Best Hunting Rain Gear – A Buyer’s Guide 2022

If you ever go out to hunt in secluded areas such as forests, then one of your topmost priorities should be your comfortability and, of course, your safety. But if you willingly go out to hunt in the rain, or even if it just suddenly rained, your primary goal is to stay dry and warm. And this requires you to have excellent quality gear to be able to keep dry and warm during your hunt out in the rain. Therefore, preparing and planning for a rainy day hunt is crucial if you want your trip to bear excellent results.

So, if you are in need of great-quality gear, then this article is for you! We have listed a few of the best hunting rain gear that even some hunters recommend. So stay tuned!

Essential Hunting Gear for The Rain

Jackets and Ponchos

Your jackets and ponchos will be your first line of defense against the rain. The primary purpose of your jacket and poncho is to keep you warm and dry. So you must check the material and build to determine if it will serve its purpose. Without these, your rainy hunting trip might be a lot harder with the rain falling down your face, obscuring your line of vision.

Additionally, your poncho can also serve as a tent protector. And with its size, it will definitely protect most of your body from any weather condition.

The SITKA Gear Men’s Downpour Jacket is a popular jacket that people use. It is specifically designed to be used in the rain as it will keep you dry. Being as it is constructed with the breathable Gore-Tex laminate, your movements are silenced. This is highly useful in hunting since you won’t scare off the surrounding animals. The Gore-Tex laminate is a polyester knit-face fabric that ensures breathability and packability.

The downside of this jacket is that the sleeve cuffs get moisture up into the layers you’re weakening underneath the coat. Also, its pocket openings are pretty small, making it slightly challenging to get access to the items you stored inside the pockets.

The SITKA Gear Men’s Stratus is another significant rain combatting jacket that is great for hunting. With its Gore Windstopper membrane, it is one of the most quiet and windproof jackets in the market. It also features a removable hood that can improve your ability to hear any animals nearby. 

There is no doubt that it can get quite cold when it rains. This SITKA jacket has a double-layer Polartec Alpha Direct panel that can retain heat and keep you warm during your hunt out in the rain. Lastly, the Durable Water Repellent (DWR)  finish will help resist light precipitation to keep you dry.

Pros

• Warm
• Great for stealth
• Keeps you dry

Cons

• Expensive
• Might be too warm for some people, especially if you don’t live in a colder area

The Rivers West Men’s Hunting Waterproof Ambush Jacket features a zip-off visor hood that has three different adjustments. First, the visor of this jacket diffuses the rain that goes on the side of the coat. This is to prevent any excess rainwater from dripping to the front of your face that could shroud your vision. This can help you during your hunt, especially if the rain is pouring hard.

This jacket also features a sling grip on your shoulder to allow you to have easy access to your gun. It can also help in cooling yourself when it’s too hot with its underarm zipper vents. It expels your excess body heat and let’s cool air into the jacket. 

Lastly, it uses an advanced waterproof fleece material to provide you both comfort and breathability. This is one of the first few jackets that use seam-sealing technology in genuine fleece. And with the use of fleece, it reduces fabric noise, unlike other fabrics.

Overall, it is a great jacket that has numerous great features that are advantageous for your hunt. 

Pros

• Very warm (which is also great for winter hunting)
• Durable
• Breathable
• Waterproof
• High-insulated collar

Cons

• Quite pricey
• Needs to washed frequently

The Kryptek Men’s Waterproof Cadog Shield Jacket is a great jacket that is perfect for hunting. It features a mechanical stretch woven softshell that is water-resistant, quiet, and very comfortable. 

Its Durable Water Repellent (DWR) technology is a polymer layer that protects against water. This technology repels water, enabling it to form beads on the surface of a fabric. This causes it to bounce or roll off from the material rather than absorb it. Finally, the design of Kryptek includes micro and macro layers influenced by military camouflage netting. This results in a 3D look on a 2D surface as well as near-invisibility. 

This is a great jacket, with its many excellent features, it will definitely catch your eye.

Pros

• Great for stealth
• Great value for your money
• Warm
• Can protect you from the wind
• Not bulky

Cons

• Water-resistant only (might not be great for heavy rains)

Mil-Tec creates tactical and outdoor products that are perfect for people who enjoy the outdoors. The Mil-Tec Ripstop Wet Weather Poncho is one of Mil-Tac’s products that are perfect for your rainy hunting adventures.

It is made with a 100% waterproof polyester ripstop that prevents you from getting wet. Not only that, but it is also multi-purpose. You can use it many different ways; wearing it as is, turning it into a small shelter, using it as a groundsheet so that you can sit on the surface, and even as a tarp protection. In addition, the material is thick, meaning it won’t tear easily, so you can use it as many times as you want without ruining it.

