Functional rain gear..

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Beetle-Kill

Minister of Fire
Sep 8, 2009
1,849
Colorado- near the Divide
July was a wet month. Really wet. Doesn't look like it will change in the near future, so...
What do you wear for work clothing when it's pouring?

No poncho's, I've destroyed two of those already. I'm looking for a set of pants/coveralls and a hooded jacket that last when actually doing work stuff.
Thanks in advance, I haven't delt with this much rain since '95 or so. Wish it would go east, they need it.
Thanks, JB
 
Look into the garb that commercial fisherman use. Tough stuff and built for the long haul. Linesman also use pretty good stuff. The good stuff ain't cheap.
 
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Military surplus Gore-Tex. The whole suit can be had for roughly $100. It's worth every penny and more...I promise.
 
for many moons I have worn the Columbia Titanium product line for bushwhacking and adventuring and it has always treated me well. I've had the Ice Dragon parka for 10+ yrs and it still sheds torrential downpour without fail. Tough like aligator skin.

Military surplus gore products are an excellent suggestion as well.

The time honored traditional use of waxed canvas would probably not be a bad option either. I have never tried oiled leather, but I'd guess its still popular among the rancher types and cattle-folk.
 
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We got over 5" of rain in July. The wettest July I can recall for many, many moons. When it rains, I go inside.
 
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Military surplus Gore-Tex. The whole suit can be had for roughly $100. It's worth every penny and more...I promise.
I'm trying to find an on-line retailer for that price, no luck so far. Any leads?
Thanks for the ideas, and Delta-T, I'd be all over the columbia gear, but I can;t afford it right now.
Dennis, I don't have a rain guage but, my wheelbarrow filled up in a 5 day span. After that I tipped it over to stop it from becoming a bird bath.
I'm in a weird location, some days the state-wide radar shows almost zero rainfall, except directly over me.
My creek is higher now than in May, ya' know, during the "melt". Go figure.
 
find any jacket/pant combo you like (at least 50% poly fabric of some kind) and just spray coat the heck out of it with waterproofing spray. the stuff does work, but cotton is not its friend. you can find windbreaker, and matching pant set at many discount places for short money. If you are savy, you can find "Memebers Only" jacket at goodwill store, waterproof it, and be the envy of the outdoorspersons you encounter.
 
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find any jacket/pant combo you like (at least 50% poly fabric of some kind) and just spray coat the heck out of it with waterproofing spray. the stuff does work, but cotton is not its friend. you can find windbreaker, and matching pant set at many discount places for short money. If you are savy, you can find "Memebers Only" jacket at goodwill store, waterproof it, and be the envy of the outdoorspersons you encounter.

Are you saying that you would only wear a waterproofed members only jacket in the woods?
 
July was a wet month. Really wet. Doesn't look like it will change in the near future, so...
What do you wear for work clothing when it's pouring?

No poncho's, I've destroyed two of those already. I'm looking for a set of pants/coveralls and a hooded jacket that last when actually doing work stuff.
Thanks in advance, I haven't delt with this much rain since '95 or so. Wish it would go east, they need it.
Thanks, JB

Worked on a golf-course, we worked rain or shine. I have some Cabela's gear I got on sale. Think it was about $200 for the jacket and pants. It's light and breathable, I hate PVC rain suits even though they keep you 100% dry. Something you can throw on over your regular clothes that sheds water via a membrane fabric like Gore-Tex will work best.
 
Are you saying that you would only wear a waterproofed members only jacket in the woods?

not "only" in the woods....sometimes in the shower, and to Walmarts too. I might just have to try to find me a classic satin jacket to waterproof, and that aint no joke....until I've done it, then it will be funny.
 
Not sure what kinda work you do and how much abuse they are going to take, but motorcycle rain gear might be an idea. It is pretty light and keeps things dry. I wouldn't want to wear it doing construction or making firewood, but for light duty stuff it might be OK. Just a thought...
 
not "only" in the woods....sometimes in the shower, and to Walmarts too. I might just have to try to find me a classic satin jacket to waterproof, and that aint no joke....until I've done it, then it will be funny.

Oh, good. I was afraid the the waterproofing would make it all splotchy or something. You know, ruin the classic good looks.

Raingear is a get-what-you-pay-for thing. Never thought about military surplus, good idea.
 
I'm trying to find an on-line retailer for that price, no luck so far. Any leads?
Thanks for the ideas, and Delta-T, I'd be all over the columbia gear, but I can;t afford it right now.
Dennis, I don't have a rain guage but, my wheelbarrow filled up in a 5 day span. After that I tipped it over to stop it from becoming a bird bath.
I'm in a weird location, some days the state-wide radar shows almost zero rainfall, except directly over me.
My creek is higher now than in May, ya' know, during the "melt". Go figure.


Sounds like you are lucky with the rain....or unlucky. Was talking to a neighbor last night and telling him we got around 5 1/2" of rain for July which is almost unheard of for our area. He reminded me that last year we got almost that much in one storm. Trouble is though, when you get it all at once you don't get all the benefits as it mostly runs off. Not so this year. Our biggest was 1.1" and the ground soaked it up really nice.
 
Helly Hansen rain gear has always worked well for me! Really only worn when fishing, but always kept me dry!
Also have a Waterproof columbia jacket that seems to work well!
 
There is no such thing as a pair of waterproof overalls that will last. They all tear very quickly, even waders.

Also, if you work outside, gortex has a reletively short lifespan.

I go with the cheapest yellow rainsuit from homedepot, and just replace them as required. I hate working in the rain, and I hate wearing raingear.
 
I'm trying to find an on-line retailer for that price, no luck so far. Any leads?
Thanks for the ideas, and Delta-T, I'd be all over the columbia gear, but I can;t afford it right now.
Dennis, I don't have a rain guage but, my wheelbarrow filled up in a 5 day span. After that I tipped it over to stop it from becoming a bird bath.
I'm in a weird location, some days the state-wide radar shows almost zero rainfall, except directly over me.
My creek is higher now than in May, ya' know, during the "melt". Go figure.


The guy I got mine from doesn't have a web page. Sorry. I checked ebay, and it looks like thats the place as far as online goes. New, Used, seperate, together....however you want it.
 
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