alaska rain gear?
General Topic
Contributors to this thread:
For you guys who have been to Alaska, what rain gear would you recommend? I have some sitka cloudburst but not sure if it will be enough. Have a friend who recommended Kuiu Yukon rain gear and another who said Sitka stormfront. What do you think? I will be on the peninsula this fall.
Buy the Kuiu Yukon and be dry / comfortable the whole trip. Used it in Alaska during “frog-drowning” downpours and it never let me down. The Yukon is also versatile enough for you to leave the Softshell home.
^^Agree with the comments above. Why I like Kuiu is the pit zips and it's lightweight.
Another vote for KUIU Yukon. Worked great on the endlessly rainy Kodiak days.
I’ve used the following “hunting” rain gear on some pretty extreme weather hunts: KUIU Chugach, KUIU Yukon, First Lite Boundary Stormtite, Sitka Dew Point, Sitka Stormfront, Sitka Cloudburst, Sitka Cold Front, Sitka Kodiak Jacket and Kryptek Altitude Takur.
My Chugach leaked like a sieve. The Yukon was better, but takes a long time to dry. The Sitka Kodiak Jacket is a great Jacket, but also takes a long time to dry. First Lite Rain Gear has always kept me dry, is light enough to pack and dries reasonably fast. The Dew Point is good, but not made for “living in the rain”. Great for “in the pack” rain gear that is light and can be pulled out as needed. The Sitka Cold Front is bombproof, keeps you dry but not at all packable. The new Sitka Stormfront is great but similar weight and characteristics to the Yukon and Kodiak. The new Sitka Cloudburst (better than the old version) and the Kryptek Takur are my favorites. These will keep you dry, are light enough to throw in the pack and dry out relatively quickly. For me it is not only important to stay dry, but for the set to be able to get dry. The Yukon and Kodiak fail miserably in that regard IMO. If you really want to stay dry in AK, look at Helly Hanson. Not the best for being mobile as it doesn’t breath, but it will keep you dry.
Disclaimer: My Yukon was of one of the very first versions made. They very well could have made some improvements to that system since I owned it.
I have Kuiu Yukon. It’s pretty awesome. I tend to carry a cheap made Camo rain jacket that’s kinda rubbery. I wear it when I’m on the boat or just sitting glassing . It’s impenetrable so it keeps my reg gear from potentially getting saturated and failing . I don’t stalk in it or anything , it’s just keeping the water off during sits and such .
I have a poncho I use like Buskill…..when you`re getting pounded on I`ll put that on as nothing gets through that.
I've had my light weight helly Hansen rain gear 10 years I just can't buy anything else because it hasn't failed me yet
I’ve used my Helly Hansen on two trips now and it has been perfect..
Kuiu Chugach rain jacket has served me well but have not tried the Yukon.
HH impertech, comfortable, quiet, will keep you dry. Oh and probably 1/5 of the price of sitka or kuiu
HH not showing Impertech on website. Is it discontinued?
cnelk's Link
I think you'd be fine with the cloudburst, add the pants and your good to go.
The Last hunt to AK I used Sitka waterfowl Pantanal parka.
It worked great with all the little features it has.
The time before that. Helly Hansen. And for the money. I don’t think you can go wrong with HH.
Last year in Alaska it rained our whole hunt , we used the Kuiu Chugach and Sitka Dew point for my son and neither of us had any problems with the rain . This was around Fairbanks .
Last year in Alaska it rained our whole hunt , we used the Kuiu Chugach and Sitka Dew point for my son and neither of us had any problems with the rain . This was around Fairbanks .
For the Pen, bring the best. HH would be at the top of my list or even the FL SEAK.
Kota, interesting on your Chugach leaking. I've been in some pretty crappy stuff in AK without any problems with it. That being said, I picked up a HH jacket for $20 on clearance that I think I will be taking this fall.
I feel like my FL SEAK is as tough as it gets and very comfortable , love the cut of the design, and great ventilation.
Anyone tried Grundens? I see a lot of Alaskans using it while fishing. I just mention it because Camofire has a Grunden camo jacket today.
Grudens is the tougher version of HH. If I worked on a boat I'd have grudens. HH Is all I use for my Alaska adventures.
Nothing wrong with Grundens either
Great deal on the Grundens on Camofire.
HH and Cabelas Space Rain
Ive owned Cabelas, HH, Kuiu Chugach, Kuiu Yukon, and a hand full of others.
For backpacking hunts I wear Chugach, for base camp type hunts after mid September up here, I use Yukon. I've never been let down by either.
I used HH Impertech for several years, its tough. That said, I might as well just not have rain gear as much as I sweat in it if hiking much at all. Maybe I sweat more than the average dude, IDK. I still wear my HH when on a fishing boat but beyond that I find little use for it hunting anymore as much as I've been impressed with the combo of Kuiu Gear (that said the kuiu outfits cost a small fortune so if money is tight don't sacrifice hunting opportunities saving for better gear... get the best you can afford and go hunt)
Does any of the HH come in camo? Cant seem to find any.
Yes. I have a camo HH Impertech jacket. Only downside is the liner is white so you need the hood up while you are wearing it which isn't a big deal if it's raining.
You don’t need Camo. The green or brown will do just fine.
I wore my HH Impertech everyday for 8 days in Alaska.
I agree with Tembry and the reason it was an "add on" to my post. If I'm walking at all, I can't wear the HH as I will be as wet as if I didn't wear any rain gear.
Prior to Bass Pro buyout Cabela's would do limited runs of HH Impertech in Outfitter Camo. I took a chance on sizing and ordered a small jacket which was about all they had left and scored big time as it fit perfect. Keep your eyes open on Cabela's just in case they do that again. Used it once on a saltwater fishing trip that kept me from getting completely drenched. Great stuff! Not any kind of official endorsement, just my personal opinion.
I use Hefty. Keeps you dry. Doesn’t breathe that well but if you cut out eye holes so you can see you will also be able to breathe. Packs well but is a little pricier than generic.
Actually I am headed on my first Alaska hunt this fall. NW Alaska, so good info. The trash bag does make me think about the gear I hunted in as a kid and I wonder how I never ended up with hypothermia.