Let It Rain

Breathable fabrics and angling features combine in the latest generation of rain jackets

Cabela's Gore-Tex Guidewear Wading Jacket By the Book: Gore-Tex shell with Coolmax lining and storm-flapped conventional zipper; stretch interior cuff with hook-and-loop closing overcuff; two exterior flybox pockets with vertical waterproof zippers piggybacked over two storm-flapped flybox pockets with conventional zippers; waterproof zip pocket on left sleeve; two interior zip pockets; waterproof zip pocket on each side of the back; drawcord hem. S-3XL, $199.95. Thumbs Up: Nine pockets give cavernous, useful storage.Waist-level, vertical-entry pockets at each side of the back are surprisingly practical and, to me, worth the elimination of a big cargo pocket. Solid hood design doesn't restrict vision. Surprisingly little stiffness with all the front zippers. Turtle-like weather protection. Thumbs Down: Stretch inner cuffs are too short and tend to push clothing underneath up your arm, leaving a cold spot at the wrist. Water seal is only moderate. Lining makes the jacket rather warm and slightly diminishes breathability; interior pockets are rather lightly built. Handwarmer pockets would be nice for a jacket best suited to cool or cold temperatures. All in All: Good rain protection, designed specifically for high-volume storage, and best for anglers who'll use it. Pack up the jacket and you can leave the vest at home. Stay with a vest and you may find this jacket overdesigned. Quite nicely priced for its materials and features.

Chota Deluxe Wading Jacket By the Book: Toray Entrant Dermizax fabric, mesh lined; neoprene cuffs; two zip- and snap-closing exterior flybox pockets piggyback on two chest pockets with waterproof zippers; handwarmer pockets; pit zips; cargo pouch; CVX hood system; zip-on skirt extension for knee-length conversion. XS-2XL. $289.95. Thumbs Up: Clever features here. A baseball hat (included) snaps into hood brim so that the whole hood moves when you turn your head, always giving a clear line of sight--a simple idea that works. Stacked vertical zippers, inside and out, allow access to big flybox pockets from outside or inside jacket; leave both zippers open and you have a reach-through to shirt pockets. Nice, tightly sealing, infinitely adjustable cuffs for optimal fit. Good adjustability in hood. Thumbs Down: Lining throughout, especially hood and sleeves, slows breathability. Handwarmer openings are a bit small. The exposed vertical zipper on the cargo pouch is not especially weatherproof. All in All: Lining and overall weight make this best for anglers seeking a warmer jacket for cooler weather. A good choice for anglers who like lots of big pockets, who curse vision-restricting hoods, or who want the flexibility of the skirt extension for a multi-purpose foul-weather jacket.

Cloudveil 8X Jacket By the Book: Gore-Tex XCR shell; waterproof front zipper; two hook-and-loop-closure exterior flybox pockets piggyback over smaller, side-entry pockets with waterproof zips; waterproof-zippered handwarmer pockets and pit zips; waterproof zip cargo pouch; hem drawcord. S-2XL, $395. Thumbs Up: State of the art fabric gives excellent breathability in a shell designed for extreme weather protection. Flybox pockets are secure but easy to access, and overall storage capacity is high, including the very large cargo pocket. Good hood design doesn't obstruct peripheral vision, and semi-stiff visor prevents sag. Articulated elbows and sufficient sleeve length help prevent cuffs from riding up. Thumbs Down: Cuffs--non-adjustable neoprene inner cuff fits loosely and doesn't cinch down to watertight seal and is bulky; shell is a little stiff; sleeves cut a bit narrow for cold-weather layering and may be a little restrictive for some anglers; cordlocks on hood and hem slip won't hold adjustments securely. All in All: Top-grade shell, clean design, and waterproof zippers throughout this one exemplifies some of the latest ideas in a technical jacket, but still offers the option of traditional bellows flybox pockets. Excellent weather protection with angler-friendly features, though to my taste some of the performance details still need tweaking. Jacket cut seems a bit slimmer than most, so you might benefit by bumping up a size.

L.L. Bean Rapid River Wading Jacket By the Book: Gore-Tex Soft Shell fabric; waterproof front zipper; two bellows exterior flybox pockets over zip-close handwarmer pockets, piggybacked with flat, stretch-panel pockets; two zip-close interior mesh pockets; cargo pocket; two sleeved retractors; pit zips; detachable hood; removable 9-inch waterproof waist gasket; drawcord hem. S-2XL, $299. Thumbs Up: Stretch soft shell and articulated elbows give mobility and comfort. Great hood, and double inner/outer cuffs seal extremely well. Excellent all-around weather protection. Pocket configuration is useful and ample without being excessive. Zip-closing waist gasket--like a kayaker's spray skirt--helps seal out water when wading deep. Thumbs Down: Jacket front is a little stiff, and zip-closing pocket openings are a tad small, especially for gloved hands. Stiffness from the pit zips can make armholes feel confining, especially over cold-weather clothing. Overall, it's somewhat heavy, partly because the jacket is 6 inches longer than average. All in All: To my mind, something of a specialty jacket. The extra hem length and waist gasket may be best appreciated by aggressive river and surf waders. It does help keep your vest worn underneath dry in momentary deep wading or in beach rollers, but water will seep in with prolonged immersion. I didn't find it all that useful for ordinary fishing. Though rather warm for summer use, it gives terrific three-season weather protection, with enough length and good looks, in a techie sort of way, to double as street wear. Extreme anglers who habitually duct-tape a wading jacket hem to their waders should give this one a look.
Read more – offline – from the current issue; subscribe to FRR.