Best clothing set up for all day rain

[slavenoid]

Okay I'm still miserable from all that rain. Im starting to prepare for next season assuming it will rain the same.

What is the best clothing set up for active hunting in all day rain? Is there a truly breathable set up when you can't catch a dry period to air out? Be as specific as you want I'm taking notes.

[kentrek]

An umbrella

[RB]

You want to stay dry in rain, Grundens Herkules is the only way I have stayed dry in monsoon rain! There is nothing on the market that will keep you dry while hiking/hunting period! I have the Kuiu Chugach set and love it, but I still get wet when moving. All of the higher end rain gear will be the same, eventually it will seep through, BUT it will dry fast!

Sitka mountain pants, and Kuiu Chugach in 2016 on a wilderness backpack Goat hunt. Torrential downpour soaked to the bone, and cold. Get up in the morning rain gear dry, check! Pants dry check! Ready for another day of hunting! 

[BeerBugler]

Sitka stormfront pants and jacket will keep you dry.....period. I’ve wore it for years for hunting and non hunting. It is 100% waterproof. I carry it in my pack no matter how short the trip, no matter what the weathers doing when I leave. It is part of my “survival kit” and its never let me down. You can get older versions at a pretty good discount.

[jrebel]

Sitka stormfront pants and jacket will keep you dry.....period. I’ve wore it for years for hunting and non hunting. It is 100% waterproof. I carry it in my pack no matter how short the trip, no matter what the weathers doing when I leave. It is part of my “survival kit” and its never let me down. You can get older versions at a pretty good discount.

 

I run their cold front gear and it kept me dry durring the 5 days of rain this archery elk season.  We spent all day in the rain; hiking, sitting, sleeping etc and I was dry as a bone.  The sleeves and neck will allow water in if you don't tighten the wrist straps and zip the jacket with rain hood up.  I also wear OR gaters to keep water from brush from creaping up the pant legs.  I wear my gaters religiously....even when it is not raining to keep dew from the brush off my lower legs and in my socks / boots. 

[92xj]

Listen, then buy whatever you see fit
https://tundratalkak.com/episode-61-good-rams-and-bad-rain-gear/

[Stein]

I've heard of people and gear that have stayed dry in the rain while active.  I have also heard of bigfoot and the tooth fairy.

My imperfect answer is to stay at least safely warm and then dry out to some degree, change clothes or suffer the next day.

If you are humping up a hill in the rain, I just don't see any way to stay dry for any amount of money.

[bkaech]

A good base layer to keep you warm. If you are warm you won’t be miserable, if wetness alone makes you miserable then stay in your house.

[RB]

I've heard of people and gear that have stayed dry in the rain while active.  I have also heard of bigfoot and the tooth fairy.

My imperfect answer is to stay at least safely warm and then dry out to some degree, change clothes or suffer the next day.

If you are humping up a hill in the rain, I just don't see any way to stay dry for any amount of money.

 

[jrebel]

There is a difference between being wet from sweat and being wet from the elements.  If you have a good set of synthetics for your base layer you will stay warm and dry out quickly.  If you are wet from the elements you will stay wet and cold. 

The pod cast guy even states that he was in some of the worst weather he had seen in 16 years.  If you put on rubbers (gurndens) and jump in a lake....you will be wet.  Most people on this forum....and even in this state....will never see weather like that guy saw.  A good set of Kuiu, Sitka, Etc....will soot most great.  The cheap rain gear will fail in the lightest of elements......personal experience.   

[MADMAX]

Helly Hansen rubberized
Top and bibs
30 years old and still effective

[KFhunter]

don't forget how much weight lower end rain gear picks up, my old crap gets really heavy when the outside is wet and takes much longer to dry. 

My newer stuff doesn't get very much heavier and dries much faster. 


I wear merino base layer and don't ever take it off, more than 5 days I might switch to a new set after a wet rag bath so it doesn't 'grow' into my skin 



I'm a big fan of the meriwool from amazon, it held up very well!  It's a bit thicker than Firstlite llano at 250wt and a tad hotter, the boxers are 160wt and I got no holes after days of hiking in the rain.  I liked it a lot.  boxers came in a 2 pack for like 40 bux, the top was like 40 bux ea 

My firstlite llano shrunk on me in the wash and their boxers got a hole in a single day   

[huntnnw]

there is no such thing as 100% waterproof and highly breathable. Best thing is having gear that is vent-able such as having the armpit and sides you can unzip and pant legs that also unzip.

Some of the high end stuff is super light weight, hold almost no water and dries extremely fast.

