Chester County Bass Masters

So one of the big things I am hoping Santa brings me this year is a Raingear set (parka and bibs/pants).

I was curious if any of you have strong feelings for one of the big guys' (BPS or Cabelas) gear or know of something else to look into...Santa needs details for such purchases!

Thanks!

i wear a columbia bib from french creek outfitters. $99 and works pretty good. for a jacket i wear light columbia waterproof jacket. keeps me dry.

A must have for cold and rainy days on the water.... BPS 100 MPH Gore Tex.


It kept me very warm on Marsh Creek last Thursday
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/shillins24/018.jpg

and

Very warm and Dry in the Rips for the past 4 days
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/shillins24/030.jpg

damn shillins, nice rock fish.  where was that?

dan,
chalk one up for the basspro stuff pictured above.  i've also heard good things about the cabelas guidewear.

my burton snowboard bibs and northface jacket keep me dry-ish.

 I've been using my Cabela's Guidewear rain suit (jacket & bibs) for 12 years and it still keeps me dry. The outer material needs reconditioned now and then, it gets a little heavy when the outer shell starts holding water but the Gore-Tex still keeps me dry. I've heard good things about the BPS rain gear but I don't have any personal experience with it. You might want to go check both of them out in person and see if you like one better then the other.

If you want to stay dry cheaply, the Frog Toggs are good and the pro angler suit is on sale right now at Cabelas:  http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?type=product&cmCat=Related_IPL_922933&id=0000244922598a (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?type=product&cmCat=Related_IPL_922933&id=0000244922598a)

I have the jacket and pants and water does not penetrate at all.  The material does wear though in the pants seat after a while.  It's all fuzzy and you can just pull it off but I guess sooner or later it will be too thin to work.

I also have a set of Cabelas Dry Plus rainwear.  It also keeps me very dry and it packs up in a couple of little carry bags in not much space. 
Jacket and Pants: http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?cmView=full&type=pod&id=0031185 (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?cmView=full&type=pod&id=0031185)

Neither is insulated, but you can always wear stuff underneath.  They double as great wind breakers too.

Cabela's Guidewear.  Have their Goretex pants, a lightweight Goretex hooded jacket, and another Goretex/Thinsulate jacket without the hood.  Their guidewear is quality raingear.  I HAVE NOT owned Frog Togs but know several who have and they have all switched to Goretex.   I personally would not recommend Frog Togs - as from what I heard they don't hold up well and the seams leak after a year or two.  Cabela's also has their own "goretex" fabric in a cheaper line of raingear, but I have stuck with the real Goretex and have not been disappointed - OR WET!  BPS branded Goretex raingear is very similiar, although I have no experience with it.  The only other recommedation is to get a hooded jacket or parka.  The hood is really a must when it's raining, I learned the hard way when I bought the other jacket without the hood - had to slip the lightweight jacket inside to keep the water from running down my neck. 

On Frog Toggs, I eluded to the wear issue, but if you are in a pinch and strapped for cash, they will be great for a season or two of pretty good use.   I do have them still, and they really do work very well.  Obviously the others should last much longer unless you tear them.

Frogg Toggs
Mine lasted hmmm, 1 day.  The bibs ripped the first day out.  Probably because I bought them from that great price place, but. 

There are no other choices.  GORETEX!  Doesn't matter whose line you choose, but spend the money ONE time.  You won't get wet, you won't be replacing it in a year or two, so you'll save money in the end.  As to style, it's personal preference.  Cold, you may want bibs but they are pretty hot in moderate weather, the pants serve me well and I can layer additional clothes for warmth.  Parka or Jacket?  Same thing for me, the jacket is long enough (in Tall sizes), but the Parka's extra lenght does protect the lower back better when bending over - BUT AS I NEVER BEND OVER  ;D the jacket provides the protection I want and the warmth.  Lightweight or cold weather weight has to be considered also.  I'd like the Thinsulate if I could only have one.  40 degrees on the water for several hours the cold can get to you, layered or not - and too many layers restirct movement and tend to trap heat when you're moving around, where the Goretex breathes.  I think the heavier jacket would be my choice if I could only have one.  Getting damp or even a little wet is not as bad in warm weather as it is in cold.  Cold and Wet = miserable day.  Lightweight jacket can be added later.  I wore my lightweight in FL, fishing in 80 degrees with moderate rain without getting overheated or wet.  Great stuff - GORETEX is.

Mr. Moneybags speaks!

Oh, and on the frog toggs, I don't have the bibs.  I have the pants and jacket.

I understand the expense side also Dave. I would suggest buying in stages to elimiate the huge outlay for an entire rainsuit in that case.  There are decent quality GORETEX items available.  You certainly don't need top of the line to stay dry.  Also planning, saving, maybe a gift card from Cabella's of BPS for birthday's, Christmas, annivarsay, etc. can go a long way in getting something of a  better quility that will last, and maybe even save you money in the long run rather than replacing them often.  I've certainly done things both ways, and always seem, using the marvelous 20/20 hindsight, that I usually wished I had waited to get something a little better quality than what I originally purchased, because I ended up replacing it in a year or two because I wasn't happy with it.  I bought my father-in-law goretex pants last year for his birthday (12/22)  and the jacket was his Christmas gift.  It wasn't top-of-the line, but it was a good Cabela's suit.  It really wasn't too expensive, 'cause I bought it on sale.  The other great opportunity we have in a couple weeks also exists, take advantage and save considerable money.  There are ways without being too creative to get good stuff at decent prices, it may take a little time, but well worth the effort.  I don't like wasting money anymore than anyone else - it's why I still don't have a flat screen TV.  I want one, but not at the current prices........... I ain't that rich.

If you want a really good appraisal of raingear, check out the "advertisement" in Bass Pro Shops REDHEAD catalog by Rudoplh DeReid (page 87 in the current catalog).  DeReid is the head of BPS's outdoor wear developement and is responsible for much of the REDHEAD line of goretex hunting raingear products.  He really has a handle on the combinations that provide the best protection from the elements.  If you haven't guessed it by now: