I got a boat based bear hunt planned for mid-May and the outfitter says I need some “GOOD†hip waders and 3/4 length rain coat. Being from the Alabama, with a 10-week deer season we normally don’t hunt in the rain, and I don’t have either. Well I do have a suite, jacket and pants, of Cabelas MT050 rain gear that folds into its own pocket, that I’ve had a couple of years but never really used and don’t know how “GOOD†it is. I’ve been giving this a lot of thought and the last thing I want is to be cold and wet for 10 days so in doing some research on rain gear I ran across Swazi rain gear, Tahr Anorak, http://www.swazi.co.nz/ ,
the stuff is pricey, but if it’ll keep me warm and dry then it would be worth it. So anyone had any experience with the Swazi rain gear? Will the Cabelas MT050 gear work just as well?

BTW now matter which rain gear I wear, my plans are to wear a thermal base layer that wicks followed by Cabelas Micro Fleece. I’ve been wearing the micro fleece this past year and LOVE this stuff!

I have never been to Alaska, But I have worn Helly Hansen rain gear for quite sometime. A friend of mine suggested this brand years ago. He was from Alaska, and gave me good advice.

see my response to your question at 24hourcampfire

A pair of LaCrosse Big Chief insulated hippers and the HH Impertech will work if you have to go inland after a bear but if your hunting shoreline, take a look at the Grundens rain gear, GUARANTEED to keep you dry. The Grunden's is what the commercial and charter boat fisherman use up here and that stuff is awesome for using on a boat, but I wouldn't wear it if I had to hike.

quote:

Originally posted by mark65x55:
I got a boat based bear hunt planned for mid-May and the outfitter says I need some “GOOD†hip waders and 3/4 length rain coat. Being from the Alabama, with a 10-week deer season we normally don’t hunt in the rain, and I don’t have either. Well I do have a suite, jacket and pants, of Cabelas MT050 rain gear that folds into its own pocket, that I’ve had a couple of years but never really used and don’t know how “GOOD†it is. I’ve been giving this a lot of thought and the last thing I want is to be cold and wet for 10 days so in doing some research on rain gear I ran across Swazi rain gear, Tahr Anorak, http://www.swazi.co.nz/ ,
the stuff is pricey, but if it’ll keep me warm and dry then it would be worth it. So anyone had any experience with the Swazi rain gear? Will the Cabelas MT050 gear work just as well?

BTW now matter which rain gear I wear, my plans are to wear a thermal base layer that wicks followed by Cabelas Micro Fleece. I’ve been wearing the micro fleece this past year and LOVE this stuff!

I have used the Swazi Wapiti for a few years and find it a wonder. Last Nov. I was fishing in BC and it rained over 4 inches in 8 hours. Temperature around 50F.

I had a Swazi micro fleece T-shirt, a Swazi PH shirt and the Wapiti. At the end of the day I was only damp, probably from sweating.

I like the Wapiti over the Tahr as it is much easier to remove and to open for venting. Plus it has more pockets.

The rubber coats cause you to sweat as much from the inside as the the rain falling outside.

I getting a Wapiti coat before duck shooting sarts here this season.

Dave Hughes that owns Swazi hunts Alaska quite a bit and has hunted most of New Zealand,i'm sure Swazi gear would work anywhere on the planet.

Swazi Davey tries out his stuff before he puts it in his line.

Davey has hunted with me two times and has 86's at least one prototype that I remember.

His gear is very good.

I wear the bib pants every day as hunting pants. I put more use on them in a season that most hunters will put on them in years. They're tough and work.

I was on a boat hunt in October this year. I had the same Cabelas MT-50. It worked ok; I used the jacket, Lacrosse hip boots and cheap rain pants that I cut off just above the knee (The bottom is irrelevant with hip boots). The biggest problem is hands. You will Definately want rubber gloves with fleece liners. (Guide says: If it ain't rubber , it ain't waterproof) Here is where the rub is. The MT-50 jacket does not have a cuff, it is a stretch velcro closure. This did not work well. The Guide had a Swazi Wapiti and was a lot happier than I was. When I go again (didn't get a bear this time) I will definately use a similar setup. Happy to talk live if you want more thoughts

I don't see how you could do better than the Helly Hansen Impertech for $70. I used it this past September in Alaska and loved it. Teamed with some Lacrosse hippers, you'll do fine.



