Thread: Rain jacket info/recommendation

Looking at jackets at HnF as I’ve got $400 on a voucher to spend there. Would be nice to have something I can throw hood up and not get soaked when it rains. What’s the draw card of an odyssey vs halo/stow it for example? Like the size of the halo when packed. Would only be north island hunting and options I’m looking at are halo/stow it $120ish, HE storm $200 then HE odyssey at $400. Didn’t like fit and feel of other options.

Any relevant info would be appreciated.

I've got the halo. Great rain jacket but would be noisy trying to stalk in it pushing through any brush.

I have both and recommend both but I use them for different situations.

The halo is a great light weight pacakble jacket that i use in warmer months or when I know it's going to be dryish. Basically it stays in the pack and gets taken on and off only when needed but will still work if the weather turns nasty.

The odyssey I use for colder wet trips when I know I'm going to be wearing it all the time. The extra thickness helps with warmth, its longer to keep your shorts dry and tackle warm. Great pockets to keep you bits and peices close to hand.

If your starting out get the halo and spend the rest on a good merino base layer and mid layer. The 3 combined will get through most situations.

I was in a Macpac store, looking for a good raincoat. I selected one, asked the shop assistant " How rainproof is it?" He replied "Define rainproof" (good man!). I replied, "I'm tramping in heavy rain for 4 hours". He said "No, don't take that one, try this one. There are different degrees of rainproofing in raincoats/parka". I paid $400, it's the best waterproof coat I've had in 50 years. It's long, so keeps your shorts dry.

Entry level packable jackets (<$249) like the Stoney Creek Stowit and Hunters Element Halo are lighter, and ideal for hunting where there might be the chance of light, intermittent rain. Perfect for the bottom of the pack for safety also. But they will have a much lower hydrostatic head (a term for how long they will take to get soaked through). Working through wet bush they will soak through during a day.

Mid-range, As you move up in price points the materials that Swazi (Aegis) and in some mountaineering jackets like Pertex help with water resistance and waterpoofness. You'll start to see goretex in brands like Arteryx. Perfect for tops trips as they offer better performance, provided the forecasts are good.But light fabrics aren't as robust in the thick.

Higher end jackets that have goretex will be much more waterproof and breatheable. But, generally much heavier. Often they will have pit-zips under the arms to help regulate body heat. There is a real need to balance body heat with breathe ability, as too little breathe ability and you will sweat. If you are going to hunt in wet conditions, then a quality higher end jacket can be a life saver.

If you want complete waterproofness, then your traditional heavy rubber rain jackets will give you this, but are bulky and not breatheable. Some guys will hunt in the bush in these (they are pretty robust) in the wet, and have great results.

So, think about what type of hunting you are going to do. If you are hunting in bush, then get used to being wet. As if you use a rain jacket it will eventually get puncture holes in it from bush bashing, now matter how expensive (don't believe the marketers). Zips get wet, pockets are generally not waterproof, seams wear out. That's why an entry level jacket that is packable might be a good option, or use wool instead (stays warm when wet). I've got a Swazi Rifleman 2 which has their Aegis finish, which is lightweight, packable, quality construction. I try my best not to bush bash with it, but accept I'll need to replace it with wear.

Over 40+ years of working/hunting outdoors I’ve used various wet weather gear and haven’t found one yet in which you don’t get wet internally to some degree over the course of an 8-10 hour day. These days I mainly use Skellerup Aquatec/Dairytec? rain gear. Packs reasonably small, stretchy, reasonably comfortable and is actually waterproof. If bush stalking, which is most of my hunting, I wear an old polar fleece top over jacket to stop noise. Works for me.

Stoney creek have just released some new jackets I think, they look pretty good!

Originally Posted by woods223

Over 40+ years of working/hunting outdoors I’ve used various wet weather gear and haven’t found one yet in which you don’t get wet internally to some degree over the course of an 8-10 hour day. These days I mainly use Skellerup Aquatec/Dairytec? rain gear. Packs reasonably small, stretchy, reasonably comfortable and is actually waterproof. If bush stalking, which is most of my hunting, I wear an old polar fleece top over jacket to stop noise. Works for me.

On a long enough timeline, mother nature always wins

I pretty much give up on staying dry when bush h7nting in the rain,I wear a merino t shirt with under armour long sleeve top underneath and a tahr anorak over top of everything,have spare merino and thermals for camp and sleeping,wear the wet gear next day.

I bought the Halo on the basis of forum recommendations and after realising my mid-range Kathmandu jacket was as waterproof as a tea bag. Haven't tested it in a really heavy downpour, but seems to do the job in light showers. H&F occasionally have the "Tussock" colour on sale.

If it's warm, raining and you're on the move, you're going to get wet with any waterproof, either with rain or sweat.

On a day hunt, my main reason for using a waterproof is a barrier against windchill and staying dry when pushing through wet foliage.

Originally Posted by The bomb

I pretty much give up on staying dry when bush h7nting in the rain,I wear a merino t shirt with under armour long sleeve top underneath and a tahr anorak over top of everything,have spare merino and thermals for camp and sleeping,wear the wet gear next day.

Yep same- if it's raining-I Strip to merino under whatever coat- still become wet but much more comfy with merino on the move.

I recently got the HE Storm, which I think is the full-zip version of the Halo (or close enough?). The heavens opened and I was still reasonably dry. Happy so far, but only one fully wet event to test it in so far. I also have the stowit which I thought is perhaps a little stiffer/noisier fabric. The Stowit is a bit too short for my preference.

My last work place bought us Stowits but they wetted out quite quickly which so far my Halo has not done

Farm owners here kitted everyone out with Cactus gears and I'm pretty impressed so far, haven't had a lot of rain since getting it but I wear it everyday towing K-lines around for 3 hours so get soaked and sometimes it's bloody warm to be wearing a jacket but it breathes well and always nice and dry underneath

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Farm owners here kitted everyone out with Cactus gears and I'm pretty impressed so far, haven't had a lot of rain since getting it but I wear it everyday towing K-lines around for 3 hours so get soaked and sometimes it's bloody warm to be wearing a jacket but it breathes well and always nice and dry underneath
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And they last so well, Mines, on its 3rd year of farming abuse and still keeps me dry as, no other coat has done that.

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