Wet Weather Gear

Hope you continue on your climb back to "feelin' right".

I have two suggestions:

Stay away from wet-weather riding gear. My opinion is that it's sometimes pricey and really isn't made for range of motion or longevity. How many times does a scooter rider run into saw-briars?

Listen to surveyors from the Amazon or the Pacific Northwest that deal with rain on a regular basis.

Get to feeling better and hug every one of those kids twice today.

I frequently work in the rain and rarely wear rain gear. Goertex is proably the best, as it's breathable; but you will still sweat and get wet any way. I pack dry clothes and change for a dry ride home, most of the time.

It really isn't that bad, working in the rain; as long as it's not windy and/or cold. Just dress in layers if it is and you should be fine.

Never push yourself; if it doesn't feel right it probably isn't. Tomorrow will be a better day. The cold will take it's toll on you, if you're not ready for it and the wind WILL blow down trees.

Like Mr. Cash said;
> Get to feeling better and hug every one of those kids twice today.

glad your feeling better and give them young ones a big hug, every chance you get.

Dugger

I have used drovers coats for years, heavy waxed and oiled canvas and can be rolled up in a small cylinder when dry and thrown behind the seat of my pickup. It is like wearing a tent and the lower skirts have straps to snap around your legs to keep them close in the wind. They allow for free movements for your arms and shoulders because they were made for riding a horse and built in tucks to allow for free movement. They also have a cape over the shoulders which provides more protection without binding, if you get them over size you can wear heaver cold weather gear under them if needed and they do not collect moisture under the coat from natural sweating. My original intent when I bought my first was as a wind breaker, the area I live in has some high long lasting winds in the spring, worked great for that and it was months before I got the first one wet even though I wore it often all day out in the field. Needed to be careful going through or over barb wire fences but that really wasn't a problem and I haven't torn one yet. Wife also has on, she runs the gun and is usually with me in the field so her coat is not a fashion statement. Many will discourage you from trying these coats, so check them out and make up your own mind. About every 3 or 4 years I have retreated ours with a manufactures blend of wax and oils to recreate the original water proofing. Those coats were bought by many years ago to be a fashion statement and to be cool, since that phase has passed, those coats are a little harder to find but the ones you do find, are the real thing and not a cheap copy. Keep up the improvements. Good luck with finding the right gear.
jud

For me, there is being in wet and rain and maintaining dry and then there is actually working in the rain.

When I am getting out there to get somewhere and don't want to get wet it is rubber boots and water resistant cover with a hood.

Working out in the rain is different. Well oiled boots or rubber boots depending upon the ground surface and starched military fatigues.

You are going to get wet, so wear clothes that don't hold a lot of water.

Adjust the inner layer for the temperature, cotton for warmer and wool blend for colder.

Very cold wet winter wear means Carhart coveralls or overalls/jacket and thinsulate on the inside.

Boonie hat works all year round in the rain.

B-)

Hey Nate,

If you don't find anything you like in the other posts try Grundens

www.grundens.com

You can find them at my favorite toy store in Maine.

www.hamiltonmarine.com

Thanks Floyd. That looks good. A LONG trench coat Grundens would fit the bill!

N

Gore-Tex, pants and coat. I like those made by Columbia Sportswear. Only they don't call it Gore-Tex. Spend more on the pants than the coat. It's the pants that really make the difference. Expect to spend $300, or more, on the set. As for hat, I usually use a hard hat for rain.

I had an oil skin coat once. Very heavy. Needed to be re-oiled frequently.

Off Shore: Ultimate Cruiser Hi-Fit Bibs and Men's Falcon Jacket

http://www.westmarine.com/foul-weather-gear/henri-lloyd

mine are 20 years old and I am dry...

Another product to check out is Camp Dry. It's a water proofing spray. I spray it on my carhart jacket and pants at the beginning of winter. It doesn't make you water proof, but it helps in a light rain.

For rain gear I usually go with Grundens.

Not sure where you work. I live in the real WA, and I highly recommend the Outdoor Research Rain Sombrero.

The thing I fight with is that all my coats never survived a tangle with blackberries. So, I hate buying them, and I too just get wet.

But, very high end Gortex is amazing stuff. I recommend pit zips and vents. It sucks getting wet from the inside.

Fwiw my avatar pic is a Carhart breathable rain jacket, it was waterproof for about two months, and cost about $100 at the time. If you only get in and out of a truck, it would be fine, but not for standing in rain for 8 hours.

I think that goretex is hyped for what it is and is also a bit delicate given the price. If you want something tech and lightweight just get impregnated nylon, if you are concerned about ventilation get something with pit zips.

I have some Filson brand wax impregnated canvass clothing which the call "tin", it is a pretty classy product but is heavy and really constricting. While I have owned the bibs for over ten years and they have repaired them for free many times the price is high.

I recommend Grundens Herkules pants

http://www.grundens.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=vmj_ritz.tpl&product_id=272&category_id=18&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=80

A jacket that is pretty personal due to appearance and whether or not you want hi vis etc. Either a heavy pvc product like Grundens or a light nylon shell similar to this OR jacket

http://www.outdoorresearch.com/en/catalog/product/view/id/41042/category/2208/

I think that you are on the right track to get a hat instead of a hood, I wear a hardhat for a lot of my work but never a hood, they restrict peripheral vision too much which is a safety concern for me.

In SE Alaska, where it rains pretty much all the time, there's really only one way to go if your going to be in the wet all day. Helly Hansen or Grundens rain bibs. The bibs are great when your wading through wet brush and high grass and are totally water proof and very resistant to abrasion. The only problem with a rain jacket and anything 100% water proof is it keeps the sweat in so I tend to get wet from the inside out, so for a rain jacket, something goretex is my preference.

Frogg Toggs suck. They spontaneously shred at the first contact with brush.

Glad to hear you're getting back your power. Enjoy your posts.

Cheers! Willy out.

> I think that goretex is hyped for what it is and is also a bit delicate given the price. If you want something tech and lightweight just get impregnated nylon, if you are concerned about ventilation get something with pit zips.
>

Here in the western Pacific NorthWET, like SE AK, it is wet from October to July. Good rain gear is a must. Goretex is membrane attached the back of the outer layer so it is critical to get a heavy duty outer layer with a light inner liner layer for work in the field. As Mark noted, Columbia makes some great stuff. I've used the same rain gear for years but it was not cheap.

I second willi, helly hanson bib pants, a goretex jacket and a brimmed rain hat
I also enjoy Marmot's proprietary fabric in their rain gear, pretty affordable (considering).

I'll third that, AK

Not from SE, but born and raised in Kodiak, Helly Hansen or Grundens. Anything else is a waste of money. Of course, now that AK is the new "banana belt", flip flops and a speedo will probably do the trick! (no photos please@)

-JD-