What's the best rain gear for the buck?
I've looked at the high end Rab gear to inexpensive Frog Toggs and cannot determine what will work the best if caught in multiple all day rain. After all, hunkering down isn't always an option.

Buy the best you can afford ! I bought a Stearn's Walleye Guide Series at Fleet Farm a couple years ago for about $150. Yea- it's bulky and a little heavy. But when it's raining it keeps me dry. Put whatever you buy in a compression bag so it packs better. And don't forget that the better rain jackets can be used as an outside shell for a windbreaker. Good luck with your selection. Izzy

Thanks.
I had a Stearns, don't know level, that I wore even during the winter. I found out the hard way the day it rained all day and failed. I had it for 5+ years so I'm not complaining.

Shop E-Bay for military surplus Gore-Tex. You'll pay substantially less for this than you will comparable rain gear from Gander Mt or Cabela's. Some people don't like the camo look, but I'm not so concerned about appearance as I am performance. If you hit the right deal you might be able to snag a parka and pants for roughly $80 or a little more. I posted a picture in the thread about the 1st week in June and you'll see two of the guys in our group are wearing the full ensemble.

I agree with Izzy that you should get the best you can afford. In my case, my selection was somewhat limited by my requirement for a tall size. If I don't get a tall, a significant portion of me is going to get wet. I found a Columbia goretex rain suit that has served me very well for 6-7 years now.

IMO, as far as pants go: Sportsmansguide-search gortex pants-the fleck camo ones with suspenders (german military. NEW. 20 bucks. Not super packable, but thin and breath well. gortex for 20. buy 2. (They are usually on backorder but they'll come.) We go early June and wear them over thin nylon or over midweight thermal lonjons when cold. Waterproof and to size.

I'm a big fan of GORE-TEX. But, for sure get the best rain gear you can afford. With rain gear, you get what you pay for with very few exceptions. I went through several cheaper and uncomfortable sets of rain gear before I came to that realization.

Buy the most expensive set you can buy. That will pretty much guarantee that you won't see any rain at all!

I like LL Bean rain gear. They offer several different types and their guarantee is great. I had a set for several years that developed a leak in one of the shoulder seams. The only question they asked is "What color do you want?" I agree with the "Buy the best you can" group. You never know when you may be living in it while canoe tripping.

frogg toggs for me. I want the light weight. They breath well too. Have kept me dry and more importantly, comfortable. One pound and under $20 on sale for their low end model. My only complaint is lack of pockets. There is another lighter frogg togg competitor with a two-layer design vs. 3 layer. DriDucks??? Not as durable.

I have other heavier, and/or more expensive tops and bottoms. I take others on other trips in a boat or car camping, or base mission bag, but the toggs are in my SAR daypack and will go with me this spring to the BW.

There are not a lot of choices for rain gear between "el cheapo" and "expensive", especially considering quality, pack weight and cost.

However, the best medium-priced, QUALITY choice that I've found is the packable nylon rain gear from Cabelas.

Cabelas packable nylon rain gear

My son and I have owned sets of these for several years and they've served us perfectly on canoeing and backpacking trips, as well as dozens of other activities.

Cost for a jacket is about $40 and the pants cost about $20. The jacket is lined but the pants are not. Still a great buy for $60.

And they come in TALL SIZES!

I have the Cabelas....good rain gear. I also ordered a back up set from Bass Pro shops, the RedHead thunderlights. They were on bigtime clearance. If you watch the big name places for sales, you can get some good name raingear at some decent prices.

I have a Stearns bib overall type rainwear Series 2 and coat.
Two Piece outfit. Better in Colder Weather as a little bulk and heavier. However, Breathable and DRY. I use if weather is colder.
My Son Dan borrowed these for The BWCA last Spring in May and wore it every day in Rain and to stay warm and he loved them both.

