain, or be prepared. Let us know how you roll once you decide.
JL
Three years ago in CO it poured for 3 days during archery. Needed the rain gear.
Two years ago, two days of pretty heavy rain and 1 day of light rain. Needed the rain gear.
Many other years, no rain gear needed.
Play the odds of no rain, or be prepared. Let us know how you roll once you decide.
JL
Superkodiak38
WKR
I bought the Sylo jacket last winter, used it during spring turkey in a pretty good rain and it held up. Not sure about investing in the pants. Got draw? Where are you from in Maryland ? Not many of us on here !
kicker338
WKR
Cabalas space rain gear for me too but only for waiting out a heavy shower. They work well for that but won't take much heavy abuse. Tore the leg on my pants last yr. cabalas replaced them no cost. If there is a chance of showers I put them in my pack otherwise they stay in camp. As I only do base camp RV hunting my heavy duty rain gear is always there. It's sold at cabalas from a company called true timber, built like a Sherman tank. It's a little noisy but no fuzzy quiet rain gear for me, tried all that stuff, gortex you name it, they all soak up water.
If the OP is looking to save weight, he could look into the Kuiu Teton rain gear. I bought when they were on sale, very lightweight. XL jacket is around 8oz, L pants are about 6 oz with full zips on the legs which are nice to have. I don’t always carry the rain pants but always have the jacket in my pack.
This right here. Love mine and really light
This will be my first Colorado elk hunt this year. I went back and forth on rain gear for months, reading on here that they would hardly be used. My problem was that I wanted to get a good packable set, but for the money I figured spend a little more and get a great set. I picked up a Kuiu Ultra NX jacket on ebay, like new for $115. If I like the jacket I will purchase the pants.
I also spent the money a bought a set of Sitka Dewpoint rain gear. If they don't pack down small enough, I'm going to use them for hunting whitetail here in North Carolina.
I just couldn't see having a solo back country archery hunt spoiled from being soaked from afternoon showers or one all day rain.
I also spent the money a bought a set of Sitka Dewpoint rain gear. If they don't pack down small enough, I'm going to use them for hunting whitetail here in North Carolina.
I just couldn't see having a solo back country archery hunt spoiled from being soaked from afternoon showers or one all day rain.
OP
OP
Huntinman57
Lil-Rokslider
I agree I don’t wanna be miserable I think I’d rather pack the jacket around and be prepared than not have it and wish I did!
ShawnStonefly
Lil-Rokslider
I use use the first lite rain jacket. It handles most of the rain I've experienced hunting backcountry here in Colorado. Carried rain pants for the first 2 seasons and felt like they were waste of weight. Typically if its raining though I'm tucked under some trees, more worried about getting struck by lightning than getting wet.
chindits
WKR
Me likes rain gear, especially above tree line. A small weight penalty when you don't have to be wet, or don't have to have high winds cutting through you, or even if you don't want to give up on some critters you glassed up and you are just waiting for the snow showers to break, yup all in September. There is something to be said about moisture management and heat management when you don't come out for several days. If you have rain gear on, don't move so fast. Take your time, enjoy the rain and don't bump animals. We might really need some rain this year.
chindits
WKR
I've been sporting Skre gear the last couple years, but I don't fully endorse their product. The fabric is good and light and I like it more then my Kuiu which has what I consider soak through issues. However, I feel the Skree design falls short in small details. The rain jacket has pockets right at the same level as the hip belt on your pack so they are relatively useless. A better pocket would be along the upper torso as large slash pockets with breathable mesh liners for ventilation. A much better option then pit zips, which I never really realized until the military upgrade damn near 15 years ago. Also, the rain pants have these weird side hooks at the waist above the full side zips instead of a traditional cincher belt. I find them a nuisance especially when my hands are cold and I'm in a hurry to get the pants on. However, they do the job and I have even worn them sleeping in sub zero weather to try to reduce the amount of water vapor compromising my sleeping bag down. YMMV
kicker338
WKR
Some good points there chindits one of the reasons I like the true timber rain gear that cabalas sells. Pit zips on the jacket and on the pants the zip's go up past the knee, makes them a breeze to put on with your boots on.
I've pushed the "Rules of 3" to the limits to many times in my life to go anywhere without minimum shelter. That for me is a minimum of a waterproof shell and pants. I can get out of the wet elements in seconds that could, and has saved my life. Heat transfer happens from the body 25% faster when wet and hypothermia is a demon I have faced to many times not to take seriously.
I sport Arcteryx LEAF Gen 1 and 2 Alpha jacket and the lighter Arcteryx Beta LT for warmer weather when going light and fast. For pants I like the Arcteryx LEAF Alpha Gen2 and the Alpha Gen 2 bib. For a lighter option I go with my Beta LT jacket and Beta AR pants.
I have used the Marmot Precip Jacket and Pants in the past and still have pair in my Jeep at all times. They proved to do very well but aren't as durable as my LEAF, Beta and Alpha gear.
I sport Arcteryx LEAF Gen 1 and 2 Alpha jacket and the lighter Arcteryx Beta LT for warmer weather when going light and fast. For pants I like the Arcteryx LEAF Alpha Gen2 and the Alpha Gen 2 bib. For a lighter option I go with my Beta LT jacket and Beta AR pants.
I have used the Marmot Precip Jacket and Pants in the past and still have pair in my Jeep at all times. They proved to do very well but aren't as durable as my LEAF, Beta and Alpha gear.
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