Home Forums Miscellaneous Topics Gear Reviews Rivers West ???

Any opinions on this hunting apparrel? I am looking for warm and waterproof, with light weight.
Jim

Bought a set just the other day. It was being demonstrated at a sporting goods store. Was under a shower all day long. Set up in the store to show how waterproof the stuff is. Worked great. Tried mine out yesterday in the field. It is quiet and makes no noise. Have not actually tried mine in bad weather yet but am confident that it will be great. Light weight and warm. Pockets have magnet snaps so just watch out for compass or GPS in pockets. May cause inaccurate readings.

Thanks, Huntergeorge.
I just tried them on for size today. I was impressed, but they didn't have everything in stock. I will call Rivers West (Cascade) Monday to order just what I want. I feel that it is good stuff!

tried them out in South East Alaska on an alpine overnight deer hunt. I got my money back. I was soaked within 4 hours. They might be OK for Texas or Pennsylvania but thy do not cut it in the rain we get.

Woody

smwwoody, I had the same situation here in WA with Gamehide "drizzle" pants. Soaked within 2 hours, and cold. Should have stayed with Gore-Tex.
When the Gamehides get soaked so do your long johns, which trickle down to your socks, and when your feet are cold and wet; it's time to get back to camp.
Good to know RiversWest is of the same ilk.

Gore-Tex. will soak through after a few hours of hard rain. I've had way too many days soaked while wearing Gore-Tex. I'm going to check out REI after work Mon. and look at the Marmot Oracle.
The only thing I've used in a all day hard rain that kept me dry has been PVC rain gear.

Impertech

Impertech or Peter Storm if you can find it to stay dry in the worst weather. A quiet Cabela's GoreTex product for lighter drizzle and snow.

I have been told by several people that once Rivers West gear is wet it is impossible to dry out.

I didn't have it long enough to try to dry it out. my pard tried it on a goat hunt. It basically cost him half of the hunt trying to dry it out!

.99 cent disposable poncho.

2 or 3 yeers ago field and stream named River's West their top gear choice for apparel. One of the editors wore it on an Alaskan hunt during miserable conditions and just rave about it.

I just have the pants and hat but I couldn't be more impressed.

Well, dude if field and stream says its good, I better run out and get rivrswest.

I purchased the RW and so far they are good. I sat on a wet cushion in a deer stand for about 7 hours while wearing the pants and was dry as a bone. I havent't worn the outfit in a driving rain, however. I would probably add true rain gear to make sure.

If your going to be walking forget it is too warm for stand hunting it would probably be fine

If you believe anything you read in field and stream. Rivers West will work just fine for you!! I have personally used it and a good friend has personally used it. We both returned it and got our money back. IT DOES NOT WORK in the se alaska mountians!!!!!!

Or anywhere that it rain alot.

This is about what I guessed, and what I keep hearing. I haven't tried it myself, and likely won't, since you have.

Now, what about Sitka gear...same?

Quiet, waterproof, breathable....mutually exclusive concepts in hunting clothing, IMO.

You can get quiet and breathable in the same gear, but waterproof is the odd one out...especially waterproof and quiet...

Brother Dave, take a look at the Sitka Gear 90% jacket. I have a friend that used one during his September moose hunting near Anchorage, it pretty much rained everyday and that is what he wore so I asked him how it handled the rain. He told me he never once got wet BUT, he did require a light fleece jacket underneath to keep warm on the cooler days. He also wore it during his sheep hunt without a fleece as it didn't get as cold. I asked for one for Christmas andcan't wait to try it out this spring. Sitka Gear also has the Down Pour Jacket but they are quite spendy and I don't know how they hold up to rain but I figure if the 90% jacket keeps you dry the Down Pour should too.

BD

The rivers west stuff bit me so hard I am scard to spend the money on the sitka gear. I have not heard any real reviews of it yet. A friend of in from Kodiak got some for Christmas. He will let me know how it works. He will be down here for black bear in the spring that should give it an OK test.