I also have a windbreaker type coat its a COLUMBIA XCO jacket.
Really a Great Coat, I have done a Ton of fishing in Wet weather with it, It stops the wind and really keeps ya dry and is breathable and packable. You would have to find something else for the bottoms but boy is it a great coat. I also use it in the creeks when flyfishing in the spring to keep the wind off me and dry if it sprinkels or rains. I also take it in the boat when fishing walleye, and also have had it in the gulf to keep the wind off and take the chill off. You can scrunch it down to nothing and cram it in a dry bag if ya want.
Hope that helps.
SunCatcher

Campmor is usually a good source for deals on quality raingear. I use Marmot Precip and have had good luck with it. For BWCA I would not try to save big bucks on raingear. Frogg Toggs are dry a good value.

Ditto Cowdoc on the RH Thunderlights. A good mid-grade choice imo. Espsecially on clearance.

This discussion starts and ends with Gore-Tex. The 'Mercedes of rain gear', but usually expensive.

eBay searches will provide you hundreds of choices - looks like German camo stuff is the best deal this week - jacket and pants under $100.

I like the LL Bean Gore-tex jacket - I live in it Spring and fall.

I have a set of Redhead gortex raingear and I would not leave home with out it. $125 at Bass Pro Shops

I second Jackfish

Cabela's packable nylon rain gear is perfect.
I got a nice set of their silent pro gear on ebay for cheap.

I'm in the minority; I don't feel gore-tex is all that great for the money.
IMO, when it rains in the boundary waters, it's usually always cold.
I've never had problems sweating under my nylon gear.

I bought a North Face Jacket many years now, recently got a bps bottoms worth every dime. Just gotta rewash in the Gortex every 2 years or so.

Good rain gear is a must on any fishing trip. Definitely get the best that you can afford. I use Cabela’s Guidewear rain gear bids and jacket. The Guidewear keeps me dry and warm in the worst rain. Mine is seven years old and is still in good shape, it is very durable. Kinda high priced but it small price to pay to be warm and dry all the time. All my fishing buddies wear the same stuff and all love it.

Marmot "Precip". It's not exactly cheap but it's considerably less than any of their gortex gear. I've been very pleased with mine.

frogg toggs are the best of the "disposable" rain gear. I am on my second set the first lasted 3 yrs. most cheapos don't last me one trip.

x2 on the Frogg Toggs. Inexpensive, light and waterproof. It is also not fun to rip an expensive gore tex jacket on a portage.

I love my Marmot Precip jacket. Haven't worn it in the BW yet, but it's been fantastic trekking in rain and staying dry in Chicago while others are clinging to umbrellas in the wind.

I'll third Jackfish on the Cabela's packable nylon gear. I keep one set in my motorcycle and have one for "all other" purposes. It works great and you can't beat the value.

I’ve used a jacket from Sierra Design that was breathable and packable. That piece of junk almost killed me. Once the water started coming through so did the cold. Probably the closest I’ve been to hypothermia. I’m glad I had guys with me that noticed the uncontrollable shivering.

I’ve used DriDuck’s in the past. I think they lasted about half a day before they ripped. Never again.

I also have a set of Helly Hansen PVC coated cotton raingrear. It’ll keep you dry but it’s heavy. I still pack them on my early season trips as it has earned my trust. Due to past failures, I’m hesitant to try other gear…

Hex

For those who might be interested , Fleet Farm in Germantown ,Wi. has the Stearns Walleye Guide jackets on clearance right now. The jacket and pants are 20 bucks off each. Izzy

I went with Jackfish's suggestion. Based on the backing of others and time to test it I can now focus on getting shape. Plus it is on sale now.
Thanks for all the feedback.

Ask any Alaskan commercial fisherman what they wear. You won't see Gortex on any of them just "slickers". When I asked them why - they said "If it breathes sooner or later you'll get wet." But, man that stuff is hot in mid summer. I wear good Gortex and hope it doesn't rain all day long.

My vote goes with the RedHead Thunderlight. I picked some up last summer on clearance. For $60, it was a great deal!!!