Gortex 100% rain proof??????

[MountianMan]

I would like to hear from fellow western washington Elk hunters, what they wear for rain or plain wet conditions for keeping dry. I have the Cabela's GORE-TEX® MT050® Whitetail Extreme gear, but I'm telling you I still get wet and they say Gortex is 100 %. I don't believe it. I have Gortex everything and it just doesn't hold up. My hunting partners are the same way. I'm thinking about going back to Wool period.
Thanks.

[WDFW-SUX]

helly hansen

[TheHunt]

Cabelas MTO50.  It is packable and comes in scentlock, insulated, non insulated, and different camo patterns.

[rasbo]

  goretex needs to be ironed once in a while,it will leak usually knees elbows.helly hansens and grundens will make ya sweat.if your wearing cotton under anything you will get wet from sweat.of all that I used dry plus seems to work best for me,I use polor tech wicking tops and bottoms under my pants and pullover dry plus,breathes well.If ya have a shirt sleeve or collar exposed it will wick water in side.you will get many ops on this subject.I work in this weather and play in it 20 yrs on the wet side this is what works for me,I hate to be wet and I stay dry

[Ray]

The only thing that seems waterproof are submarines. 

[rasbo]

The only thing that seems waterproof are submarines. 

I figure this topic will get things going,now that ya got the pot stirring

[Huntbear]

I have a Browning 3 in 1 parka that is 100% Gortex.  Either I sweat way more than that jacket can breathe for or something, but I was soaking ass wet ever day hiking.  However, it did keep the rain out.  Not wind proof though, I started packing an extra shirt to change into once I got to my hunting area.

[300rum]

I have had Gortex everything and rain goes down my neck, up my pants let and up the cuffs of my jacket.  I am now a wool only person.  You can't beat wool with a stick.  You can't get any quieter than wool either.  

The things I dislike about wool is that it takes forever to dry and it is heavy when wet.

[Huntbear]

I have had Gortex everything and rain goes down my neck, up my pants let and up the cuffs of my jacket.  I am now a wool only person.  You can't beat wool with a stick.  You can't get any quieter than wool either.  

The things I dislike about wool is that it takes forever to dry and it is heavy when wet.

I love wool also, but once after getting caught in a downpour, in a clearcut.  I literally pullled off my wool pants, and wrung out about a gallon of water then put them back on.  When I turned around, there was 2 hunters watching me through binos..    At least I had my long johns on, lmao.

[rasbo]

I have had Gortex everything and rain goes down my neck, up my pants let and up the cuffs of my jacket.  I am now a wool only person.  You can't beat wool with a stick.  You can't get any quieter than wool either.  

The things I dislike about wool is that it takes forever to dry and it is heavy when wet.

I love wool also, but once after getting caught in a downpour, in a clearcut.  I literally pullled off my wool pants, and wrung out about a gallon of water then put them back on.  When I turned around, there was 2 hunters watching me through binos..    At least I had my long johns on, lmao.

yeah wool is cool,it makes me rash drives me nuts,but its good,I heard there is some that wont itch

[MountianMan]

I've been hunting too for 35 years here on the West side. I've used everything. I layer properly and no cotton. The only thing I can figure is that I'm sweating way too much. Usually it's my lower arms, Legs, knees and butt. That are soaking. Granted I could be sweating, but I'm really careful on not getting over heated up. Plus I have the vents open under the arms also. My back stays dry, but I'm also wearing the orange vest and day pack to soak up the water. But what I really can't figure is that I have a pair of Danner Canadian's that are Gortex and I treat them with NikWax plus my feet don't sweat and the bottoms of the feet and toes still get wet. I just don't understand this 100% gortex water proof they claim. I'm thinking of trying the NikWax wash for Gortex to see if it helps, but then the 100% claim goes out the window. I've tried Dry Plus with worse results. I don't want to go to pure Rain gear, you just surely sweat in that. What about the Wool with Dryplus?

[Dadbear]

I've been using a set of Browning Hydrofleece over the top of regular fleece for quite a few years and it's worked fine. 

[300rum]

The wool with dry plus is way too noisy.  It has a liner in it and the liner sounds like you are walking in parachute pants.  If you are concerned about noise I wouldn't go that route, but, I am the type that cuts my metal zipper tabs off and replace with leather.  I think it is better just to go with wool and long underwear.  It depends on the wool too.  Some wool will repel water, to a point, if you are in a down poor or are sitting in it, you will get soaked eventually, but will stay warm.  If you are in a cold snow or a light rain you won't get wet for some time.

