msp Posted March 9 Report Share Posted March 9 I have had it with Simms. Decided to grab a new rain suit because my old Simms gortex actually absorbes water now. The suit was good for the first couple of years but started leaking. I assumed it was because I wasn’t taking good care of it stuffing it in rod lockers etc……. decided to grab the lower end Simms Challenger suit as I typically like non gortex rain gear any. After three or four trips in the rain I noticed my left thigh was soaked. messaged customer service and they said I have to ship it to them for warranty testing 🤷♂️ So I’m supposed to box it up and send it in at my expense when I just paid $600. Ya right. Maybe one day I will ship it but highly doubt it. Let’s hear your rain suit recommendations and why you like them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrowMan Posted March 9 Report Share Posted March 9 I've had a Simms Pro Dry jacket and bibs for 6 years. Still going strong, like new...don't leak a drop, even running down the lake at 40mph in a rainstorm. Water rolls off of them in droplets. Well designed cuffs and collar/hood to keep any leaks out. Very breathable too, never sweat in them. Best rain gear I've ever owned. Most of the time they're stored scrunched up in one of the in-floor compartments of my boat. All I do is, twice a year or so, wash them with NikWax Tech Wash, then tumble dry on low to maintain the DWR. The fabric is GoreTex 3-Layer Pro...as far as I know, there's nothing better out there. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKRISONER Posted March 9 Report Share Posted March 9 (edited) Im a pretty firm believer that it’s goretex or nothing. and you have to treat it well, dry it after use, clean it and apply dwr at minimum. the challenger series are most certainly not worth their money. They aren’t goretex. Full stop. i was running a simms goretex pro shell for the past 5 years and it was used by Dave Chong prior. It kept me perfectly dry. The only downfall on that suit was that the bib had a front zipper that wasn’t waterproof so driving my boat in huge waves taking on water, I’d end up getting water in my pants. oh also, I won a striker rain suit through the fishing club this year, it seems super high quality, but I haven’t tried it in the rain yet. Will have to report back. I’ve been told it’s solid though by a friend with the same suit. the suit itself is super well thought out and has all of the features you want in a rain suit. Edited March 9 by AKRISONER 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porkpie Posted March 9 Report Share Posted March 9 I’m done with goretex. I wear the Helly Hansen rubber suit now. The new ones are even a bit stretchy. I stay mostly dry unless water runs in somewhere (sleeve) etc. The way I look at it, if it’s wet enough for me to wear a rain suit, it’s generally cool enough to wear the rubber suit. When it’s crap out I’m usually wearing base layers, my under armour cold gear stuff and the rubber suit just seals in the flavour. Your mileage may vary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitch seguin Posted March 9 Report Share Posted March 9 I switched to Patagonia Cloud Ridge Jacket and Pants about 5 years ago and have been very pleased. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeXXington Posted March 9 Report Share Posted March 9 Like a lot of products, build reputation on great quality. Now reputation is high, up the cost, lower the quality increase the profits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillM Posted March 11 Report Share Posted March 11 Cabelas Guidewear. With any Goretex you need to do a bit of maintenance to reactivate the waterproofing. I usually do this once a year, been going on 6 years with my stuff and dry as it was on day #1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lape0019 Posted March 12 Report Share Posted March 12 Always found Simms overpriced but would never call it junk. As mentioned, I too pretty much only will buy Goretex. after 8 years with a 100MPH basspro suit, I bought a 200MPH last season. It keeps me dry and have no complaints for the price. I cam very close to buying the guidewear instead and have heard nothin but good things about it as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moosebunk Posted March 12 Report Share Posted March 12 No waders last... but theirs didn't stand up too bad against my past Cabelas, Orvis and Bushlines. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iggy Posted March 13 Report Share Posted March 13 Ok, I give up, what's DWR? I Have a Browning gortex suit for hunting, still keeps me dry, 20 years in, I wash it and dry it with high heat. I heard the drying activates the gortex but I'm all ears Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrowMan Posted March 13 Report Share Posted March 13 (edited) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durable_water_repellent It's what makes water "bead" on the exterior layer of fabric, rather than soak in to it. The GoreTex will still be waterproof with out it, but the exterior will "wet out". You're correct...some heat will help bring the DWR back to surface of the fabric. Ironing on low heat works great too. Periodically washing the GoreTex with NikWax will also help keep it breathable by "un-clogging" the porous membrane. Edited March 13 by CrowMan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iggy Posted March 13 Report Share Posted March 13 Where do I buy DWR? