Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Anyone use military ECWCS rain/cold gore tex gear?

Looking for some gore-tex gear that can take some punishment! Seems the places I tend to hunt are heck on gear, and this stuff seems pretty tough!! I am aware that it is a little noisy, anyone use this stuff?

Thanks in advance!

Huntr

I have a set of the ECWCS gore-tex. I think that it's durability is due to it's Taslan nylon exterior. You can get the same Taslon nylon and Gore-tex combo from Cabela's for a lot less than the ECWCS stuff.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templa...-results1.jhtml

Most of the real Military parka's go for over $200, the Cabela's parka is only $85 and if you don't like it you can send it right back.

My favorite tough wear Gore-Tex Parka is Cabela's Guide-Wear. It's better made and should last longer than the Military stuff. It doesn't come in Camo though. Maybe the Forest color would work OK.....
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templa...&hasJS=true

Good luck, I hope you find something that works for you.......DJ

djpaintless,
Many, many thanks for your response!!

Sincerely,

Huntr

DJ,
Just my luck, I log on to purchase the Versatec and they only have size 4XL!! Doesn't that figure!!

Anyone else carry this stuff?

Thanks,
Huntr

Huntr, You might look at their "Brush Buster" Camo Gore-Tex,

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/horizontal-item.jhtml?_requestid=78104

They had several sizes available in this.

It might be best to just give them a call and see what Nylon/goretex camo raingear they have in stock. I think that Cordura exterior's are the most durable, followed by Taslan and other Nylon exteriors. I have the MT-050 stuff too, it is quieter than the nylon exteriors but I've snagged it in a place or two that I might not have with the tougher nylons.

Another inexpensive choice you might just check out is the German Fleck Camo Rain set:

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=59197

It's not as tough as the American stuff but for less than $50 for both bibs and a jacket I don't really care if I tear it up. I bought 2 sets of this to leave in the back of the truck for changing flats, etc. but it would work just fine for hunting. If you tear it up you aren't out too much. The Sportsman's guide says that it's Gore-Tex but I think that it's actually Sympatec a European Copy of it. Still keeps the rain off though.
I just hope you don't end up buying way too many different sets of the stuff like I have. Don't EVEN ask how much I've spent on way too many Gore-tex coats and stuff. I'm about as bad about buying hunting clothes as I am about buying too many rifles.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />......DJ

My set was free, granted my butt also has a stamp on it that says "Property of the U.S.A.F" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />
It's great gear that works well but not for hunting, WAY TOO LOUD! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> I got a quiet waterproof bib overalls from Cabelas for x-mas, havent used them yet because I'm in the desert for OIF, The woodland camo just dosent go w/ DCU's <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />
Dont wear them on a Harley either, they melt on the pipes. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Cajun

NWCajun, My next to youngest son is also USAF..Davis Monthan presently in the back shop..
We hunted Elk this past fall in the Oregon coastal range and it was wet and thick..:)
I agree that the mil goretex raingear he had was pretty noisy but he stayed dry.
I hunt in wool with a set of Helly Hansen Impertech raingear I've had for eight years over-all on the days when we got two inches of rain in 24 hours..:( The stuff is quiet, wears well and packs small if you need to stuff it in the pack..jim

Been using an Army issue gore tex jacket(circa 1989...) for years. Works great, has held up with only the zipper being a problem. Camo has faded too. It is way too loud though. I hunt in the winter here in NM in wool, with the gore tex stuff in my day pack if things get bad.

Red44spl,
Welcome to the board! If you don't mind my asking, what part of NM do you live in? I live in Aztec (Farmington).

Again, welcome to the campfire! Great place and wonderful people.

Huntr

Huntr,
I am down in Silver City. Thanks for the welcome!
Red

If you are around any military post, check the local pawn shops. I picked up a jacket and pants for $65. It is noisy in the field.

