Working outside these days on a wood frame structure for Portland Community College.

Raingear

I've tried numerous types of raingear over the years.
None of it has been very good, especially the non-breathable types.

I hate my old school Grundens, heavy and humid.

I had high hopes for my Carharrt Shorelines (set) but they seem to be failing lately.
http://www.gemplers.com/product/145944/Carhartt-J162-Shoreline-Waterproof-Breathable-Rain-Jacket

The Carharrts are black so I have to wear a hi-vis vest over them which holds water and exasperates the situation.
Maybe a waterproof vest would help....hmmm, I've never seen a waterproof hi-vis vest.

Any thoughts on breathable raingear for heavy construction ?


Gloves

The Atlas "Fit" glove is my favorite glove for dry weather.
In extreme cold I have to rotate 2 pairs because the don't insulate very well.
They suck balz in wet weather with their cotton-blend backs sucking up every drop of moisture.



My latest glove experiment will be these...
http://www.showabestglove.com/site/products/detail.aspx?style=377



They are described as a "foam grip" but they are pretty thin and don't feel cumbersome like typical foam coated gloves.
Seems like Showa owns Atlas and there were some identical Atlas-branded gloves in the rack as well as Showa.
The Atlas label called them fishing/crabbing gloves.
They might work.

Got favorite glove for the wet/cold that offers some dexterity ?

Back in the day only sissies wore gloves and there were no gloves that were any good for what we do, anyway.
Nowadays gloves are required on some jobs.

This coming week is going to be a mofo with the weather.
Maybe I'll try the Vietnam-style towel across the back of the neck for a little added comfort.
I've done that before...works to some extent.
Might even swap into the Grundens at lunchtime if it's deluge and the Carharrts crap out.

Here we go....




Edit:
Funny how the cold/wet doesn't hurt when I'm fishing.
One of the great mysteries of life I suppose.

As far as a jacket, good luck. You can either wear pvc style and change your layer under it at lunch(because your gonna sweat) or switch out your breathable at lunch cause they fail to work when they get dirty.
I do the two breathable thing cause I hate the non flexibility of pvc.
As far gloves, I use white ox style, ring out and rotate.

I worked outside for years putting up fence. I never found rain gear that would keep me dry, not to mention anything I put on looked like something a cat attacked within three days.
I ended up just taking two changes of cloths to work. One to rotate in the heated cab of a truck, one to throw on before I jumped in my personal rig.Ya I was wet, but only for ten or so hours a day

Forgot to add that a buddy gave the Grundens Gage hi vis rain coat a try, and I went with the black Gage, both total pieces of you know what.

That's good to know.
If I buy more rain gear it will be hi-vis w/reflective tape...can't remember the sq in requirement.
Wearing the vest over the rain gear is total BS.

At least when it wears out I can make lures, rags and flies out of it.

The best I've come up with is using different rain gear at different times. I've been using Helly Hanson and Grundens PVC rain gear for decades now. I can't see spending big $ on rain gear for construction work. As far a jackets go I use 2 different ones (both Helly Hanson), one is thicker with a zipper in front and one is thinner with just snaps. I wear the thinner one 75% of the time. I stay much cooler in that jacket. If it is colder and when there is a lot of wind I use the thicker one with the Zipper.

Also, I never wear cotton when the weather is bad and I wear thin layers so I can adjust my temperature by removing or adding as needed. I also a spare in case something gets wet.

I've gotten used to the High Vis vests, kinda like all the pockets.

A lot of guys have this philosophy and many suffer all day long.
I've always tried to buy the best, heavy duty rain gear for work.
Work gear is far more critical for me than play gear.
I can run for cover in play mode...work mode I must man my battle station for the duration.


In happier times (better weather) I will dabble with the pockets but I'm in survival mode now with this crappy weather.
I wish that my work rain gear was hi-vis/reflective...then I could toss that damn vest.

Go get an Arcteryx or Outdoor Reasearch rain shell in pro grade gortex. They are lightweight, good cut for flexibility while working. Use for work and fishing.

Fishing I wear nitrile gloves, with fingerless rag wool gloves over them. Keep them warm, but you have to replace the nitrile every few hours.

Everyone's different, doing what I do, high end stuff seems to get ruined quick. I'd buy a $400 jacket if it would last and keep me dry, they don't (at least on my back). I wish there was a Simms type G3,G4 construction jacket, I haven't found one. I got tired of ruining what was hyped as being the new " High Tech, indestructible, breathable, ipod compatible, hydration equipped, Hi Vis, yadda yadda yadda. I got tired of the hype, I buy $50 jackets, learned how to layer, and learned how to (no offense intended to anyone), man the fvck up and deal with it.

After all it was my choice to do what I do. I'm good with it.

I haven't gone to $400 but the Carharrt set was $240 retail and worked extremely well for the first couple of years.
In fact I thought I had found the Holy Grail.
Hasn't ripped, the membrane must be failing though.

In raingear I'm building tilt panels, concrete lo-wall/hi-wall and framing.
There are some gear rippers working tilts but the other two aren't bad.

Have you tried the logger stuff? I think it is Tingley rain gear.

It is light, abrasion resistant pvc. You aren't going to win on a week like what we have coming up, but when I was a tree planter that is what I used. I liked it because of how light it is, and I would do a hoodie change at lunch time and that was more or less as good as I could get.

The neck is set up for a round hard-hat though, not a billed version.

Work inside. Fish outside. Problem solved.

I'd ask Kitsap's Krankiest Kontractor. He'll probably tell you to get off his lawn and shake his cane at you, but it's worth asking.

But I've gotta go with Nick on this one. Work inside. Fish outside. Now I know why I got that college degree.

Google Tru Spec rain gear. This is aftermarket military gear. I bought both the coat and pants and they cost less then the Ccrhart coat alone. It breaths and is down pour proof. It's like a body condom that you can reuse.

I'll check those out, thanks.

My local safety supply carries Tingley.
I'll look at that, too.

I had the office job for 17 years....got soft in that environment.
Then stupid me elected to go back bobbin' and weavin' in the trenches.
It's nice in that it ends after an honest 8...the other does not, no matter what they say.

And no goddam meetings !

You will probably never be satisfied with any particular rain gear. I've tried soooo many, and always end up going back to the Helley Hanson or Grundens Pvc. Just make sure you get the sealed cuffs on the jacket.