Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Russell outdoors vs rivers west

I am new here and this is my first post. I started backpack hunting last year and realy enjoy it. I am working on upgreading my rain gear. I am looking for a light weight some what packable rain jacket. I have narrowed it down to these two. I would like the jacket to replace my old rain coat and fleece. So it should provide a little warm but not much because it will be part of my layering system.

Has anyone tried the russell outdoor apxg2 L4 or L5 jacket? The L4 is water resistant and the L5 is water proof. How packable and bulky is the L5?

I also am looking at the rivers west APF spider. Water proof and 1.5 lbs. Seems packable but is it warm? I have heard that rivers west do not breath so it should hold heat well (as well as sweat).

Welcome to the campfire and the endless trail in the Rain Gear Journey.

I have not used either jacket you mention. I looked at some original RW but it was heavy. Spider jacket is lighter.

I also don't put a lot of faith in "breathable" and "waterproof" when used in the same sentence.

My suggestion in your search: Pit Zip Vents.

Rivers west is a great fishing jacket if your not moving. So like suggested any jacket that doesn't have pit zips I would pass on. Wish Cabelas would listen to us.

I had some older model Rivers West gear. Wouldn't waste my money again. Zipper on the jacket broke at the start of a hunt, and as mentioned the stuff does not breathe at all.