Overall, it is an excellent poncho with many different uses, and it serves its purpose on your hunt. Plus, it is also very affordable!

Pros

• Durable
• Great value for your money
• Waterproof
• Versatile 
• Gives you full body protection from the weather

Cons

• Cheap cords were used

Another great poncho in this list is the HAZARD 4 Poncho Villa(TM). This poncho can fully cover and protect your body from any weather conditions you might face during your hunt. It is very durable, comfortable to use, and versatile. It is also easy to fold and pack with your things as it has its own integrated pouch.

The only drawback of this poncho is that it is only water-resistant, meaning it can’t totally protect you from heavy rains. However, you can use it if it’s slightly raining outside.

Pros

• Durable
• Comfortable
• Versatile
• Easy to pack

Cons

• Only water-resistant (might not be great for heavy rains)

USGI Industries is a brand owned by disabled veterans. They were able to create a great poncho which is the USGI Industries Military Style Poncho. This poncho has an adjustable hood drawstring that enhances resistance properties against the rain and provides for a snug fit around the head for extra protection and to avoid water from obscuring your line of vision.

It also features a water-resistant high-density rip-stop polyester. In addition, the material has a polyurethane coating to give an exceptional 3000mm water resistance performance. Lastly, its heavy-duty grommets allow you to use the poncho in many different ways, such as using it as tent protection.

Pros

• Covers your body nicely
• Multi-purpose
• Adjustable 
• Great for stealth
• Durable

Cons

• Only water-resistant (might not be great for heavy rains)

Pants

Just like your jacket and ponchos, your pants are also your first line of defense against the rain. It serves as a wall between your body and the rain shower to keep you warm throughout your hunt. The rain can make the temperature drop, and if you are wet, the cold can cause hypothermia. With a great pair of pants, it can keep you warm, dry and re-heat you if you are wet. It is an added layer of protection against harsh weather conditions. 

Below, we listed great rain pants choices that you can choose from. They are all waterproof or water-resistant, breathable, and durable, perfect for outdoor activities like hunting.

Other Essential Materials You Need During Your Hunt

Towels and Dry Clothes

One of the most important things you should never forget is bringing extra towels and dry clothes. These towels and dry clothes are a defense mechanism for the cold and wet environment. Even if you do have waterproof and windproof gear, staying drenched still has the risk of you getting sick. 

Waterproof Bags

Waterproof bags are an essential item, especially for people who often go outdoors and for hunters. However, when you’re outside, there is no guarantee that your things won’t get wet if you’re using a regular bag that isn’t at least water-resistant.

But what is the difference between a waterproof and water-resistant bag? A waterproof bag means you can completely submerge the bag in a body of water without letting moisture inside. In comparison, a water-resistant bag will only protect the inside of the bag from a drizzle to slightly heavy rain, although this is not guaranteed. So choosing a waterproof bag is the best choice, especially if you are going to hunt in the rain. But, of course, you wouldn’t want your things to get wet, right?

Why You Should Hunt in The Rain

You might be thinking, “Hunting in the rain? That’s absurd! Why would I do that?” Well, hunting in the rain is not as bad as you think. But, of course, we’re not saying that you should if there’s a strong storm. Instead, we encourage you to hunt when an average amount of rain would turn into a drizzle. 

Several hunters would go out of their way just to hunt in the rain, and for excellent reasons.

Reason #1: Smell

The number one reason that you should hunt in the rain is that rain can mask your scent. We all know that animals have very sensitive noses because their sense of smell acts as a defense mechanism. Animals have thousands of scent receptors that make their sense of scent a thousand times better than that of a human. 

With the rain, it becomes a human defense mechanism for the animals’ excellent scent receptors. Precipitation collides with your scent particles in the air and drags them down to the ground, diluting them. This significantly decreases the likelihood of those scent particles reaching the noses of surrounding animals.

Reason #2: Sound

The second is that the rain can also help you to move a little bit more freely because the rain will help mask not only your scent but also the sounds when you walk or when you’re breathing. It is critical to walk as softly as possible to avoid alerting surrounding animals of your presence. This is especially important in regions where your setup is located near various significant food sources and active sleeping areas. 

In times like this, rain may well be your best friend. Just several hours of rain may moisten the forest floor, making leaves and tiny twigs fall quietly beneath your feet. Don’t reveal your cover by sporting loud rain gear when wet leaves and twigs provide a quiet route to your location. Any outer rainwear that produces much noise while you move around should be left at home. 