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrowMan Posted March 13 Report Share Posted March 13 Amazon and most camping/outdoor specialty shops. You want both...the wash and the waterproofing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iggy Posted March 13 Report Share Posted March 13 So for the hunters out there, do you use this, does it give off an odor. Very important when hunting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iggy Posted March 13 Report Share Posted March 13 And thanks CrowMan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fang Posted March 13 Report Share Posted March 13 Don't own any yet but have worn Frogg Toggs CASCADES jacket and the All Sports suit. It's a different feel material but you get used to it. For the $ I was very impressed. Still using my BPS 100 MPH stuff and don't have any issues now going on close to 10 years old for the bibs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrowMan Posted March 13 Report Share Posted March 13 (edited) 31 minutes ago, Iggy said: So for the hunters out there, do you use this, does it give off an odor. Very important when hunting Granger's makes wash & dwr that's hunting specific, but as far as I know it's the exact same formulation as NikWax. I use NikWax on my hunting stuff too...it's marketed as "fragrance free". You're just re-applying what was on there to begin with.. Edited March 13 by CrowMan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misfish Posted March 13 Report Share Posted March 13 1 hour ago, Fang said: Don't own any yet but have worn Frogg Toggs CASCADES jacket and the All Sports suit. It's a different feel material but you get used to it. For the $ I was very impressed. Still using my BPS 100 MPH stuff and don't have any issues now going on close to 10 years old for the bibs Frogg togg river jacket and waders. No complaints, and been 4 seasons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKRISONER Posted March 14 Report Share Posted March 14 (edited) Like Bill, I wash and treat my coats and bibs once a year. Many outdoor apparel companies are now moving away from "forever chemicals" https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/environment/forever-chemicals-pfas/ From what I have read, is that this will simply mean you should wash your goretex after every 3rd heavy use. Realistically how many intensely rainy wet days does one go through in a year...Sure a big week long trip will require a wash after, but this sounds like a couple of extra washes a season. Not a big deal. My father (an engineer and chemist) expressed his concerns to me about these types of chemicals years ago, so much so that they were stopping using similar chemical compounds in some of the processes that he works on to avoid long term exposure for people working with them every day. Interesting that a lot of outdoor companies are now in agreement that they gotta go. Hell makes you think about that poor guy in china thats applying that DWR to your coat every day 6 days a week...yeesh. Edited March 14 by AKRISONER Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steellee Posted March 14 Report Share Posted March 14 I was on the hunt for a decent dual purpose rain/wading jacket and ended up coming across a Mustang Taku online marked down half price last week. Had most of the features I wanted so figured I trust my life to Mustang products on the water they shouldn't have a problem making rainwear. Will see how it goes when I get to test it out. Also while researching found last year's Simms G4Z on half price so figured I would be proactive and jump on that deal as well. Although being Simms most heavy duty wader and packed with features the new Simms G4Z Goretex feels about half the material of my 12+ year old Simms Headwaters Goretex, but hopefully it holds up as long Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SirCranksalot Posted March 15 Report Share Posted March 15 I read somewhere that goretex will pass water if you are sitting on a wet surface. I don't know if that's true or not but my old goretex don't keep me dry any more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKRISONER Posted March 16 Report Share Posted March 16 On 3/14/2024 at 8:27 PM, SirCranksalot said: I read somewhere that goretex will pass water if you are sitting on a wet surface. I don't know if that's true or not but my old goretex don't keep me dry any more. Speaking from experience, cleaned treated goretex will most certainly keep you dry when sitting on a wet surface. my boat seats are soaked with overnight rain often and my goretex bib most certainly keeps me dry. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillM Posted March 16 Report Share Posted March 16 On 3/14/2024 at 8:27 PM, SirCranksalot said: I read somewhere that goretex will pass water if you are sitting on a wet surface. I don't know if that's true or not but my old goretex don't keep me dry any more. Look up NikWax. Your old gear needs to be washed and tossed in the dryer. It will bead water once again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iggy Posted March 16 Report Share Posted March 16 Just bought some, thanks for the help on this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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