Best rain gear for Western WA Elk and Deer

[kukusya]

Helly Hanson Impertech will keep you dry no matter what.

[Magnum_Willys]

Helly Hanson Impertech will keep you dry no matter what.

Hiking Uphill too ?  Do they breathe at all ?

[renrutbocaj]

I bought the Core4Element Torrent jacket and pants to take on my Sheep hunt in 2013 with me as I was not wanting to go too cheap, but also not able to spend the kind of money that Sitka or Kuiu would have set me back. They were great for hiking, very compact, and I have used them out on the Peninsula for the past 3 years as well in sticker brush country. Would highly recommend them for the price if you are not wanting to drop 400-500 on a set. I think I paid 95 for tops and the same for the bottoms. 

[renrutbocaj]

Dropped off ready to hunt.... Im in my Core4 Torrent Jacket and Pants they held up great on a 7 day trip and for the three years since.

[ian_padron]

if youre busting brush, KUIU yukon is the ONLY choice in my opinion. Yes it is heavy (29 ounces I think) but that thing is like wearing your own personal little tent while you hunt haha. It is just as breathable as the Chugach, but far more durable. I lived in mine for a couple days during the high hunt, and was thoroughly impressed.

That being said, if you end up hunting WAY BACK or in open spaces high up, I'd opt for the Teton or Ultra NX. 

[Skyvalhunter]

But did you get an animal on the high hunt

[Tbar]

Is anyone running Sitka dewpoint? Opinions?

[ian_padron]

But did you get an animal on the high hunt

How does that affect my ability to recommend gear?

[Magnum_Willys]

Is anyone running Sitka dewpoint? Opinions?

I have the deepoint set.    Once I got the chugach I put the dewpoint away.  Dewpoint wouldnt holdup to all day wet like chugach would.   I like chugach so well I pack it always even though its 50% heavier than dewpoint (which isnt much)

[DJoakNuts]

After spending thousands of dollars on gore-Tex pro stuff and eVent stuff I have finally gone all the way around to ponchos. Waterproof AND breathable is something that only works in brief rains in desert country. Something like the Exped Pack UL Poncho and gaiters will keep you as dry as you need to be and because there is a draft it will not steam you to death.
Save your money on permaloft Gold synthetic insulation that stays warm even if it’s wet. Check out the Sitka Kelvin hoody(2019) and use Vaseline on your feet.

Also, in regard to sleeping bags, check out mountain laurel designs and get a synthetic SPIRIT QUILT 28 ° and wear your clothes and non-gore-tex boots (with fresh socks).

[Crunchy]

kuiu Yukon, rocks.

This right here!!!!

[Sliverslinger]

I’ve tried all kinds of rain gear including high end stuff, both as a hunter and when I worked in the woods. I’ll keep a Kuiu chugach set for if I’m sitting in the rain and glassing and that keeps me bone dry. For Western WA real rain when busting brush through the jack firs and hiking all day, there literally is no rain gear out there that will keep you completely dry without sweating to death- so you’re wet either way. I don’t actually mind being wet so I just wear wool to keep me thermoregulated and accept that fact that I’ll be dry once I get back to the truck and change.

[spin05]

KUIU Chugach

[nwmein199]

I’ve tried all kinds of rain gear including high end stuff, both as a hunter and when I worked in the woods. I’ll keep a Kuiu chugach set for if I’m sitting in the rain and glassing and that keeps me bone dry. For Western WA real rain when busting brush through the jack firs and hiking all day, there literally is no rain gear out there that will keep you completely dry without sweating to death- so you’re wet either way. I don’t actually mind being wet so I just wear wool to keep me thermoregulated and accept that fact that I’ll be dry once I get back to the truck and change.

 

[MtnMuley]

Thanks all. I've been looking at the Kuiu Chugach line. Expensive and a bit heavier than some of their lighter lines but double the breathability raiting of even last years Kuiu Chugach line.

I like the idea of it being a little heavier so it holds up on sticker brush. That and I can just pack a couple different weights of layering then throw the Chugach rain gear over the top and that is all I would need for an entire system.

Do any Kuiu Chugach wearers have experience wearing them on tough brushy hunts?

I would highly recommend the Kutana line over the Chugach line if you're leaning that route. Personally, I'd go Yukon if I was buying KUIU.