quote:

Originally posted by corsair:
What is the work/activity being done and what part of the country as that'll make it a bit easier to match up a certain style: Parking attendant? Fisherman? Construction? Playground monitor?

Mostly firearms instruction with some outdoors rescue mixed in. I'm going to hit some stores tomorrow and check in on all the recommendations so far. I appreciate it.

West Marine is another retailer to check out if you’re near the coast. I would probably stick with over-pants rather than bibs. You should be able to snug them up to the bottom of a duty belt. Especially if you have a mid or low Safariland UBL.

quote:

Originally posted by tenmm:
If its 'breathable' you'll get wet.

And if it's not breathable, you'll still get wet, from sweating.

You will need to balance the desire of waterproofness, breathability and maintenance. And that depends on the air temperature, rain temperature and amount of physical exertion while wearing the product.

Let us know what you end up with!

quote:

Originally posted by Anubismp:

quote:

Originally posted by corsair:
What is the work/activity being done and what part of the country as that'll make it a bit easier to match up a certain style: Parking attendant? Fisherman? Construction? Playground monitor?

Mostly firearms instruction with some outdoors rescue mixed in. I'm going to hit some stores tomorrow and check in on all the recommendations so far. I appreciate it.

Without getting too deep into detail, I'd recommend jackets that are 3-ply construction only. Much better face fabrics, greater breathability and generally much better packability as 3-plys eliminate the hanging liner. They will be more expensive but, they'll last longer and will perform better than the standard 2-ply construction. 2-plys can utilize heavier face fabrics but, will not perform as well compared to a 3-ply, will be bulkier due to the additional materials but, will be priced more affordably and can have more features. Stay away from 2.5-layer designs, they are designed for weight savings, packability and hitting specific price-points.

The better tactical brands today are competitive to the larger technical outdoor brands in terms of design and performance, take a look at Beyond Clothing, Otte Gear, Triple Aught Design, Viktos, Mantle, and Crye Precision. 5.11 has a very large assortment, I've found their clothing to be a mixed-bag, their sportswear lately has come a long way however I can't comment on their outerwear.

Also consider the better hook n'bullet brands, Simms, Sitka, Kuiu, First Lite and Stone Glacier, all are super-solid.

Thanks I'll take a peek at those while I'm out.

1. West Marine is overpriced. I’m in there a lot.
2. I have a West Marine suit and it has served me well for years. Bib pants and jacket. $$
3. Recently wanted something lighter weight. Ended up with Frogg Toggs. Lightweight, comfortable, lots of pockets. Happy with it so far. Got it at the local Bass Pro.

quote:

Originally posted by sig2392:
Check out Helly Hanson work gear

https://www.hhworkwear.com/

I challenge you to find something more waterproof than H H. They make sailing suits.

Just a quick update: After hitting some stores and feeling up all the products, I'm between a Grundens Neptune 319 jacket and an HH Storm rain jacket. Both look good, it might just come down to pockets and such, but I'm going to research both in a bit more detail. For standing on a range getting dumped on for 8-10 hours, I think these might work where others have failed. Looking back, I may not have made it clear in my OP, we arent doing much physical activity, just walking up and down range lines fixing shooters and occasionally doing demos in the open. We have other gear (goretex/dwr) for our more active outdoor stuff but for this I think the nonbreathable nonpermeable will be key. Doing some reading on the rough seas fishing folks (hats off to them by the way) it seems they get them slightly large fit to let air in via the bottom and to allow layering underneath.

Thank you for all the responses. I'll let you know what I end up with and then I'll try to update when they've been used for a bit.

Timely thread for me.

I'm on vacation right now. The other day, I went for a hike and got caught in a sudden downpour. I was wearing a Columbia windbreaker and was completely soaked within minutes.

I don't need anything heavy duty, but am definitely in the market for something that's at least water resistant.

^^^

If you don’t need something all the time, just for emergency rain events, you can get by with a cheap plastic poncho. You might only get a few uses out of it before it gets damaged by it will keep you dry.

For a hike I like goretex DWR as the breathability and ease of packing make it a great combo. You are going to get soaked in spots if it comes down hard though. If you want something for warmer weather I saw an ultralight site say frogg toggs were good as a low-cost, very packable solution as long as you had no durability concerns. Basically, they'd work great if you were just walking but climbing or abrasions would rip them quickly.

Some sailing jackets are 100% waterproof. They have to be, so racers can stay out on deck for hours at a time and be comfortable.

I ended up requesting the Helly Hansen Gale. I liked that it has an interior collar for those times when you don't think you need a hood and change your mind so you dont have a waterbucket down your back.

I was also interested in the other two I posted about three posts up but the interior collar was the decision maker, I think the other two would have been good. I'll try to report back when we actually get them but its a work purchase so we all wont remember we talked about this next year when they actually arrive.

I appreciate all of the help and suggestions from everyone.