Wading jacket?

O' Clarkii Stomias said:
What specific fishing features do you need? The simplicity and Gore Tex Paclite fabric is what I like.
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I more meant, if there aren't any fishing specific features (neo cuffs, attachment points, etc), then I might as well look into buying a similar thing from Marmot or Mountain Gear or whoever for less money.

At the end of the day, it usually just ends up being whichever brand fits me best. I've learned that lesson too many times to ignore it.
 
Josh said:
I more meant, if there aren't any fishing specific features (neo cuffs, attachment points, etc), then I might as well look into buying a similar thing from Marmot or Mountain Gear or whoever for less money.

At the end of the day, it usually just ends up being whichever brand fits me best. I've learned that lesson too many times to ignore it.
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I have a Marmot Gore-Tex shell I bought on sale at REI for an Alaska trip. It leaked like a sieve the first time I got caught in real wind and rain. Probably fine for a quick, passing shower while out on a summer hike, but not up to snuff for the demands of a winter day in the PNW. Personally cannot recommend that.
 
Thinking of Gore Tex and Marmot, my first Gore Tex stuff was from Marmot Mountain Works In Grand Junction, Colorado. I scrimped all summer, and in the fall I visited their facility. Walked out of there with a Gore Tex tent, 2- Gore Tex down sleeping bags, and Gore Tex pants and jacket for under $1,000. I later added a Gore Tex down jacket. Between that stuff, HH Lifa polypropylene underwear and Patagonia original fleece top and bottoms, I was set for all 4 seasons. Camping, climbing, fishing,and skiing. It was bomber stuff. Much simpler days, and cheaper too.
 
I’ve been using a Patagonia river salt wading jacket for a few years now and love it. Good fit, functional pocket placements, stays dry.
 
Shad said:
...or something else?

I'm ready to invest in a new rain jacket, specifically for fishing. Up until now, I've used a PVC Grundens Brigg rain jacket for the real downpours. It still works pretty well, but years of heavy rain and sweating inside it have rendered it moldy and somewhat less effective at keeping me dry. Every light rain jacket I have tried gets soaked through in a couple hours in a persistent PNW rain, to where they are completely useless after just a few trips.

I'm ready to invest in a balance of reasonable comfort and solid dryness. Is there a wading jacket that costs less than $500 and works pretty well? Something completely different that works well for you?
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Patagonia SST has been great. Probably not the best choice if you never wade deep but a very good choice if you do.
 
i have had an orvis wading jacket for years, and it has held up very well. with a hat on the hood works great.
 
Shad said:
...or something else?

I'm ready to invest in a new rain jacket, specifically for fishing. Up until now, I've used a PVC Grundens Brigg rain jacket for the real downpours. It still works pretty well, but years of heavy rain and sweating inside it have rendered it moldy and somewhat less effective at keeping me dry. Every light rain jacket I have tried gets soaked through in a couple hours in a persistent PNW rain, to where they are completely useless after just a few trips.

I'm ready to invest in a balance of reasonable comfort and solid dryness. Is there a wading jacket that costs less than $500 and works pretty well? Something completely different that works well for you?
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My recommendation is a Simms guide model. It keeps me dry and I really like the hidden waterproof cuffs that don’t catch my fly line while fishing. This is my second one and mine have been extremely durable.
 
JayB said:
Patagonia SST has been great. Probably not the best choice if you never wade deep but a very good choice if you do.
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Also - Patagonia's repair/replace game is absurdly good - they will fix or replace your jacket for life, no matter how dumb the cast was that put the hole in it. Major part of my decision to invest in their Swiftcurrent jacket, which still has gasketed sleeves but is less fishing-specific and better for all-around rain wear.
 
I got a Patagonia SST about 35 years ago, still going strong. Can't beat their product quality or customer service. Their commitment to conservation (and recently PFAS-free rain gear) is a nice bonus. Spendy, but great quality and lasts forever.
 
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boltej said:
I got a Patagonia SST about 35 years ago, still going strong. Can't beat their product quality or customer service. Their commitment to conservation (and recently PFAS-free rain gear) is a nice bonus. Spendy, but great quality and lasts forever.
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How similar is the design? I'm impressed they've been making that jacket for that long!
 
I just picked up the new grundens wading jacket right before this big rain storm and it’s absolutely one of the best jackets I’ve worn for fishing and rowing
 
NWFshrman said:
I just picked up the new grundens wading jacket right before this big rain storm and it’s absolutely one of the best jackets I’ve worn for fishing and rowing
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Which model? The Gore Tex Buoy X, which I really like, is now on sale.
 
O' Clarkii Stomias said:
Thinking of Gore Tex and Marmot, my first Gore Tex stuff was from Marmot Mountain Works In Grand Junction, Colorado. I scrimped all summer, and in the fall I visited their facility. Walked out of there with a Gore Tex tent, 2- Gore Tex down sleeping bags, and Gore Tex pants and jacket for under $1,000. I later added a Gore Tex down jacket. Between that stuff, HH Lifa polypropylene underwear and Patagonia original fleece top and bottoms, I was set for all 4 seasons. Camping, climbing, fishing,and skiing. It was bomber stuff. Much simpler days, and cheaper too.
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Never heard of a gore-tex tent! Would love a GT bag though as I love sleeping on a cot outside.

I had an old school SST. Loved it. When that finally died I got a new one(about 5 years ago). It's nice and dry but the hood doesn't cover my hat brim. This means water slowly wicks up the brim to my head. If it rains all day I'll go through 3-4 hats. I'll only use it on mildly wet days now. Just a thought....
 
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My approach is a little different than most folks. Years ago I picked up a waterproof fleece jacket from Rivers West. On its own it's warm and waterproof. It does however saturate on the outside and get heavy. Not good. Since normally when the weather turns to fall and winter rains a fleece jacket for warmth under a rain jacket makes for a comfortable day - especially if the fleece is also waterproof.

The two fleece jackets I have are not made anymore or I would provide a link. A visit to their website shows they have moved more into the hunting end of the game but you may be able to find some waterproof fleece elsewhere. With this type of fleece underneath the outer layer is not so critical.

Having worked outdoors most of my life I expect to get a little wet in the rain anyway. Your standards may be higher than mine...
 
Matt B said:
Which model? The Gore Tex Buoy X, which I really like, is now on sale.
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I purchased the Portal jacket from Grundens, I really like the high collar and the option to fold and roll the hood. The cuffs are neoprene, and the wrist straps are sturdy. Plenty of big pockets for flies, sinktips and tips

grundens.com

Grundéns Portal Gore-Tex® Wading Jacket

Introducing the Smartest Wading Jacket on the Water... With nearly 100-years of hard-earned know-how, we created the perfect unity between a wading jacket and a wader with the Portal GORE-TEX Wading Jacket. ?Built to integrate over waders and to perform in cold weather, deep wading scenarios...
grundens.com grundens.com
 
My Orvis Pro is super solid, fits well, and has a bunch of great features. I think I'm going on 6ish years on that one....minus the issue below.

Yard Sale said:
It's nice and dry but the hood doesn't cover my hat brim. This means water slowly wicks up the brim to my head. If it rains all day I'll go through 3-4 hats. I'll only use it on mildly wet days now. Just a thought....
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do any rain jackets? All three rain jackets (only one fishing specific) that I own have this issue. Yeah, I have that same issue which luckily is more annoying than anything else.
 
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