If you use loud hunting rain gear, you will alert several animals of where you are, and that wouldn’t be a great start to your hunt, right?

Reason #3: Barometric Pressure

Lastly, animals are in tune with any changes or fluctuations in the weather due to the fact that they can sense the drop in the barometric pressure. 

Barometric pressure is the force exerted by the weight of the air above your head. We humans don’t notice this pressure above us because we are used to this kind of pressure. But in animals, they are more sensitive and have great instincts when it comes to this.

When animals notice this drop in the barometric pressure, they will seek shelter, meaning they will go out. So you can use this opportunity when the barometric pressure drops to hunt animals. Although you have to make sure that you don’t hunt on a heavy downpour as it may result in severe injuries if you ever slip down and fall.

Factors to Consider Before Purchasing Rain Hunting Gear

There are a few factors you need to consider before you purchase hunting gear for the rain. And sometimes, it feels like a challenge to know where to start. So, we are here to help you determine what rain gear you should purchase for your rainy endeavors. It would be best if you considered the following when choosing your hunting gear:

Waterproof or Water-resistance

The number component you should look for in rain hunting gear is its ability to be waterproof or at least water-resistant. Choosing waterproof rain gear is the best possible choice if you are thinking of hunting out in the rain. This is because getting drenched in rainwater may leave you sick and unable to move. 

When it rains, the chance of getting colder gets higher, especially in places with a cooler temperature. So not only should you protect yourself from the rainwater, but also the cold that the rain may bring. This is to help and prevent you from getting sick.

Windproof

Next is the gears’ ability to be windproof. As mentioned above, not only do you want to protect yourself from the rainwater, but also the cold environment. When you get rained on and get drenched, your body temperature already decreases. What if the rain comes with wind? Then the wind and your drenched body would work hand in hand to get your body’s temperature to drop even more. 

So, getting windproof outer gear will also help you stay warm during your hunt out in the rainy hunting field. 

Warmth and Insulation

Your inner layer should provide you with enough warmth and insulation to keep you warm throughout your hunt but not hot enough that would hinder you from hunting.

You should choose an inner layer that is perfect for the environment where you will hunt. This is due to the fact that getting too hot or too cold could be a hindrance to your hunt. 

Quality of Material

Next is the quality of the material. Some certain materials or clothes are made precisely for hunting gear. For example, rain hunting gear is meant to be waterproof. However, some waterproof fabrics may feel hot, stuffy, and sweaty, especially during high levels of activity like when you’re running to capture your target. So, you must choose a material that is breathable and won’t restrict your movements.

Additionally, you should also choose a durable and reliable material because you don’t want your gear ripping just right before your hunt, right? Especially if you forget to bring extra gear with you. Tearing of gear can delay or even postpone your quest, and if your hunt gets delayed, you might lose your opportunity to catch your prey.

Packability 

Some rain gear seems to be more convenient to pack and transport than others. The most common gear includes a carry bag and some raincoats that can fold into themselves for easy traveling.

Versatile

The ideal rain gear may be used for a variety of purposes. These transformational abilities are not seen in lower-priced versions. When necessary, great rain gear frequently serves as a cover, blanket, or other essential items. Invest in high-quality equipment and stay prepared.

Quietness

As mentioned before, animals are sensitive in terms of sound, so you must choose hunting gear that is quiet so as not to blow your cover.

Seams

Examine the seams for any problem areas or holes that might lead to water leaking. To seal holes and strengthen the clothing, seams are sewn and coated with waterproof adhesives. Though higher-quality seams are more expensive, you’ll be better off with them than with inexpensive rain gear.

Wrap-Up

Rainy day hunting has many incredible benefits, and it can help you get an even better catch. But it is not always fun and rainbows. You can get severely injured, especially if you do not bring the essentials when it comes to hunting out in the rain. 

Looking for the essentials can be tricky, especially if you are a beginner. But this guide can help you prepare for the things you need to have and know about rainy day hunts. From the top gears that several hunters use to even the factors you should look into before purchasing a piece of gear. With the best gear and planning ahead of time, your hunt can absolutely give you excellent results. 

Additionally, if you choose to hunt during the winter, then check out “The Best Cold Weather Hunting Gear: A Complete Guide 2021.” This guide will give you a runthrough of all the things you should know before going on a hunt in the cold weather.

But always remember, prioritize your safety and plan ahead of time to prevent any accidents and/or mishaps that could occur during your trip. If you ever do find yourself in a bind, get in contact with the authorities as fast as you can. So, take care of yourself and don’t forget to have fun!