Waterproof & Warm

I reckon that everyone who goes outside to shoot and catch stuff has the same problem - waterproof & warm garments are pretty rare, so you end up getting wet. Even if its not the rain that gets you there, no matter what the outer (breathable or not) you will get wet if you're active in a downpour. I've got a few jackets and raincoats. My main rain jacket as such is a Scierra jacket that I brought in from the UK. It is made from some beathable stuff, has neoprene cuffs, and worked great for a season... well maybe not great but it was better than my old goretex jacket. It gets wet inside with a bit of activity, and brush it against trees etc and water comes on in. Hmm.

Yesterday I got wet again, this time in my Columbia Quad parker. The one on the right is the latest iteration (looks cool). Features include a zip out inner that is stuffed with insulation. Wear that puppy zipped in and you can't move or you risk death by baking. Conversely, sit in a drizzle and that jacket cools down some, and begins to leak. Not cool, and not what you'd expect for the bucks. Hidden ammo pouches, detachable hood... all good and nice but shit, you get wet. The inner makes a cool camo bomber jacket for when you're crusing for chicks.... oh that's right, that stuff is all conjecture. So, who can do better?

This is Cabelas home brand. Similar features to Columbia, goretex outer, zip out liner, detachable hood.. oh yeah and a 'beard guard'. Just in case your beard gets in trouble, it can hide behind its very own guard. Spare me.

27 ratings on Cabelas own site (inc one from some Waikato dude) indicate that its worth 4 point something out of 5. Really?

This here jacket is from Drake. I'm liking it for a number of reasons. It has the same sort of stuff as its competitors, but is slim around the waist. My quad parker is very bulky around the wiast and becomes a problem when wading, or if pockets are jammed with ammo. Taken a while for me to pinpoint how important a slim fitting waist is (to me), there you go.

Under Armour is a big brand not well known here. Jacket looks ok, but the question is why? I mean why branch out into a non speacialist area? Must be some mean bucks in it. ;)

There will be more around for sure... will keep looking I suppose, and in the meantime just get wet. Ducks like water, after all.