Best waterproof jacket for the money

[Eric Weller]

Im starting to look for a new raincoat for fishing and was wondering what everyone thoughts were on the best bang for the buck?

[none]

Patagonia Torentshell:
http://www.patagonia.com/us/product/mens-torrentshell-waterproof-rain-jacket?p=83800-0-791

[Roy Conley]

Eric, you already know which is best.

[Eric Weller]

Well Roy I think you pretty much eliminated all other brands.

[Anonymous]

This is my next purchase. In Olive.

Kuiu Chugach. This thing leaves Simms at home with the women and children.

http://shop.kuiu.com/chugach-jacket-p16.aspx

[Rob Snowhite]

Kokatat Tempest. Its got a neoprene neck and latex wrist gaskets. Read my review on the bottom of the page.

[Bob Riggins]

When you add “for the money” you open the question up to subjective value judgement.

[Roy Conley]

The Simms coat is for the guy/gal that has spent the day on the water, had to bale the boat 4 or 5 times, and wants to be dry when the day is over.

[Randy Kadish]

To me, best also means lightest, as I might have to carry it in my backpack.

I love my Orvis, but would certainly consider something lighter.

Randy

[philip fibiger]

I’m with Randy. Here in Florida it’s more about something that’s lightweight and can be stashed on a boat or in my sling pack and also is pretty well vented. It isn’t high end, but I love my Marmot Precip. I called them about the waterproofing delaminating on a seven or eight year old jacket, and they shipped me a brand new one, even let me pick the new color.

[M. Wood]

[ftp]http://www.sierratradingpost.com/marmot-precip-jacket-waterproof-for-men~p~2283a/[/ftp]

I don’t own a precip but I do have another Marmot jacket.

[Scott K.]

Agree with the others above – it doesn’t have to be a Simms or other fishing-specific jacket.

[Karlin Bilcher]

I think Simms is rarely tops when it comes to the “bang for the buck” criteria.  Your dollar can go farther with other companies.  Sure, their gear is alright, but you pay out the nose for it.  As I’ve said over and over on this site, what’s your application?  You live in PA, right?  Far from the wettest fishing region out there, if you spend 20 days a year fishing in Sitka Alaska or coastal Oregon then its a different story.  
Once the application question is settled the next question is Gore Tex vs. non-Gore Tex.  This is a tricky one.  You pay more for gore-tex but do you require it?  The shelf life on all laminates is shorter than gore tex, and the breathability is less.  I am not up on the most recent technological advances in non-gore rain proof / breathability stuff.  Perhaps there is some stuff out there that is comparable, not sure.  But that is what I would consider next.  My guess is that Zach is up on this world and would gladly drop his dope tehcno knowledge here for us…    

[Zach Matthews]

This is all more or less a push guys.

[Mike Anderson]

The coat market is definitely the place to be watching the closeout bins.

Zach

No doubt, I picked up a Cabelas gore-tex packable jacket for $39 in the bargain bin early this spring. It has kept my upper body dry more then a few times this summer already.

[Eric Weller]

Great info guys and thanks Zach for the education between the two materials.

[Justin Witt]

I had been using an old Arc Teryx from my climbing days for many years, but could eventually see through it, and went through this same process at the end of last season.

[Zach Matthews]

I find it ironic that Patagonia doesn’t give a pro deal to a professional Patagonian fishing guide.

[Curtis Bias]

I bought a NOS Patagonia SST off of E-Bay. I searched for “rain coat” rather than “wading jacket”. 4 pages of items in I spotted the SST. The seller listed it as a bicycle messengers rain jacket.

[Simon Chu]

🙂

I find it ironic that Patagonia doesn’t give a pro deal to a professional Patagonian fishing guide.

The collar and longer length are features that I rate in a jacket.

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