I own KUIU rain gear and it has been by far the best stuff I have ever owned 6 years and counting.

[KFhunter]

Yukon? 

[huntnnw]

chugach

[Stein]

If you are day hunting, I just take extra clothes and change out at some point during the day.  If it's raining it isn't below 32 degrees so this usually just means an extra merino top and light fleece.

[kselkhunter]

Sitka stormfront pants and jacket will keep you dry.....period. I’ve wore it for years for hunting and non hunting. It is 100% waterproof. I carry it in my pack no matter how short the trip, no matter what the weathers doing when I leave. It is part of my “survival kit” and its never let me down. You can get older versions at a pretty good discount.

 

I run their cold front gear and it kept me dry durring the 5 days of rain this archery elk season.  We spent all day in the rain; hiking, sitting, sleeping etc and I was dry as a bone.  The sleeves and neck will allow water in if you don't tighten the wrist straps and zip the jacket with rain hood up.  I also wear OR gaters to keep water from brush from creaping up the pant legs.  I wear my gaters religiously....even when it is not raining to keep dew from the brush off my lower legs and in my socks / boots.

   I run the cold front for November rifle season wet side.  Works well in rain and snow for extended trips in the back country.

[fishngamereaper]

For true waterproof I've gone away from hunting brands..i look to mountainiring type clothes....I have a McKinley h2o shell and it's rated at 20kmm and keeps me dry as dry can be...it's soft shell, light weight and breathable...I've also used helley Hansen with good results....solid colors but green, black or slate I pretty much blend in with most terrain..

I also  just put some kuiu talus hybrid pants to the test in some nasty rain, wet mnt brush and they excelled..

I'm curious to get my hands on the new kuiu katana series and see how it performs...

[slavenoid]

Listen, then buy whatever you see fit
https://tundratalkak.com/episode-61-good-rams-and-bad-rain-gear/

Wow! He should tell us how he really feels. As of right now I think comfort is still important to me. If I went through his situation Im sure I would feel differently.

[Fl0und3rz]

Milsurp poncho or Grundens and stay still just enough to avoid sweating.


Decent side zip rain pants help the lower body breathe.

[ljsommer]

For true waterproof I've gone away from hunting brands..i look to mountainiring type clothes....I have a McKinley h2o shell and it's rated at 20kmm and keeps me dry as dry can be...it's soft shell, light weight and breathable...I've also used helley Hansen with good results....solid colors but green, black or slate I pretty much blend in with most terrain..

I also  just put some kuiu talus hybrid pants to the test in some nasty rain, wet mnt brush and they excelled..

I'm curious to get my hands on the new kuiu katana series and see how it performs...

Hey let me know if you get your hands on some Kutana gear I am very curious about that stuff.

I had a really nightmarish day in the woods a while ago where I was soaked from 5am until sundown and freezing and generally just hating life, so I went in hard on some Kuiu after doing a lot of research. I bought the Yukon pants and jacket and then I wear their synthetic stuff underneath. The whole setup is really fantastic and I've been out in some incredible storms and been really comfortable.

As others have said, the best raingear will still leave you wet either from rain+wind, moisture from plants, or your own sweat, but the really quality stuff will keep you comfortable.

[milldozer]

Arcteryx makes great shells if you dont mind solid colors.  Stuff aint cheap though.

Another tip is to wear gaiters under your pants.  Pants get wet, but it helps keeps your feet dry if walking through tall, wet brush.  I became a believer in both after this years HH.

[Jpmiller]

The filson tin cloth gear has never let me down. Little heavier than some but very durable and works great.

[jeffro]

I have 3 different sets Helly Hansen “Helly Tech” gear. Dad’s a dealer
One for skiing, one for riding my motorcycle and one for hunting.
I never get wet or cold. 100% waterproof, breathable and not to bulky or heavy.
My ski gear is yellow and I’ve been on the mountain in 0 degrees not including wind chill totally warm.
Motorcycle gear is red, never been wet except maybe my boots, think 70 mph in a driving rain. Bone dry.
Hunting gear is grey and black blends in well in the woods or sage brush.
Very rip/tear resistant and fairly quiet.
All roll up to a surprisingly small size and don’t weight much.
Pants all have built in gators and are mesh lined. Fully zippered sides and suspenders with snaps to release.
Coats have ventilation zippers under arms and across the back under a flap and an integrated hood. Some roll up into collar some zip on and off.
Truly worth the money.
Just as important, if not more so, is you base layer including socks.
Again, I use HH. LIFA or their old school polypropylene.
Keeps your skin dry and is super lightweight
Then a layer of hot or cool gear from Under Armor, depending on conditions.
Camo layer top of that and I’m good to go for any weather

