Rain/hard shell woes for non-chonky fellas

Joined
Apr 20, 2023
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29
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PNW
After ordering my sixth rain jacket / hard shell (not precisely the same, I know, but minus my snowboarding gear I have them do double duty) I'm about at the end of my patience, and could use some input since I've got analysis paralysis at this point.

Currently have a basic Patagonia rain jacket that I've had for ages, and an older version of a Kuiu Chugach. Both work fine, except when I need to wear an insulation layer underneath, as they're too short.

I just bought, and am returning, the Forloh AllClima soft-shell, which super impressive, minus being sized for someone who is either pregnant, or "pleasantly plump" let's say. I'm 6'1" and 175", so definitely on the skinnier side.

I just ordered the Stone Glacier M5, fingers crossed that's a bit slimmer and long enough. I may just keep my Outdoor Research Archangel, which is perfect in cut and burliness (GoreTex Pro, etc) but the problem is it's black (does that really matter? Everything is dark tones here in the PNW) and the GTX Pro is pretty damn loud when moving (again, does that matter? I'm rifle hunting, and would only be wearing it in weather that brings its own ambient noise.)

SO. Any recs for gear that is actually long enough to cover an insulation later, and isn't cut like a beach ball around the middle? Or should I just start pounding the Christmas Oreos and deal with it?

(sorry in advance for the fkn novel.)
 
Joined
Sep 24, 2019
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I use the Kuiu Katana as a shell for snowboarding, fishing, and hunting. It’s an athletic fit and works perfectly.
 

TaperPin

WKR
Joined
Jul 12, 2023
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It seems to me the OR rain jacket and this mountain hardware are cut fairly long - at least they are longer than my Patagonia.

 
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UpperLeft86
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Apr 20, 2023
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This may or may not apply as I am bigger but would think the same proportion. I am 6'6" 225LBS and a slimmer build. I find Kuiu and Arc'teryx to fit great.
Appreciate it! I've never tried Arc'teryx stuff yet, but everyone speaks super highly of it. I have a bit of newer Kuiu stuff and it is great. Tried the Super Down LT and it was a little baggy on me, but their pants and other shirts have been A+. Might need to keep trying.
 
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UpperLeft86
Joined
Apr 20, 2023
Messages
29
Location
PNW
It seems to me the OR rain jacket and this mountain hardware are cut fairly long - at least they are longer than my Patagonia.

Yeah the OR Archangel I have is definitely an alpine cut - long in the arms and torso for reaching up climbing. Works for my body, I just wish the fabric wasn't so loud. I don't have any other experience with GoreTex Pro though.

I actually have that Mountain Hardware jacket. It's great! It's my snowboarding jacket, but in bright red. Wish they'd had that green color when I bought, that'd work nicely.
 
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UpperLeft86
Joined
Apr 20, 2023
Messages
29
Location
PNW
I use the Kuiu Katana as a shell for snowboarding, fishing, and hunting. It’s an athletic fit and works perfectly.
Great to hear, thanks. The Kutana was on my radar, sounds like I need to give it a try. You feel like the torso is cut long enough to cover your insulation layer? My down jacket is a longer cut, so that's proved to be an issue when it gets rainy.
 

TaperPin

WKR
Joined
Jul 12, 2023
Messages
3,378
Yeah the OR Archangel I have is definitely an alpine cut - long in the arms and torso for reaching up climbing. Works for my body, I just wish the fabric wasn't so loud. I don't have any other experience with GoreTex Pro though.

I actually have that Mountain Hardware jacket. It's great! It's my snowboarding jacket, but in bright red. Wish they'd had that green color when I bought, that'd work nicely.
Cool. I’ve never been around LL Bean goretex, but they always seemed to have tall sizes that pop up doing searches for our youngest tall skinny son.

At one time The North Face had a contract with the National Park Service to make the Mountain Jacket in that nice shade of Park Service dark green. I kept trying to buy one from a park employee, but that must be a big no no since nobody took me up on it. lol

Come to think of it, Carhartt has tall sizes, but their goretex rain gear is a bit on the heavy side and only in black.
 
Joined
Sep 24, 2019
Messages
1,095
Great to hear, thanks. The Kutana was on my radar, sounds like I need to give it a try. You feel like the torso is cut long enough to cover your insulation layer? My down jacket is a longer cut, so that's proved to be an issue when it gets rainy.
It definitely is for me. I’m 5’10 though.
 

MTJake

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Apr 12, 2020
Messages
112
I am 6’1” with long arms. I like the fit of badlands gear because it is long enough in the torso and arms and not super baggy. The quality is maybe a half step down, but they also have sales more often.
 
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