[saudog]

Layering is the only way to feel dry.  There is really no way to stay totally dry if you are also moving around while elk hunting.  I use the mid/heavy weight military poly/fleese underwear when its cold with a wool or fleece top, and lighter poly underwear when its warmer, and a variety of outer shells depending on temperature, amount of rain, etc.  I have gore-tex, dry-plus, rivers west, and regular non-breathable rain gear.  It all depends on the day.

[Huntbear]

As for the itching part of wool.  Especiallly the pants, I always wear something underneath, long johns, polypro, something to keep the wool from direct contact with my skin. 

[Hawk]

Has anyone tried the Rivers West products? They are spendy, but I have heard they are the best and I might want to break down and buy their jacket and pants.  Any feedback? Thanks

[DeKuma]

I have both RW pants and jacket.  They are great for keeping you dry in a downpour, but they do not breathe at all, so fo hiking, they suck as sweat gets you wet from the inside out.

[zpoolman]

rivers west is good I have a set and I stay dry. I have a friend that works there and get me a discount, but it is still spendy.

[Dadbear]

I also use a RW product. It's the "Bucket Hat"... it's so waterproof you can fill it w/ water and it won't leak and it'll keep your head warm. The wide brim keeps the water from running down your neck,too.
I don't go into the woods in the rain without it.

[rasbo]

I also use a RW product. It's the "Bucket Hat"... it's so waterproof you can fill it w/ water and it won't leak and it'll keep your head warm. The wide brim keeps the water from running down your neck,too.
I don't go into the woods in the rain without it.

I wear a goretex boonie,is it wider than that?

[ElkHunt1]

I've had Cabela's mt050 for four years now. Leaks like a sieve. I think that it would hold up better if a guy stayed out of the brush!! Just bought a set of Sitka rain gear. Haven't had a chance to use it yet. They say it's the best. Little expensive but priceless if i can stay dry all day. This new stuff is half the size and weight of the Cabela's stuff.

[p-ohana]

Browning 3-1 Jacket and Army issued gortex pants. I was bone dry. It's alittle noisy to walk in but it works like a champ. It's easy on and off.

[cohoho]

I will state nothing beats Helly Hansen Impertech 3/4 jacket for rain, period, it is flexible, not like the boat gear and quiet, with a super lightweight fleece under if moving.  In AK it rained just as much as here but with colder weather and your not able just to walk back to the truck and change as easily, you get wet you die....   River's West- over priced sweat suit.  Anything Gortex/Dry Plus -will leak over time and saturation, don't waste your money.  If it is really bad out, put light fleece then wool pullover (if cold) and Grundens lightweight water proof shirt then the Helly hansen jacket you won't get wet, but you better not move either or the sweat will drown you from the inside.  Used this way when running an open boat "miles" up river in a rain storm and never got wet on the inside...  Knee high rubber boots tuck under Helly Hansen pants..... for the finish touches.   

[demontang]

Man I have had great luck with gortex, I use it for work and out hunting and haven't got wet wearing it. I know some people say that once dirt gets into it that it will pull water though it. I have had my danners leak but its normally because I have torn or cut them on some thing.

[rasbo]

Man I have had great luck with gortex, I use it for work and out hunting and haven't got wet wearing it. I know some people say that once dirt gets into it that it will pull water though it. I have had my danners leak but its normally because I have torn or cut them on some thing.

if ya iron it on low it will bring it back

[Dadbear]

I also use a RW product. It's the "Bucket Hat"... it's so waterproof you can fill it w/ water and it won't leak and it'll keep your head warm. The wide brim keeps the water from running down your neck,too.
I don't go into the woods in the rain without it.

I wear a goretex boonie,is it wider than that?

Rasbo,
I believe that it is wider than a standard boonie hat. I think it's worth a look. 

[byrdman]

It's my understanding that materials like gore-tex and dryplus will do a pretty good job of keeping water out until their is some kind of pressure from the outside pushing the water against the fabric. Like sitting, where all of your weight is pushing the water in, or walking through brush and the constant pressure of the brush will eventually cause the water to go through the breathable fabric.
 

[BENCHLEG]

i have always been a dry plus guy. until i bought a pair of sitka nimbus pants.  they are  verry durable and dry.