[yakimanoob]

+1,000,000 for the point that there is no physical way to stay dry while working hard (uphill, carrying heavy packweights, etc) in the rain.  If you were hiking under an umbrella, you'd still be wet from sweat because there's too much moisture in the air to pull it away from your skin.  I grew up in Alabama.  Trust me I know about humidity 

Given that, your strategy should depend on your style of hunting.  If you're mostly not moving very much (still hunting, glassing big terrain, etc etc), then you might choose heavy-duty raingear or, my preference, carry a tarp to sit under when you're not moving. 

If you're hoofing it up mountains, then your main concern should be getting dry and warm after you do get wet, because you will get wet.


Personally, I carry Outdoor Research Foray rain gear (I love the to-the-hem pit zip vents on the jacket), which is Gore-Tex and comes in drab colors and carries a lifetime warranty.  I've only had it a couple of years but I've had great results so far. 

[JimmyHoffa]

layering seems to be the best so far....unless you want to carry a battery or an air pump.

[KFhunter]

+1,000,000 for the point that there is no physical way to stay dry while working hard (uphill, carrying heavy packweights, etc) in the rain.  If you were hiking under an umbrella, you'd still be wet from sweat because there's too much moisture in the air to pull it away from your skin.  I grew up in Alabama.  Trust me I know about humidity 

Given that, your strategy should depend on your style of hunting.  If you're mostly not moving very much (still hunting, glassing big terrain, etc etc), then you might choose heavy-duty raingear or, my preference, carry a tarp to sit under when you're not moving. 

If you're hoofing it up mountains, then your main concern should be getting dry and warm after you do get wet, because you will get wet.


Personally, I carry Outdoor Research Foray rain gear (I love the to-the-hem pit zip vents on the jacket), which is Gore-Tex and comes in drab colors and carries a lifetime warranty.  I've only had it a couple of years but I've had great results so far.

 

more important to stay light weight and quick dry than to be heavy and not able to dry your gear between hunts. 



I've been looking at hot tents and ti stoves!  I use a regular 2 man lightweight tent and rain tarp, but nothing dries well or at all...boots?  forget about it.

[Bushcraft]

I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned an umbrella yet or not, but the contraptions work great in the right circumstances.

I've got one of those giant wind-resistant golf umbrellas that I carry without fail into and out of my backcountry elk camp. My hunting partners scoffed and laughed at the notion when they first saw it...that is, right up until the point that they had completely sweated out their fancy rain gear in 33 degree temps with drenching rains typical where we hunt that will kill a guy dead from exposure if things go south. I was nice and dry wearing just a merino t-shirt, pants and gators on the hike out the first time I deployed it.  You can't carry a 100+ lb. pack out of the wilderness without sweating, but you can come up with an easy solution that keeps your upper body dry and seconds as a hiking pole.

The HH Impertech stuff with synthetics underneath is the way to go in really terrible precipitation if you're not moving very much.  My Filson tin-cloth stuff gets the nod if some serious work in the brush needs to happen.  I've been happy with my KUIU gear for backpack hunting.  Heck, the el cheapo Cabela's Space Rain stuff works fine if you want to go ultralight if you can keep the inside "dry side" of the membrane warm and not shred it in the brush.  Keeping the inside of the membrane warm is the key to all of the breathable membrane rain-gear out there.

[KFhunter]

I have a hard time getting my bow through the brush without peeling a string off the cam, dunno how'd I'd ever get an umbrella through that crap 

[dreadi]

Gortex rain shell and Muckboots

[MtnMuley]

Well, since the OP mentioned the best for active hunting, I might as well throw out the Kryptek Takur. About $1350 for the set, but it is the "best".  They put in extensive research using only the best materials possible. The Yukon is a close second in my eyes, and yes, I have both.

[savagehunter]

Opening day of the high hunt it rained hard from dawn til dusk. We spent the day before building a fort off a big rock with a 9x11 tarp we spent 90 percent of our day under that tarp . My son was wearing sitka stormfront I was wearing sitka cold front. After 11 hrs we were wet top to bottom. No movement and able to glass the whole day. But sitting against a rock with a waterfall at your back and bunch grass under your butt in that weather nothing was going to keep us dry. Stopped raining at dark went back to camp built a big fire and had our stuff pretty much dry in 90 min. Rubber rain gear would have kept us fairly dry but packing it 6 miles was not an option. Sometimes you hunt wet, part of the game.