Here's an interesting read for those of you interested in any goretex gear.

http://www.velocitypress.com/pages/Goretex.php

http://slate.msn.com/id/2085417/#ContinueArticle

elelbean,
Great handle by the way!! I appreciate the post on the Gore Tex, sure does seem overpriced just to get the Gore-Tex label!! I am simply looking for stout rainwear that will withstand some punishment. Where we pack in on our horses is really just an overgrown trail that the animals still use, not a nice trail!! By the time we get to camp the horses and mules are pissed, we're pissed and everything has sticks and stuff hanging off of us, not to mention our faces are scratched up, etc. So, I am willing to forgo the "quiet" thing with my next raingear so as to not have to replace it several times a season. Plus, last year was the wettest I have hunted in Colorado, and when the rain, sleet, snow mix was coming down and the wind blowing I SURE was not worried about my gear being noisy!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Huntr

Huntr, Another Idea for the toughest raingear that you might find is Filson's Tin-Cloth. It's heavy, stiff, and to me doesn't breath well but it is hell for stout. A double tin Cruiser will probably outwear 2 or 3 gore-tex jackets. It's expensive but they usually stand behind their stuff extremely well. I haven't found the Shelter cloth to be as rain-proof, but I have worn a double-tin cruiser in flooding rainstorms and been bone dry........DJ

djpaintless,
Ya know, I was just thinking of that stuff the other night! Thanks for the idea, might be just the ticket!

Huntr

Hey DJpaintless,

How was your purchase from Sportsmansguide? I was thinking of getting some gear, but i'm a little leary of buying used surplus online. Do you think their descriptions (i.e. excellent cond. Very Good, etc.) are fairly accurate. I'm looking at getting some cheap wool and goretex.

Huntr,

I have been doing some research online looking for quality rainwear. After reading what Alaskan guides like for rainwear (i figure if it works for them itll work for me, im in the Northeast) it seems a lot of them prefer Helly Hansen commercial rainwear or Impertech over the Gortex stuff.
http://www.backcountryinc.com/shopping/htm/shoprain.asp

elelbean,
Thanks for that post! I am gonna try the Helly Hansen stuff! Maybe it'll be tough enough, sure can't beat the price!

Huntr

Huntr,

I'm sure you've already seen what Cabela's has to offer, but just
in case you didn't you should check their stuff out. I don't think Helly Hansen makes Impertech anymore, but i think they just switched the labeling to "Stretch rainwear". It sounds like the same thing. Anyways they have a deal on for $70 bucks a SET!!!! Plus that Boa Green looks awesome.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templa...&hasJS=true

If you look at this page you can find cheap goretex and Cabelas Alaskan Guide stuff. Hell, even Carhartt is getting into the raingear. Take a look.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templa...MainCatcat21082

elelbean,
Once again, many thanks for the posts! Looks like event the Carhartt is worth looking at, and, I am sure I can try some locally at one of the workwear stores here.

Rain gear is a painful (obviously!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> ) decision for me as I normally don't ever need it! In the last 15 years of hunting Co. and NM, last year was the wettest ever! But, the area we are packing into, is both brutal on gear because the trail is so overgrown, but, is a veritable rainforest no matter how dry things are anywhere else! Ah, decisions, descisions! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Thanks again to all!

Huntr

I've been wearing some of the Swedish "Melton Wool" pants for several years now. Other than the gaiters being hard for a fat guy to put on in the morning I find them near ideal hunting pants. I'm a little reticent about going through the nasty brush in my expensive Filson wool pants (which are thicker and warmer) but the Swedes are great for most stuff.
I bought I think it was 5 or 6 sets of Flecktarn Camo'd "gore-tex" from Sportsmans guide to end up with 2 sets that were the right size and had zippers etc.. For the price they were great but extra shipping and handling made them a little less great. If you can find what you want new surplus of course buy it. I've not been unhappy with any new surplus I've bought. I guess I wouldn't argue too awful much about how they grade their stuff (other than the broken zipper), but IMO the used stuff has to be a good enough deal to eat shipping once if you have to exchange it. There are some deals to be found if you shop carefully.
I've bought way too much stuff from Sportsman's guide, my wife would probably sell some of it too you cheap if you drop by the house. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />, She keeps threatening Garage sale, which is my horror of all horrors..........DJ