I've done the research on my own over the years with all the numbers and data and testing and comparing... I commend you guys for making this video available to the public. basic info, huge impact.
Out of a need to maintain a family man’s budget, I picked up some earth tone colored Mountain Hardware Stretch Ozonic rain gear on a backpacking/hiking shop clearance rack. They are extremely light with pit zips to dump heat and I have found them to perform very well.
I used my Kuiu Chugach TR Rain Pant and the jacket on a 81km hike in Tasmania, constant rain/snow and a lot of humidity as the altitude changed. Pants kept me completely dry and comfortable with just long Johns underneath even when stepping in boggy stuff up to just under the knee. The jacket did wet through after three full days of rain but I definitely could tell it was from all the brush rubbing up against the material as we were moving. Truth be told I find rain gear to be something I only bring when there’s extremely high chances of rain and a lot of it. More likely to wet via sweat in my experience
I absolutely love Steve’s unbiased opinion on gear. I have never met the guy but S&S archery has been a place I continually do business with as they all are willing to help the best they can. I am carrying the dew point next month on Alaska moose. As this is the second trip up there it’s definitely a place that you’ll find out real quick what works and what doesn’t. Good luck gentlemen.
Good info, but it would be really helpful to get into the science of how it's working. The "gore-tex" approach of allowing the smaller water vapor molecules escape and keeping liquid water from penetrating. An interesting aspect of these membranes is they DON'T allow water vapor to escape when the outside is wet and blocking the pores of the membrane. So in the rain, it's no different than wearing a plastic trash bag in terms of breathability. Another interesting thing is the original Gore-tex, being just common teflon, has gone away due to the PFAS chemicals. They now straight up copy their competitor's approach, and now only offer name recognition over other brands.
Definitely check out this podcast where we dive deep into "how" rain gear works (and fails): exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/345 The PFAS regulations are definitely causing a lot of disruption right now. It will be interesting to see where we are at in a few more years.
very wise words for sure, notice fishermen, crabbers etc are never wearing gortex because once it's wet it doesn't breath....so why not get something to 100% keep you dry? Usually the answer is a compromise between dry and weight.
End of the year!? Im just glad you included the canis set. Not a lot of info on their stuff. Wish you would have included the born primitive set 🤷♂️ but thats just me
Yes, later in the year. We want to truly test these pieces over several hunts and get several hunters to have tested experience to share. We weren't even aware that Born Primitive had rain gear, so they weren't in consideration at all.
Yeah the point of this review is to see if we can find a lightweight set of rain gear that can hold up to a week of wet Alaskan weather. I already know the Omen stuff would hold up great but it's heavy and not something I want to pack on a backpack hunt. - Steve
We haven't tested the surplus stuff. It may work well, but we could tell from handling it (once years ago), it was very bulky and quite heavy, so it wouldn't be a good option for backpack hunting.
I have thier M7 jacket as my primary rain gear for hunting here in AK and like It quite a bit. I'm sure it's not terribly light tho as a m7 gear by them has a thin poly fleece on the inside for warmth when all the vents are closed. Overall it's durable and I stay pretty dry. But I also only wear a thin merino shirt and underwear under rain gear if I'm hiking in it. So body heat drys that about as quickly as I sweat it out climbing 2k' of alder hell.
I have used the M5 in Kodiak and BC and haven’t had it leak on me yet. I don’t not have the pants though. After 2 years of using it, I would buy it again.
That would be an incomplete test, which doesn't assess durability, breathability, performance under a pack, and other factors that real hunting would replicate.
@@ExoMtnGear having grown up on the island of Kodiak, AK if a garment is your water protective layer it would seem testing how waterproof and how long for the garment to wet through would be a primary test. All your other tests would seem to also be important but secondary to the primary function of the garment. Almost without exception the less breathable the waterproof unless pit zips are included. Great video
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I've done the research on my own over the years with all the numbers and data and testing and comparing... I commend you guys for making this video available to the public. basic info, huge impact.
Appreciate that. We're looking forward to sharing more after the testing this fall.
Out of a need to maintain a family man’s budget, I picked up some earth tone colored Mountain Hardware Stretch Ozonic rain gear on a backpacking/hiking shop clearance rack. They are extremely light with pit zips to dump heat and I have found them to perform very well.
