Post by: slavenoid on September 22, 2019, 06:04:04 PM
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.
Post by: kentrek on September 22, 2019, 06:34:18 PM
Post by: RB on September 22, 2019, 06:38:12 PM
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! :twocents:
Post by: BeerBugler on September 22, 2019, 07:13:50 PM
Post by: jrebel on September 22, 2019, 07:45:34 PM
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.
:yeah: :yeah:
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.
Post by: 92xj on September 22, 2019, 08:26:53 PM
https://tundratalkak.com/episode-61-good-rams-and-bad-rain-gear/
Post by: Stein on September 22, 2019, 08:58:43 PM
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.
Post by: bkaech on September 22, 2019, 09:18:15 PM
Post by: RB on September 22, 2019, 09:22:04 PM
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.
:yeah:
Post by: jrebel on September 22, 2019, 09:22:20 PM
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.
Post by: MADMAX on September 22, 2019, 09:52:53 PM
Top and bibs
30 years old and still effective
Post by: KFhunter on September 22, 2019, 10:25:06 PM
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 :chuckle:
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 >:(
Post by: huntnnw on September 22, 2019, 10:40:07 PM
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.
Post by: KFhunter on September 22, 2019, 11:35:29 PM
Post by: huntnnw on September 23, 2019, 06:08:40 AM
Post by: Stein on September 23, 2019, 06:48:28 AM
Post by: kselkhunter on September 23, 2019, 07:04:08 AM
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.
:yeah: :yeah:
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.
:yeah: I run the cold front for November rifle season wet side. Works well in rain and snow for extended trips in the back country.
Post by: fishngamereaper on September 23, 2019, 07:53:54 AM
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...
Post by: slavenoid on September 23, 2019, 08:34:24 AM
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.
Post by: Fl0und3rz on September 23, 2019, 10:39:08 AM
Decent side zip rain pants help the lower body breathe.
Post by: ljsommer on September 23, 2019, 11:26:28 AM
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.
Post by: milldozer on September 23, 2019, 11:55:48 AM
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.
Post by: Jpmiller on September 23, 2019, 12:08:15 PM
Post by: jeffro on September 23, 2019, 12:53:52 PM
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
Post by: yakimanoob on September 25, 2019, 07:59:56 AM
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.
Post by: JimmyHoffa on September 25, 2019, 08:05:33 AM
Post by: KFhunter on September 25, 2019, 05:56:24 PM
+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 :chuckle:
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.
:yeah:
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.
Post by: Bushcraft on September 25, 2019, 06:42:41 PM
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.
Post by: KFhunter on September 25, 2019, 06:45:23 PM
Post by: dreadi on September 26, 2019, 04:34:24 AM
Post by: MtnMuley on September 26, 2019, 11:57:49 AM
Post by: savagehunter on September 28, 2019, 10:24:54 PM