back country rain gear

[blackveltbowhunter]

  I have the Max 1 as well.  Have used it for what I feel its intended purpose is alot over the past 3 years... only one rip in the pant leg so far. Duct tape cure.

[AKBowman]

  I have the Max 1 as well.  Have used it for what I feel its intended purpose is alot over the past 3 years... only one rip in the pant leg so far. Duct tape cure.

Thanks BVBH 

I don't plan on using this stuff while sitting in a tree stand all day later archery BT, I have the Cabelas Revolution Fleece which works pretty well for the later season sitting in down poor days. Although last year I got soaked a couple times with the Revolution Fleece b/c the rain water was coming down the trunk of the tree and going straight down my drawers! That sucked. This year I bought the Predator rain BIBS and PARKA, I'm set for later in the year!

I am wanting the gear mentioned above for early archery elk and for gun season,(hunting archery during modern up high alpine Oly Penn) and for backpacking and scouting up high this summer. I checked it out pretty good at Cabelas and like you said it is what it is, not the toughest stuff in the world but what do you want for something so light weight and packable right.

Thanks again for the feedback!

[xd2005]

Anyone know if Columbia Sportswear or Mountain Hardwear makes anything worthwhile? I'm on a Friends and Family list so i can get about half off.

[Wanttohuntmore]

I picked up some really lightweight goretex (browning pants and can't remember the name of the jacket) yrs ago, and only use when needed (they stay in my pack all times).  They collapse down almost as tight as the  space rain gear from cabelas.  That being said, there's others that work as well and are cheaper, there's a top and bottoms at Dicks for $80 (bottom $40, top $40) that I know work well, and from what I can tell are the same thing as the Space Raingear at Cabelas.

For when I know it's rainy, and I'm on the westside, I'm wearing filson pants, and a dry plus jacket.  I'm also sporting a frog toggs wide brimmed hat (so I can hear animals better) and/or a filson hat.

[RockChuck]

I picked up some dry ducks also light weight and cheap, have yet to use them in bad weather anyone have some experiance with them?

[pope]

Anyone know if Columbia Sportswear or Mountain Hardwear makes anything worthwhile? I'm on a Friends and Family list so i can get about half off.

Seems likely but I don't know. My emergency packable rain jacket is made by Outdoor Research. It weighs only 7 ounces! I mostly only carry it on summer scout trips, hikes and rock climbs when it's unlikely that I'll need it. The jacket stuffs into one of its own pockets and it is so small you can clip it to your belt (or rock climbing harness, which is another reason I bought it). It is not breathable.

[follow maggie]

Mountain Hardware stuff is great. Good quality and it lasts  a long time. You'll be happy with it, I am.

[Cascade_fisher]

I have owned some Mountain Hardware stuff and while high quality it is not lightweight.

I use a Browning camo shell when hunting but also will carry my Patagonia rain shell for an extra since it is so lightweight.

[brocka]

I picked up some dry ducks also light weight and cheap, have yet to use them in bad weather anyone have some experiance with them?

I used mine in Eastern Washington two weekends ago Camping/Coyote hunting, 1 minute its nice out & the next its windy and dumping rain, Worked awesome, I bought a size big & just slipped it over my gear I had on, 45 minutes later the sun came back out, shook them and stuffed them back in the sack. Impressed for $20 rain gear.

[RockChuck]

Thanks for the input, I am on the east side so I figured for the price and weight they should work for me.

[whuppinstick]

I've been contemplating the precip combo for a few months now...

I would recommend against the Marmot Precip line.  They are only 2-layer shells which means that their durability is about equivalent to a garbage sack.  The interior laminate will 'split' once stretched and then it will flake off over time.  If you just want a set of emergency gear, this might be an okay option, but if you want it to last for a few years you'll be disappointed and it'll just end up in the garbage can.  Instead I would HIGHLY recommend you stick with a 3-layer fabric.  I have the Arc'Teryx Theta SL jacket which is about 12 ounces.  Any of their SL jackets are great and light, but also expensive.  But all major outdoor companies (patagonia, Marmot, Arc'Teryx, Mtn. Hardwear, Kuiu) will make a line of 3-layer waterproof gear.  It will generally be a little heavier and more expensive than the 2-layers, but you won't regret the investment.  I have eight-year-old and two-year-old AT jackets that are both still holding up very well.

Here is a good explanation that Jason from Kuiu did on the differences between 2, 2.5, and 3-layer fabrics and why 3-layers are superior (p.s. his Chugach line is 3-layer): http://blog.kuiu.com/2012/01/30/waterproof-breathables/

[fillthefreezer]

I've been contemplating the precip combo for a few months now...

I would recommend against the Marmot Precip line.  They are only 2-layer shells which means that their durability is about equivalent to a garbage sack.  The interior laminate will 'split' once stretched and then it will flake off over time.  If you just want a set of emergency gear, this might be an okay option, but if you want it to last for a few years you'll be disappointed and it'll just end up in the garbage can.  Instead I would HIGHLY recommend you stick with a 3-layer fabric.  I have the Arc'Teryx Theta SL jacket which is about 12 ounces.  Any of their SL jackets are great and light, but also expensive.  But all major outdoor companies (patagonia, Marmot, Arc'Teryx, Mtn. Hardwear, Kuiu) will make a line of 3-layer waterproof gear.  It will generally be a little heavier and more expensive than the 2-layers, but you won't regret the investment.  I have eight-year-old and two-year-old AT jackets that are both still holding up very well.

Here is a good explanation that Jason from Kuiu did on the differences between 2, 2.5, and 3-layer fabrics and why 3-layers are superior (p.s. his Chugach line is 3-layer): http://blog.kuiu.com/2012/01/30/waterproof-breathables/

i don't think any one would disagree with you on this point but its apples and oranges. I'm into my precip jkt and pants $130, that doesn't get you half a garment with arcteryx or kuiu. they are superior and more durable but for the $$, its hard to beat precip. they only other stuff in the price range i was able to find is cabelas spain rain which is like a sandwich baggy for durability if precip is a garbage bag or rain gear that is much heavier...

[WAcoyotehunter]

I have a set of Frogg Toggs, So far they have worked awesome. They are only 10.4 oz and I can ball them up to nothing in my compression sack.

Are you using the "dry ducks", or another style?   

I liked my frog toggs for keeping the water out- they did a great job at that, but they were WAY TOO LOUD and came apart on me in a couple seasons. 

[whuppinstick]

i don't think any one would disagree with you on this point but its apples and oranges. I'm into my precip jkt and pants $130, that doesn't get you half a garment with arcteryx or kuiu. they are superior and more durable but for the $$, its hard to beat precip. they only other stuff in the price range i was able to find is cabelas spain rain which is like a sandwich baggy for durability if precip is a garbage bag or rain gear that is much heavier...

Point taken.  I use my lightweight rain gear quite a bit year-round, so I just got fed up with the waterproof layer flaking off after a year or a year-and-a-half of the first two jackets I owned.  I went into a Patagonia store and the guy said "stop buying two-layer jackets" then he explained why.  I bought that Arc'Teryx shell (lol) and haven't looked back.  Also,  I don't mind actually wearing clothing out, but I am quite averse to having to throw things in the trash b/c they've fallen apart, so in that sense 2-layer fabrics will never work for me.   But you're probably right that Precip is an effective layer for those who only carry them for rare/light usage.

[WapitiFreak]

has anyone used the gamehide hush-hide packable rainwear?