[MIKEXRAY]

I got so tired of being wet that my only solution was to hunt the east side. Only rained two out of a hundred days in the last five years of hunting. No morning wetness either. I tried lots of product and nothing even close to 100%. Best thing I've ever bought is my tall Danners, I've stood in plenty of creeks & never gotten feet wet. Owned them 15 years, never maintained & 100% confident in dry socks. Noise is the biggest factor for me in clothing, I went back to wool and stuck with it.  Mike

[BlackTail]

Try a poncho!  They're cheap, they're super-light, they take up practically no space, you can wear whatever you normally like underneath them, they're completely waterproof yet completely breathable, and only takes about 5 seconds to put on and take off!  About my only knock on a poncho is if it's really windy, they can be a bit of a pain in the ass.  Otherwise, they rock!!

[HawkenBob]

Usually it's my lower arms, Legs, knees and butt. That are soaking.

Lower arms get wet because it goes down your sleeves, or soaks up into them from your hands.

But what I really can't figure is that I have a pair of Danner Canadian's that are Gortex and I treat them with NikWax plus my feet don't sweat and the bottoms of the feet and toes still get wet. I just don't understand this 100% gortex water proof they claim.

Heres the thing about Gore Tex, It is waterproof as a sheet. The problem lies in seams. Your Danners are well made boots but from wear the seams will eventually leak. A garmit with Gore Tex is only as good as its seams. Any boot that assembles a sole to a leather or synthetic upper has a prone leak point all the way around. And from constant wear, it will leak eventually.

My MT050 jacket leaks worse than my Guidewear jacket by far. In fact, the guidewear dosent leak at all. My Browning Hydro fleece also does not leak. By far the best Gore tex coats I have even owned. I also own a NF 3 layer XCR jacket that does not leak. But for 450 it better not.

Areas like your butt that sits directly into the wet will leak thru if the seams arnt perfect. And perfect seams can leak after time.

On to washing Gore Tex: The problem with using powder, standard detergents is it clogg's the "breathability". It does not interfier with the waterproofness at all. Thats why the special cleaners.

Other membranes like "dry Plus" were created because Gore tex had a petent. Dry plus, Omni tech, "precip", conduit are all attemps at cheaper forms of "Gore tex". None perform as well as most are not nearly as breathable and most break down faster.

Since the patent is up now everyone can use "Gore Tex" without the approval of the Gore Tex development team. It used to be all garmits had to meet there specs if using there product. Not no more. Anyone can produce Gore Tex now and not go thru the companies critical design criteria.

Cabelas Guidewear is better than a rubber rainsuit IMO. Just as waterproff, and breathable too. There MT050 is not. But decent.

One other thing I do is always keep Camp dry on the jackets to wick away most water before the Gore has to stop it.

[foambeetle]

ditto what 'HawkenBob' said, especially re: seams (the reason for changing seam placement  on high-end Gore-tex waders over the last couple of years)

a game of personal preference and balancing benefits/costs . . . I've used numerous Gore-tex products and found them the best for waterproof/breathable clothing . . . however, even striking the best compromise, it is still a compromise . . . as has been said, proper layering and activity/temp regulation are also huge factors in how it performs

Gore-tex waders take a pretty good beating and continue to provide a waterproof barrier even when totally immersed (even sitting or kneeling while submerged) . . . if the material (lamination of membrane(s) and outer fabric) is compromised (pin-holes, etc.) it will leak and these can be tough to find and repair sometimes - especially on jackets or pants with inner liners (but w/ Gore-tex waders, however, an otherwise invisible leak can be found with a little spray of rubbing alcohol on the inside) . . . 

. . . w/non-Gore-tex gear (where the membrane is typically not an independent sheet of material and is rather a 'coating') finding and repairing 'pin-hole' leaks can be virtually impossible . . . flexing/creasing these materials over time often leads to their failure

For hunting, as a packable and somewhat less-expensive option (i.e., non-Gore-tex), I've had decent luck with BassPro's 'micro-lite' rain gear (I've also read good reports from others) . . . FYI, it is currently available on clearance (camo pattern change apparently) at the BassPro website

happy (dry) hunting

[Intruder]

I've used tons of gortex enhanced products and all have failed at some point.  The best waterproof breathable that I've ever used is a H/H flyfishing coat.  Way too noisy for hunting though.  Riverswest stuff is pretty good (and I've heard the Sitka stuff is too) but I don't think it's breathable or not very good at it at least.

I don't know if I truly believe a breathable material will really provide the water proof you need to stay totally dry.  I know that when I fish I wear rubber/vynal gear and I don't get wet.   

[HawkenBob]

Waders are the best scenario if you dont think its waterproof. I can stand all day in water in my guidetech waders with Goretex and they flat dont leak. If they did they would never sell or keep selling as breathable waders.

