Premium Lightweight Raingear

[7mmfan]

I'm going to do it. I'm going to start another thread on raingear.

I've been using KUIU and Firstlite for many years. Both have had pluses and minuses. My KUIU Yukon pants have been great, but haven't necessarily been thrilled with the jackets. My Firstlite jacket has kept me dry, but the overall quality of construction was suspect. I'm in the market for a new coat, and I'm really looking for ideas outside the big 3 (KUIU, Firstlite, Sitka). I don't care about camo, I'm more of a solids guy anyway.

Looking at OR, Arc'teryx, Black Diamond, Helly Hansen, it looks like for similar money to the big 3, you can get a pretty stout jacket. Does anyone have any suggestions on brands, or even specific jackets to look at?

[HikerHunter]

I don't have any experience with the "big 3" rain gear, but I did get an OR shell about 10-12 years ago and it is still amazing. I haven't abused it, but its still my go-to for downpour days. Probably not a lot of help, but I mostly wanted to tag along on this thread.

[ljsommer]

I'm going to do it. I'm going to start another thread on raingear.

I've been using KUIU and Firstlite for many years. Both have had pluses and minuses. My KUIU Yukon pants have been great, but haven't necessarily been thrilled with the jackets. My Firstlite jacket has kept me dry, but the overall quality of construction was suspect. I'm in the market for a new coat, and I'm really looking for ideas outside the big 3 (KUIU, Firstlite, Sitka). I don't care about camo, I'm more of a solids guy anyway.

Looking at OR, Arc'teryx, Black Diamond, Helly Hansen, it looks like for similar money to the big 3, you can get a pretty stout jacket. Does anyone have any suggestions on brands, or even specific jackets to look at?

I've been somewhat underwhelmed by my Kuiu rain gear, but when I spoke with their customer service team they shared that their rain gear is designed with active hunting in mind, vs long stationary sits. Apparently it's designed to use the heat of the body to basically push the moisture out, and as long as you're moving then it should be very effective.
I'm not convinced, personally, but it's what I've got and it wasn't cheap so it's what I am going to stick with. I think the lesson I learned was that if I plan on doing long extended sits in the rain, I should either find shelter or create my own with a small tarp or something.

[Roslyn Rambler]

Disappointed with my Mountain Hardwear. Very much happy with my Mammut rain gear

[Tbar]

I have 3 weights of sitka rain gear.  The ultralight was a gift and trashed really quickly.   The midweight gear has held up decent but briars have created some leaks.  The thunderhead has held up really well to westside conditions.  I really like the thunderhead pants and jacket. They do not come in solids though.

[7mmfan]

I'm going to do it. I'm going to start another thread on raingear.

I've been using KUIU and Firstlite for many years. Both have had pluses and minuses. My KUIU Yukon pants have been great, but haven't necessarily been thrilled with the jackets. My Firstlite jacket has kept me dry, but the overall quality of construction was suspect. I'm in the market for a new coat, and I'm really looking for ideas outside the big 3 (KUIU, Firstlite, Sitka). I don't care about camo, I'm more of a solids guy anyway.

Looking at OR, Arc'teryx, Black Diamond, Helly Hansen, it looks like for similar money to the big 3, you can get a pretty stout jacket. Does anyone have any suggestions on brands, or even specific jackets to look at?

I've been somewhat underwhelmed by my Kuiu rain gear, but when I spoke with their customer service team they shared that their rain gear is designed with active hunting in mind, vs long stationary sits. Apparently it's designed to use the heat of the body to basically push the moisture out, and as long as you're moving then it should be very effective.
I'm not convinced, personally, but it's what I've got and it wasn't cheap so it's what I am going to stick with. I think the lesson I learned was that if I plan on doing long extended sits in the rain, I should either find shelter or create my own with a small tarp or something.

I've learned that lesson as well. That's really how all the lightweight "breathable" raingear is designed to perform. If you're sitting, rubber beats everything. For the first year or two my KUIU raingear performed fairly well, as long as I was moving, then it just failed and I was wet all the time.

[Bareback]

The best keep you dry rain gear (breathable) I’ve ever had was sailboat brands, Gill, Musto, etc. The offshore models are pretty bulky but amazing effective. The dingy boat styles might translate to hunting better, leaning towards more flexibility. The only down side is color and noisy material.

[highcountry_hunter]

Anything besides kings camo. I might as well have been wearing sweat pants


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[Buckhunter24]

Lightweights tough, especially if there's brush. The carhartt storm defender is great, but its far from lightweight. I'm wanting to pick up another lightweight set, it's tough to spend hundreds only to tear it up though.

[freshgrease]

The cabelas redhead rain jacket for ~$60 has surprised me more than other rain jackets.

I have a first lite jacket that is good for downpours but it's loud for going through brush nor do I really want to abuse it too much while bushwhacking.

The redhead jacket has been much quieter, the outside shell layer gets wet but I am bone dry on the inside and doesn't hardly snag on anything.

[fishngamereaper]

I've used Beyond, Fjallraven, and Kuhl with good success.
Buddy in Montana swears by Forloh.

Most of my gear is still Kuiu but like all other hunting based stuff it has its limits.

[MtnMuley]

If the Sitka and Kuiu aren't doing it for you, I'd look at the Forloh and Acr'teryx models. They both build very top end stuff.

[Westside88]

Kuiu replaced a Yukon set for me this year with their newest version. I like it so far, but totally understand where you’re coming from. I know I have to remind myself that even really good gear will have limitations based on design. If it’s breathable and stretchy it can’t be as impervious to rain as say Grundens, but I also don’t want to hunt in my Grundens. (Although my Dad bought some lighter weight Grundens at the marine store and hunts in it all the time) One of my favorite rain jackets is a super light weight Northface that is comfortable and doesn’t soak through. It would never hold up to hunting though. It would probably be worth while to check out what REI has. Some of the mountaineering type gear looks to be good stuff.

[hughjorgan]

Stone glacier is another option and I’ve also read good things about forloh(American made).

[jrebel]

Tagging along....

That said, I have been a sitka guy for a decade now and have had great success with their lightweight rain gear.  I have an old set of mothwing ultralite pants that are a little baggy and made to just pull over your boots.....but they are super light and flat out work.   Had them for a very long time and have never gotten wet in them.  I don't hunt the west side though?