RAIN, pants and jacket or lightweight tarp? Unconventional thought but makes sense

[hferrin701]

I backpack hunt Colorado late august and September every year and ive committed to upgrading my rain gear for the monsoons this year. Ive been researching different gear that's light weight, kuiu is my preference but ive had an unconventional idea. Ive thought about running a backpack tarp vs jacket and pants, just sit down and cover up, wait out the storm. Last year the rains were short and inconsistent. Each time it started raining we covered up and sat under a tree, so why not a small light tarp? Cheaper, lighter, and will allow me to cover up my bow, backpack and myself. Anybody ever done this? Thoughts?

 

[JimP]

Covering up with a tarp is fine but what happens when you get back up and move around? You get wet from all the wet brush, now the tarp won't do you any good. I'd stick with good quality rain gear, it won't let you down. A light weight tarp isn't bad either. You can use it for multiple things from covering up to a clean place on the ground to butcher your elk.

 

[Tim McCoy]

If I tried just a tarp, got far enough in, I am pretty certain of what would happen, the drought would end. I'm with Jim, quality rain gear. To save weight, get it a bit big and use it as your outer layer for unexpected cold weather, and it will work for rain too.

 

[kidoggy]

I usually bring a lightweight rainsuit .takes up very little room. and I bring A TEN BY TEN piece of plastic , six mil thick or so. if it's wet at night I simply roll up inside it with my bedroll

 

[Joseph]

I carry both, the 8x10 Siltarp can provide emergency shelter when away from camp, extra vestibule for cooking while in camp, water collection, sunshade while glassing and the rain gear is just essential. Often you can't just stop and wait out the rain sometimes there's a schedule that needs to be followed. I personally believe going into the alpine even on a day hike without rain gear is risky, things can change really fast from a bluebird day to cold driving rain and I like to be ready for both. I live in British Columbia, Canada right between the Selkirk and Purcell ranges of the Canadian Rockies, all of my hunting is done in the mountains. It's amazing how fast the weather can change. You have to be ready to change with it.

 

[JimP]

I carry both, the 8x10 Siltarp can provide emergency shelter when away from camp, extra vestibule for cooking while in camp, water collection, sunshade while glassing and the rain gear is just essential. Often you can't just stop and wait out the rain sometimes there's a schedule that needs to be followed. I personally believe going into the alpine even on a day hike without rain gear is risky, things can change really fast from a bluebird day to cold driving rain and I like to be ready for both. I live in British Columbia, Canada right between the Selkirk and Purcell ranges of the Canadian Rockies, all of my hunting is done in the mountains. It's amazing how fast the weather can change. You have to be ready to change with it.

Listen to this man, he comes from rain country.

I was on a bear hunt in the Purcell Wilderness a few years ago and I lived in my rain gear. There is no way that a tarp would of kept me dry once we were away from the cabins.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

I also would go with both. Great advise have been given here.

 

[hferrin701]

You guys are convincing, maybe I'm subconsciously trying to not spend more money on gear haha, I guess ill be buying some better rain gear. Anybody have the kuiu ultra rain gear? the weight is attractive but how will it hold up walking through waist high bushes? The chugach gear might be better suited for that?

 

[Team Kabob]

My go to rain jacket is the Helly Hansen Impertech Rain Jacket. Weight is a little more then some but it's 100% water proof and it will hold up to brush. My layer below is the Kuiu Attack pants and Jacket. They do fine in light rain but for the down pours I got to my HH. I lived in Alaska and it went everywhere with me from hunting, fishing, and hiking. I have also used this jacket on my motorcycle when I got caught in a pop up shower here in Kansas. The HH guide works for what I need. I will add a tarp for the next time I do a elk hunt in New Mexico to hike in and stay the night.
http://barneyssports.com/clothing/men/rain-layer/helly-hansen-imper-guide-3-4-green.html



TK

 

[jimss]

If you end up buying a rain jacket make sure it has pitzips. If you do much hiking you will likely get wet from the inside out if you can't vent the moisture! I really like Sitka raingear. For the $ the best rain gear you can buy is Marmot Precip from Sierra Trading. You can usually get the rain jacket plus pants for around $100 if you use a 20 to 30% discount code. They aren't camo but like I said the price is outrageous for the quality! They are super light weight and packable. I use them all the time in Alaska when not hunting. If I'm hunting I'll grab my camo Sitka raingear. If I'm on a boat fishing in a downpour in Alaska I'll likely grab Helly Hanson....but not if I'm hiking!