No one pays 250 plus with the notion of a little leaking is permisable. My last 2 sets of breathables. (Both still going strong) Do not leak at all. One is a bootfoot and one a stocking...

[MagKarl]

I've been wearing Cabelas MT050 raingear for several years and it was pretty good for a few years, but eventually started leaking bad.  The GoreTex layer just plain fell apart.  I took it in to Cabela's in Lacey a few weeks ago and was shocked when they told me to go get another set off the rack.  I told them the raingear was several years old, and they didn't care one bit.  It was so easy I felt guilty about it.  That stuff is expensive, it should work well and last.  If yours doesn't, get it replaced, they stand by their products. 

[Intruder]

Waders are the best scenario if you dont think its waterproof. I can stand all day in water in my guidetech waders with Goretex and they flat dont leak. If they did they would never sell or keep selling as breathable waders.

No one pays 250 plus with the notion of a little leaking is permisable. My last 2 sets of breathables. (Both still going strong) Do not leak at all. One is a bootfoot and one a stocking...

My doubts are more w/ the "breathable" aspect.  I seem to get quite a bit of sweat and condensation when I get moving regardless if its a jacket, pants or waders. 

I'm on my 3rd pair of Gortex waders.  It just seems to me that over time.... all Gortex fails.  But when push comes to shove I don't trust it.  I keep buying it though, so they must have convinced me of something 

[HawkenBob]

I hear ya Intruder. Keep in mind Gore Tex is only 20% breathable. As much as I sweat I notice the humid condition too. But compared to Rubber, it is better in the breathable asspect.

XCR GT is by far more breathable. But by father its more expensive too...and I havent seen a hunting garmet made with XCR yet?

Like Magcarl said, as long as its Cabelas, its 100% replacable no questions asked. I believe the biggest problem is the fabric of the MT050 gear. The brushed fabric holds more water which in turn "tests" the GT even more.
guide wear is 600 denier nylon, already very water resistant. Couple the 2 and youve got a serious wet gear garmet.

Heres a good question for everyone: If its raining hard what difference does the fabrics sound make? The rain falling in the forest should overcome that shouldent it?

[mrgoodwrench]

I'm a Grays Harbor lifer and we know rain around here, but my whole family fell for the Cabelas MT050 Gore Tex, out of 4 sets my sisters is the only one that works around here.  The dry plus leaked also.  Helly Hansen and Grundens is what we use for work, but to hot and bulky when you are chasin elk.  I go with polypropolene tops and bottoms, and Filson double tin pants, get the oil finish the loggers use, don't get the light weight ones, they are a bit noisy like rubber rain gear but they breath and you stay dry.  I wear wool when its super cold but hate taking it off and wringing it out.  Up top its a rubber or goretex coat if its really raining in the open, usually just a poly top and a hickory shirt if I'm in the timber, just change the shirt when you get back to the truck.

[C-Money]

I have a browning gortex coat and coveralls, they have preformed well for me for over 10 years. I hunted the Pennsylvania deer opener last year and it rained all day! it was awful! I stayed in my ladder stand, all day, and was glad to have on my good Browning suit! I did get a little damp, but would have been much worse in a non gortex suit. Only saw 3 deer all day!

[MagKarl]

I also have Filson double tin bibs and logger jacket that I wear for work and noisy play like dirt bike riding.  It's just too heavy and noisy for bow hunting in my opinion. It's tough as all get out when you get into briars and such, but still not waterproof like rubber.  There's just no good do it all raingear in my experience.  I wear rubber for sitting still like fishing, gore tex for quiet and lightweight hunting, and Filson for hard work where durability is top priority.  They all have their flaws.

[swanny]

If the weather is bad enough, I take whatever keeps me dry. I have had really good luck with GoreTex and REI brand Elements. It's a GoreTex knock off but is much cheaper. They sell dark colors, so that works good enough for me.

As long as you are properly layered with non-cotton garments, you should stay dry. You may feel wet inside and your shirt may be soaked, but you yourself will not be wet. Wicking fabrics take the moisture away from your skin and also dry much quicker than cotton. I might also suggest that if you are sweating really bad underneath your GoreTex shell, don't layer as much. Chances are that when you are hiking to your spot in Washington state it's uphill, so your going to start sweating the second you step out of your truck.

[rem/sav300]

I have a full set of marine issued gortex camo that i practically live in. I wear the jacket the most and it has never let me down. But maintaining them is the biggest reason why, you can buy waterproofing products but be careful when washing them, thats when the goretex lining can fall apart. Most moisture comes from the person themselves, it is sweat that is trying to escape but since the goretex is completley saturated the water cant escape