I picked up a LaCrosse 'breathable' fishing jacket a few years ago for about $90 at Outdoor Emporium. It was light, cut short for float tubing, had four generous gear pockets, adjustable cuffs, an attached hood and hand warmer pockets to boot. Unfortunately, as I found out in a downpour a 4 mile hike in at an Alpine lake two years ago, there's a vast difference between 'breathable' and waterproof. Every seam on the jacket leaked and after a couple hours, I was as wet inside as out.
After a bit of comparison shopping, I bit the bullet and bought an Orvis 'No Sweat' Silver Label jacket (http://www.orvis.com/store/product_choice.asp?feature_id=2&dir_id=758&Group_ID=821&cat_id=364&subcat_id=1&pf_id=02Z8A) It's made from the same Gore-Tex material as Orvis' Silver Label waders, has an attached, fully adjustable hood, waterproof cuffs and fleece-lined hand warmer pockets. At $198, it's not cheap. But it really is waterproof and I really do stay dry inside, even in the heavy rain and 100% humidity on POW Island in Alaska last summer. I literally lived in that jacket for 6 days and praised its virtues regularly.
A couple friends from this list have bought the Cabelas Dry Plus Packable Wading Jacket for about $100, depending on size. I haven't heard any reports on how they perform during a downpour but if they live up to the rest of Cabelas legendary quality, they'd be a bargain. (I also notice from Cabelas web site this morning that the Hodgman jacket is sold out, cannot reorder.)
Bottom line, there's no free lunch when it comes to a serious waterproof rain jacket. You really do get what you pay for.
Kent Lufkin
Being that it appears the rains in Western Washington have come back to stay, what kind of rain gear would you recommend for fishing in the area. I would be wearing chest high waders of course (breatheable) but need a new jacket to go with them. I have some Goretex coats, but find I usually get as wet inside them as if I didn't wear them. I need something flexible, lightweight, and reasonable in price. I was looking at some rain gear at last years Puyallup show which appeared in texture to be similiar to the throw away type of hospital gowns. The salesman said he had been using it for years and it was completely waterproof and very durable. I forget the name of it, but came in yellow and blue. I see that Anglers Workshop in Woodland is now selling it. Anybody had any experience with this type of rain gear? Or what do you use and enjoy?
Thanks,
Roger
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