Photo courtesy of Pnuma Outdoors
April 07, 2023
By Adam Heggenstaller
Rain is a fact of hunting, especially in the spring. When you have limited time outdoors, you deal with it. Thankfully, advanced technology in waterproof membranes offers hunters many options to stay dry and comfortable when it’s wet outside. Rain gear has come a long way in the last decade, and if you haven’t updated your gear in a while, now’s the time to get ready for spring showers—or downpours.
Browning Kanawha Browning Kanawha If you’re looking to get into quality rain gear for less than $200, the Kanawha jacket and pant are top choices. The two-layer polyester fabric is coated for water resistance and bonded to a waterproof, breathable membrane with a moisture vapor transmission rate that Browning says is on par with performance-leading garments. While I had no way of testing this scientifically, I chased bears with hounds around the mountains of Idaho last spring while wearing the Kanawha set and had no issues with rain or sweat. Fully taped seams kept water from finding its way inside, and the outer fabric stood up to crawling through the brush. The jacket has a three-piece, fully adjustable hood, while the pant has two-point articulation in the knee area and features side leg zippers that run from the ankle to the waist. Both pieces stuff into a pocket for packing.
Kuiu Kutana Storm ShellKuiu Kutana Storm Shell MSRP: $359, jacket; $299, pant | kuiu.com Kuiu is known for high-tech fabrics, and the Kutana Storm Shell jacket and pant are loaded with them. The new Toray Entrant microporous hydrophobic membrane maintains breathability when activity level is low, keeping moisture from building up inside the garments when you stop to glass or wait out an animal. Stunner Stretch exterior fabric is lightweight—the jacket weighs 18.3 ounces and the pant 15.5 ounces—but durable and has a K-DWR treatment. The seams are fully sealed with a new tape developed to last longer. The jacket contains four pockets and pit zippers, and the pant has two zippered cargo pockets and a built-in belt. I pretty much lived in the Kutana pieces for a week while hunting in Alaska last fall, and they were both comfortable and tough enough to ward off alders, devil’s club and abrasion from rocks while making stalks.
Pnuma 3L Element Proof Pnuma 3L Element Proof The three-layer construction of the Element Proof gear combines a quiet outer shell with a windproof mid-layer and a semi-stretch inner liner for more breathability. A high-performance membrane and a 3M C4 DWR coating result in excellent waterproof and moisture vapor transmission ratings. The outer shell offers four-way stretch for ease of movement, and honeycomb-shaped Pnumaguard overlays on the shoulders, elbows and knees protect these areas from abrasion. The pant has full Aquaguard leg zippers and two zippered slash pockets, while the jacket features a three-piece hood with a built-in visor to keep rain and sun out of your eyes.
