Guys, I'm looking for a good jacket/shell to wear over my fleece layers. No camo, I want durable 3 ply Gore-Tex or Gore-Tex type fabric in some type of earthy tone. Pit zips are a must. Anyone have a recomendation? Thanks.

Chuck,

I have the ArcTeryx shell. Thick, solid Gore-Tex with pit zips. GREAT shell.

However, its noisier. I use it for hunting all the time and don't worry about it because I hunt on the plains.

For hunting in the woods I'd like the same shell with a quiet outer fabric, don't know what its called.

Best of luck.

I also have Arcteryx. Beta AR Jacket & Beta AR pant.
They are very well designed and constructed, as a result they fit very well and articulate very well.
Arcteryx are the pioneers of advanced design&construction shell wear. Though other companies have copied their techniques to produce some very good products also.
Look up just about any product here: http://www.trailspace.com/gear/brands/

A solution to the noise is to take some other jacket of a less noisy material on top of the gore tex one. When I was in the infantry it was pretty common to take the regular BDU on top og some thin goretex layer. We had a set of gore tex uniform but they were too moisy and it was hard to work with barb wire or sharp things while wearing it, most gore tex jackets are way weaker than the average military uniform. wearing the regular uniform on top made you quiet and still you had protection againg rthe rain.

Waterproof/breathable is a bit of an oxymoron. I haven't found anything that will do both well. If it's "breathable" and its pouring you are going to get wet. If it's "waterproof" and its hot or you're hiking and working you are going to sweat.

Well I would say that if it is hoat and you are hiking you are porbably not weraing a waterproof Jacket. I agree with you, if it is raining and you are doing some kind of physical work the choice is between getting wet with rain or with sweat. I was wondering which clothingbrands you can find in the US or Canada that are specifically designed for hunters. I have just noticed that most brands here in Denmark are scandinavian.

If you are looking for rainwear, I would say that most hunters who are in areas where rain can be very heavy (read Alaska) would probably recommend Helly Hansen Impertech. It's light and moves well with you and keeps you dry. It is not "breathable" however. You can get it online through Barneys Sports Chalet in Anchorage.

Hi Chuck, not to be bias but I think this stuff is the best in the world, made/designed by a hunter for hunters, for the shittest weather mother nature can throw at you, its what you're looking for.
www.swazi.co.nz

Regards Runas

Chuck, here is the Swazi stuff I wore on a goat hunt in SE Alaska. It worked great, but the guides were in Impratech (HH).
Don

Thanks for the back up DonB
It is great stuff, heres my Thar Anorack in green, on a VERY shit westcoast day, Ive posted pic before, but Id just carried Two 70 lb pigs and shortly after, this deer, this jacket was SOAKING WET with water and blood and my base layer which was a cotton T shirt didnt get one drop of either on it.



Cant say any more about the stuff, great company too!! Before my Africa trip they made me a Jacket which I didnt want the pocket on, so when I got the jacket in the post I had a bennie hat in there with it with a note attached saying"to make up for the material we DID'NT use on the jacket. Regards Swazi Team"

What more can I say!

Regards Runas.

Thanks a bunch guys.

Chuck