If you decide to get away from MC then look at the Cabelas EXV Goretex rainwear. It’s fairly inexpensive and so far has kept me completely dry. In the spring and early summer I’m running Field Trials and Hunt Tests with my labs and can be outside in some pretty heavy down pours. There have been times where it’s been so heavy that you could’nt see 50 yards in front of you. I’ve been out in it for most of a day at times. Always dry. You can even zip in a fleece line in the jacket. I bought the jacket and pants in 09 on sale for $200 total. Later I added the fleece liner. With the fleece line ther jacket makes a decent winter parka.
Don’t discount this, it’s absolutely correct. I hit my “local” REI in Fairfax over the weekend, and couldn’t swing a dead cat without hitting a rack both marked “Clearance” and choked with post-Christmas overstock. Stuff’s ranging from 25-60% off retail, and you’re not limited to the gender-nonspecific eyesore colors that the office wogs wear in an effort to kid those around them that they’re outdoorsmen.
Their politics…only politics of theirs I note is the fact that you can return or exchange ANYthing for just about any reason if you are unsatisfied with the product. For me, that includes taking back and exchanging a pair of boots that developed a squeak in the right heel after I’d worn nearly every day for over 8mos; given that, they can support the Tooth Fairy in the next presidential election and lobby for the removal of the letter “M” from the alphabet, as far as I’m concerned…
As for Condor, that’s a softshell, which are water resistant, not rain gear. While we love softshells for general hack-around stuff and traipsing across a parking lot in moderate rain, one still needs a shell of you’re gonna be outside in a deluge or be rolling around in the wet for extended times.
Yeah, North Face sold out a long time ago, once they tapped further into the urban crowd. The used to make no-shit expedition weight gear. Now, they’re only good for parody “Hey Fuck Face” patches.
Also, don’t discount some of the stuff you can find at Bass Pro Shops and Cabelas. If you look hard enough, you can find things that aren’t that “realtree” camo BS, and that work really well. My rainpants came from a Bass shop, are a neutral tan/green/khaki color that gets multicam enough for anybody once they get enough mud slopped on them, and have been around long enough that the tags are gone. I have no idea who made them, just barely know which side is the front…but they keep the wet out, even when I’m laying on it for 3 hours.
Are you military or LE? If so you can join the Arc’teryx LEAF program and receive a sizable discount. That’s how I justified the purchase of my alpha jacket anyway.
In short: Best. Goretex. Ever.
That’s interesting. I wasn’t aware they had a program. How do you sign up?
When I did mine registration I sent them a front and back copy of my military ID and after about a week my account was approved. Per the conditions of being a LEAF member, I don’t think I can share what the discounts are, but I can tell you they are significant enough to get me off the fence.
I’ll just say again that the LEAF alpha jacket is incredible and worth every penny.
They do state that it is for AD use only though, not recreational… I guess you may be able to justify it, but not necessarily.
That’s true, I forgot you said it was for rec use. Either way, if you have a ligitimate mil or LE application for the gear you are looking at in LEAF, you will be within their policy guide lines and there for be eligible for the program. I’ve used mine for several training events, and I particularly enjoy the alpha because it is cut high enough to get to your pistol belt.
Northface stuff is OK and they have a mil & LEO discount too.
The attention to detail and material selection on the Arc’teryx stuff makes the Northface stuff look like something you picked up at Target.
If you want the bird but do not want to spend the money then check Craigslist, eBay, Geartrade, and look for close outs.
Another option is mil stuff. I picked up a MARPAT APECS parka for $75 on eBay. It is like new, has nice features, fits good, and is built tough. For $75 if I screw it up I will throw it out and just buy another.
As for Condor, that’s a softshell, which are water resistant, not rain gear. While we love softshells for general hack-around stuff and traipsing across a parking lot in moderate rain, one still needs a shell of you’re gonna be outside in a deluge or be rolling around in the wet for extended times.
My b. I thought we were talking any old rain repellent piece of clothing. If you lookin’ for rain gear, why not get the good ol’ GI Poncho? Not too tactical I know, but at least it’ll keep you dry from the thighs up. And its only 30 or 40 smackaroos.
Echo this almost exactly. Except for removing “M” from the alphabet. I would rather it stay and have another letter added. Preferably something cyrillic and confusing.
Since the tree huggers have decided that they need to blend in with nature to be one with the squirrels and other such shit, the outdoors places have started offering excellent gear in earthy tones. Definitely worth a look, and more often than not, cheaper than it’s tacticool equivalent.
…and fuck the iPhone for autocorrecting tacticool to tactical. Mother bitches.