Agree.  IMO..BW and Q are way too tough on high end rain gear for my budget.  I only bring my good stuff for May and Oct trips.  All other times...any cheapo suit will do.  I can't remember the last June, July, Aug, Sept trip where I've worn rain pants.  Last few years...I just toss a cheapo Stearn's pullover in my bag.

Different strokes for different folks. I baby my gore-tex set just to make sure it's in good shaped for trippin. It's tough for me to work hard and stay comfy in anything else. Besides, 2 days from the truck is no place for torn "cheapies".

bigpike,

I would highly recommend this product from Campmor. I think for the money, you get a very flexible.durable garment. I have 4 trips on the parka and am very impressed. I've paddled all day in early spring cold rains, and with a fleece pullover underneath for warmth, stayed comfortable and with the underarm zippers/pocket mesh ventilation, as dry inside as you can expect while portaging.
 The mini-rip-stop is super durable, and you can renew the DWR waterproofing easily in your washer when needed.
 Nothing is perfect but for the price, these are tough to beat IMHO
If this link doesnt work, the item is Campmor's Storm Sphere parka and rain pants (separate item)

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My take on raingear follows my philosophy on most of my gear – buy the best I can afford and take care of it, so that when the going gets tough, I can rely on the gear.  Although others have previously stated some frailties of Gore-Tex, I do not have the same concerns.  Maybe because my jacket is not an ultra-light variety.  I’ve got a 14 year old North Face 2-ply Gore-Tex shell that still holds up and keeps me dry, even after 2 summers of guiding.  Sure, there are some abraded areas on the exterior fabric, and I’ve had to apply Restore or similar to keep water beading up, but it works.  Certainly worth the investment of $200 initially and $15 every few years for water repellency.

Personally, I prefer travelling on rainy days rather than staying in camp.  We wet foot portage, and often I’m soaked from the thigh down, so rain pants do little for me.  If it’s warm out, I probably won’t don the jacket, just a wide brimmed hat, treated with some water resistant spray.  If I’m going to sweat a ton, it doesn’t make sense to try to keep the rain out.

I like the mountain style shells with reinforced shoulders & elbows, pit zips, and an extra long jacket to cover my backside while paddling.  Sleeves that close tight are good for keeping your arms dry while paddling, and I recommend buying a jacket at least 1 size larger than you think in order to fit your PFD INSIDE it.  You’d be amazed at how toasty warm a rain jacket can be with your PFD serving as insulation.  Finally, I would not buy a navy or royal blue colored shell, as mosquitoes prefer that color to others.  Might as well do everything possible to minimize the attraction, since you’re never ever going to spray this shell with DEET.

Quick picks for me are the Mountain Hardware Exposure II Parka (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)
and the North Face Mountain Light   (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) which is a newer version of my old standby.  Not really sure about other brands, but Backpacker magazine should be coming out with their annual gear review in the next month or so, and they are worth checking out.

jjcanoeguide wrote on Mar 1^st, 2010 at 5:37pm:


Same idea except I prefer to wear the PFD on the outside. Stiil get the benefit of more insulation and you can remove it easier when it's too warm. Also helps to shed water away from torso. My old goretex leaks at the seams given enough time in the rain and the PFD solves that problem. Most PFD's are easily adjusted to fit over a variety of clothes.