Look Mom, no camo!



Whew, it's a long way up this hill!

Thanks! After giving it some thought thats what I decided also. I order the Helly Hansen Impertech this week and a little brown truck dropped it off last night.

Be sure and get ankle fit hip boots. You can walk in them all day and not get blisters, if they fit.

I've been using a swazi anorak for a few years and have also spent time in Alaskan bush. I highly recommend you spend the money and buy a swazi anorak. it will serve your needs well. For the price of a bear hunt, you can afford to spend some money on a quality rain coat.

quote:

Originally posted by bradhe:
I was on a boat hunt in October this year. (Guide says: If it ain't rubber , it ain't waterproof) Here is where the rub is. The MT-50 jacket does not have a cuff, it is a stretch velcro closure. This did not work well. The Guide had a Swazi Wapiti and was a lot happier than I was. When I go again (didn't get a bear this time) I will definately use a similar setup. Happy to talk live if you want more thoughts

The guide is spot on about rubber, but, the Swazi is a multi-layered Windstopper/Gore-Tex laminate. For gear I need to stuff in a pack and deploy often in the field over weeks at a time; I find that the multi-layer laminates often delaminate in spots and the membranes clog from the outside by grime soaked through from days of exposure and from inside by salts from body prespiration. In the long run, you pay $300 - $400 bucks for something that is now no more than a windbreaker. HH Impertech, as one example, is not as tough as briar proof 14.5oz waxed canvas but it is dirt cheap, semi-flexible, field repairable and closer to your guides rubber advice.

GVA

Patagonia is also good stuff,kept me dry in AK and many other places,,I hate cheap raingear

quote:

Originally posted by GaryVA:
[The guide is spot on about rubber, but, the Swazi is a multi-layered Windstopper/Gore-Tex laminate. For gear I need to stuff in a pack and deploy often in the field over weeks at a time; I find that the multi-layer laminates often delaminate in spots and the membranes clog from the outside by grime soaked through from days of exposure and from inside by salts from body prespiration. In the long run, you pay $300 - $400 bucks for something that is now no more than a windbreaker. HH Impertech, as one example, is not as tough as briar proof 14.5oz waxed canvas but it is dirt cheap, semi-flexible, field repairable and closer to your guides rubber advice.

GVA

So I take it you like the HH better for this type hunting???

Yes.

Redlander above has a good combination that works well, is fairly durable, not difficult to repair and not expensive to replace. It is not perfect for every situation, but nothing is. I myself do most of my hunting out of a pack for 3-5 days at a time minimum and often are 3-4 weeks long in duration every single year. In addition, I work outside for my 40 hours a week. All of my issued gear is the same multi-layered Windstooper/Gore-Tex laminates no different than used by Swazi or any other big name. My subjective opinion on the laminates is based on my personal experience using it professionally for 13 years and using the "rubber" style technology professionally for 20 years.

Like women, cars and food, we all have our own individual tastes.

GVA

People are going to think this odd but I have gone to 2 layers of ranigear........The gore tex type stuff or even better the soft shell tecnology. and the impertec / commercial stuff for when it gets really raining or when in the skiff. or on the 4 wheeler.... I use the Grunden,s pull over alot nowadays......The problem with all raingear is it is noisey, and some of it is stiff.....My current favorite is Mountain Hardware , the soft shell tecnology.. . When its cold and wet I wear the jacket as a shirt tucked in to my trousers and under my suspenders.. But on top of other shirts... I,ve got a fair amount of experience out doors in Alaska and the older I get the more I think Ben Lily had the right idea with wearing 7 wool shirts at a time......Tho now I wear polar tec shirts....You can always take some off .. But if you don,t have it , things stop being fun fast...I prefer to work and hunt when ever possible without gloves , and most of my shirts I buck the sleeves off just below the elbows ....The micro tec , Cabela,s stuff is good ,,But I now prefer the polar tec stuff better....My biggest problem with hip boots is my 27 " thies don,t fit in them too well, and they arn,t that great for clambering around in southeast.... Bring plenty of comfortable synthetic long johns ...Doubling up on them usually really increases the comfort factor ....