I used my Kuiu Chugach TR Rain Pant and the jacket on a 81km hike in Tasmania, constant rain/snow and a lot of humidity as the altitude changed. Pants kept me completely dry and comfortable with just long Johns underneath even when stepping in boggy stuff up to just under the knee. The jacket did wet through after three full days of rain but I definitely could tell it was from all the brush rubbing up against the material as we were moving. Truth be told I find rain gear to be something I only bring when there’s extremely high chances of rain and a lot of it. More likely to wet via sweat in my experience
I absolutely love Steve’s unbiased opinion on gear. I have never met the guy but S&S archery has been a place I continually do business with as they all are willing to help the best they can.
I am carrying the dew point next month on Alaska moose. As this is the second trip up there it’s definitely a place that you’ll find out real quick what works and what doesn’t. Good luck gentlemen.
Appreciate it!
For how much the kuiu and Sitka weigh and appear size wise, you could bring two pairs of those and swap back and forth lol
So freakin excited for the experience project y’all are doing. All of this is really good information!
Appreciate it!
Good info, but it would be really helpful to get into the science of how it's working. The "gore-tex" approach of allowing the smaller water vapor molecules escape and keeping liquid water from penetrating. An interesting aspect of these membranes is they DON'T allow water vapor to escape when the outside is wet and blocking the pores of the membrane. So in the rain, it's no different than wearing a plastic trash bag in terms of breathability. Another interesting thing is the original Gore-tex, being just common teflon, has gone away due to the PFAS chemicals. They now straight up copy their competitor's approach, and now only offer name recognition over other brands.
Definitely check out this podcast where we dive deep into "how" rain gear works (and fails): exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/345
The PFAS regulations are definitely causing a lot of disruption right now. It will be interesting to see where we are at in a few more years.
very wise words for sure, notice fishermen, crabbers etc are never wearing gortex because once it's wet it doesn't breath....so why not get something to 100% keep you dry? Usually the answer is a compromise between dry and weight.
Thank you guys for what you do to share knowledge.
You bet!
End of the year!? Im just glad you included the canis set. Not a lot of info on their stuff. Wish you would have included the born primitive set 🤷♂️ but thats just me
Yes, later in the year. We want to truly test these pieces over several hunts and get several hunters to have tested experience to share. We weren't even aware that Born Primitive had rain gear, so they weren't in consideration at all.
Have you tried the Kuiu Yukon (specifically, the new Yukon TR) rain gear? That's much more of an apples-to-apples with the Omen than the Chugach is.
Yeah the point of this review is to see if we can find a lightweight set of rain gear that can hold up to a week of wet Alaskan weather. I already know the Omen stuff would hold up great but it's heavy and not something I want to pack on a backpack hunt. - Steve
Run Mountain Hardware. Three layer Gore-Tex that stuff has saved my life before mountaineering.
@ExoMtnGear, have you looked into the Paramo brand and technology? Seems like it's working on a different method than membrane rain layers.
Looked at it, but have no hands-on experience with it yet.
How do all the "fancy" rain gear options compare to the USA military surplus rain gear? I'm certain it's heavier but does it keep you drier??
We haven't tested the surplus stuff. It may work well, but we could tell from handling it (once years ago), it was very bulky and quite heavy, so it wouldn't be a good option for backpack hunting.
Any experience with Stone Glacier M5 rain gear?
Nope, not something we have used
I have thier M7 jacket as my primary rain gear for hunting here in AK and like It quite a bit. I'm sure it's not terribly light tho as a m7 gear by them has a thin poly fleece on the inside for warmth when all the vents are closed. Overall it's durable and I stay pretty dry. But I also only wear a thin merino shirt and underwear under rain gear if I'm hiking in it. So body heat drys that about as quickly as I sweat it out climbing 2k' of alder hell.
I have used the M5 in Kodiak and BC and haven’t had it leak on me yet. I don’t not have the pants though. After 2 years of using it, I would buy it again.
Have gunnar Allen on the owner of ghost bull out of Astoria his rain gear is built different and 100% American made
My oilcloth skin gets me around the planet and then some.retreat it and get another few years without caring . Some times the old way is the best way
Testing rain gear is incredibly easy, put it on and get in the shower. Simple!
That would be an incomplete test, which doesn't assess durability, breathability, performance under a pack, and other factors that real hunting would replicate.
@@ExoMtnGear having grown up on the island of Kodiak, AK if a garment is your water protective layer it would seem testing how waterproof and how long for the garment to wet through would be a primary test. All your other tests would seem to also be important but secondary to the primary function of the garment. Almost without exception the less breathable the waterproof unless pit zips are included. Great video