 

[Bonecollector]

Cabalas has their space rain suits on sales now through June 19th. Well worth the investment. They are top quality/light weight & 50% of the cost of other manufactures.

 

[hferrin701]

I bought the kuiu chugach rain gear, just got it today. They really nice but i wont be able to retire until im 112 years old now, expensive stuff. Ill be thankful for it come August i guess. Thanks for everyones input

 

[Matthoek21]

I bought the kuiu chugach rain gear, just got it today. They really nice but i wont be able to retire until im 112 years old now, expensive stuff. Ill be thankful for it come August i guess. Thanks for everyones input

Lol. I just received my Yukon jacket and will be in same boat.

 

[JimP]

However you will enjoy the rain gear a lot more than sitting under a tarp while the rain is coming down.

When I purchased my Cabela's packable rain gear 5 years ago I was gagging at the cost of it but it has saved a few hunting trips from being wash outs.

 

[Horsenhike]

Cabalas has their space rain suits on sales now through June 19th. Well worth the investment. They are top quality/light weight & 50% of the cost of other manufactures.

You guys are killing me.

Good news is that I will have some company under the bridge at the homeless camp.

 

[Retterath]

I carry both, the 8x10 Siltarp can provide emergency shelter when away from camp, extra vestibule for cooking while in camp, water collection, sunshade while glassing and the rain gear is just essential. Often you can't just stop and wait out the rain sometimes there's a schedule that needs to be followed. I personally believe going into the alpine even on a day hike without rain gear is risky, things can change really fast from a bluebird day to cold driving rain and I like to be ready for both. I live in British Columbia, Canada right between the Selkirk and Purcell ranges of the Canadian Rockies, all of my hunting is done in the mountains. It's amazing how fast the weather can change. You have to be ready to change with it.

What rain gear do u use or prefer? Thanks

 

[Bughalli]

For CO in Aug and Sept you don't really need heavy duty rain gear. It's heavy, generally too warm to hike in, the storms are often shorter in duration, etc. If you get days and days of rain, like CO had a few years ago, you'll probably wait it out in the tent or hike out. Weather makes deer/elk hunker down that time of year vs get them migrating, so you won't miss much. If you were talking Oct., Nov., that's a different story. In Aug/Sept the lightweight stuff should be fine, including the ultra light stuff at Cabelas. It weighs nothing, durable enough and far more affordable. The Kuiu Chugach gear is great, but more weight than you need to carry for an Aug hunt. Great for Oct or Nov. (I'm assuming you're backpack hunting vs sitting on a horse or ate).

I'm also in favor of a tarp. High quality lightweight tarp will only weigh 7oz or so. Why not. So many different uses (rain, shade, place to put your meat down when breaking the animal down, spike camp, survival etc.) I just ordered one from Borah Gear for like $49.

 

[greentimber]

I haven't carried rain pants for several years, at least during bow season. I wear quick-drying synthetic pants and carry an ultralite rain jacket (as much as a windblock as anything) and an ultralite tarp, just like your original post. I hate rain pants tremendously. If it's that bad I'm going to be under shelter anyway. The areas I hunt in WY and CO aren't thick enough that leaf moisture from walking through the bushes is an issue.

 

[Theist]

Space rain in light warm season and kuiu Yukon in the cold season. They will save ur life if u want to keep out and you are exposed. Otherwise a thin garbage sack and a tree will do fine. Lol


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[Slugz]

Interesting to hear the different perspectives.......we make this decision based upon the style of hunting/sleeping quarters. If I'm day hunting out of the wall tent I carry nothing, usually hunt wet and or duck under a tree if needed. A few weeks into the season when we have a spike camp set up 6-8 miles aways from base camp I will have the lightweight rain gear in my pack.