Rain gear / stalking clothes

[norma 308]

No decent wet weather gear mate !

 

[marrajack]

Cheers guys. Have to say I’m really surprised by how much paramo has cropped up. I’ve never heard of them so that’s been really helpful and the whole point of asking these questions.

Marrajack, do you find the cuffs different on the kutana? That seems to be their more popular jacket. Think the lightweight is what a lot of the Americans go for. Would you say it’s better than the Yukon? Good all seasons?

The Yukon is a really robust waterproof
The Hybrid I have is not waterproof but is proofed in strategic areas (will check name to be 100%) only had it few months so wouldn’t like to endorse too much yet. That said Pedro Ampuro reckons that it’s a top jacket
I really rate Kuiu stuff - but like most of that type Sitka etc. It’s meant to worn as part of a layer - despite the hype as one of the guys on here has said it will work with any good merino and half decent fleece

That said for me the most wear of all my hunting - trekking kit is Peleton 240 as a jacket and a mid layer I love it. Not waterproof but versatile as an egg

Enjoy your search

 

[marrajack]

Apologies Axis Hybrid not Kutana I have
Sorry for mix up

 

[Jax]

Cheers guys, really helpful!

The paramo halcon seems to have come up a lot. Will look into it but if it’s anything to do with packham that’s a no.

I have heard the Yukon/kuiu stuff can wick up the sleeves to the elbows so interesting to hear that confirmed here..

little surprised none of the other names have come up like ridgeline ect. Some of the ridgeline stuff seems pretty popular but at about half the price of some of the other names mentioned on here maybe that says why?

Always found ridgeline to be highseat only clothing. Too sweaty and noisy for my liking. the stuff I tried was at the time was anyway

 

[SussexSteve]

the holy grail I cant find any warm breathable waterproof coat that keeps me dry in heavy rain. Best ive found so far is a Arktis rain shield over a waterproof jacket.

 

[the scudd]

Have a look at bergans

 

[Shytalk]

the holy grail I cant find any warm breathable waterproof coat that keeps me dry in heavy rain. Best ive found so far is a Arktis rain shield over a waterproof jacket.

Good shout. The Arktis>Country Covers>Fortis Rainshields are great for the cost/weight. Sweaty on their own at times. We had some bespoke rainshield jackets made with both chest (zip) and slightly different lower pockets. Sold well.

 

[sako85708]

It never ceases to amaze me how much we are prepared to spend on our hobbies, I stalk, carp fish and shoot pheasants and who ever supplies me with all my needs and "wants" must make a bloody good living looking at the mark up on my toys !!. Anyway back to hunting jackets, I must have over 12 jackets from many of the top names and all have their faults. Considering the price I've paid for some it does seem a bit of a joke, even worst when they are in the sales for less than 50% a few months later !! The latest coat for me has been the Deerhunter Avanti smock with added underarm vents ( wife's handy with a needle ) I know not the best in the world but it's got the right pockets, fairly waterproof and light . At £29.99 in the sales you can't go wrong ,I brought 3 !!

 

[Dawnrazor]

Now that is a telling review,
what would you buy if money was no object ( it is but ) ?

I use Berghaus Cornice jackets, if you look about you can get then for about 180 quid, I still think Goretex is the best membrane, I'd like to try a Norrona Recon but I csn get 3 or 4 Berghaus for the same money!!!!
I know a few keepers who still like a Paramo but it's only a couple now, all the rest haven't had them for years now.
I'd also like to try a Firstlite.
I've tried just about every make, design and membrane under the sun over the years!!!!!
Still looking for the perfect one, Berghaus have come closest.

 

[Dawnrazor]

So the rifle sling or a rucksack strap would possibly drive water through it too?

It will, so will wearing a gamebag. I always get wet in one, if it's showery with light breezes they are ok, but i heavier rain with a stronger wind, the outer layer is pressed/blown onto the inner layer and the water ****es in. There's nothing worse than standing waiting to start a drive on a wet windy day and feel the water come through the hood and down your neck and your elbows leaking and the water come down your arms.

 

[Antonyweeks]

I have two Fjallraven jackets: a numbers thing (I think it's called Jacket 68) which I've waxed/sort of rain proofed and that's great for most stalking outings I've been on. The material is super tough, there are a good few pockets and it's very comfortable to wear for a long time. Puts up with brambles, errant tree trunks, the odd rain shower and most other things well. However, in a downpour it leaks like a sieve. If it's going to be a wet day I use a Fjallraven Lappland Eco-shell jacket I bought off a bloke on here and that is simply fantastic. Water and wind proof. Just come back from hiking some of the South West Coast path and it was excellent for that too. It's a light shell jacket so I usually have a couple of layers of woollen things underneath to keep toasty. The Lappland Eco Shell is their hunting version of the Keb Eco-Shell jacket they sell to regular folks. The hunting version is miles better - really good pockets. I'm a bit of a Fjallraven brand whore tbh though...

 

[pips]

It’s a quest. I’ve learnt that you can never find everything you want in just one jacket, especially when it comes to stalking/intense use or duration in really adverse conditions. Pointless exercise. I’ve spent and no doubt wasted a shed load of my own money, time and effort in trying. Cheaper stuff can be good enough, but it’s cheap for a reason - as the old saying goes ‘The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten’. The buyer accepts this and just gets on with it.

I’ve got to the stage where I’ve had (and commercially sold): Paramo, Fortis, Stoney Creek, Musto, Sasta, Swedteam and bits of other stuff like Harkila, Beretta, Schoffel. All good and in reality all have their own strengths and weaknesses.

I use my own kit hard. No excuse, it’s what it’s for. Don’t get me wrong, it’s kept clean/proofed and repaired when needed to squeeze a few extra £ worth of use out of stuff. The backdrop of buying enough of the mainstream stuff out there - has led me to get to the stage where I have some scarily expensive jackets and mid layers that I use for stalking, extensive range work and almost always in bleak conditions for a fair amount of the year. Perk of living and shooting in MAMOBA (Miles And Miles Of Bugger All).

I don’t really use any of the brands I used to sell. My choice and in some part due to the mighty retail cost. I use a lot of Arcteryx kit that they sell in more applicable neutral/field appropriate colours (Alpha Gen 2, Beta Hybrid, Zeta AR and mid Atom AR/SV). It’s not silent, but not a lot of really good waterproof stuff is. That said, I got a Taiga CPA08 from Sweden and this is probably one of the best/quietest and most functional outer’s that I have. I have a Kuiu Kutana Storm Shell that I’m using hard. To be fair at nearly half the cost of the stuff noted above, it’s holding its own and not a ‘boil in the bag’ product.

Waterproof trousers ’wise bin the quest. Buy the Carinthia Gore-tex TRG offering. Rare, but you can find them in green/grey. MTP or black they appear for sale brand new often enough in online auctions.

Are the goretex Carinthia trousers not noisy?