Rain Gear

[Revtro]

Hey guys,
I'm hoping to get some good rain gear this weekend at the Spring Classic.  The HPR stuff is on sale, but here are my questions.  Since the HPR is also laminated with Gore Tex, it is as waterproof as all the other high quality rain gear?  Is the main difference between the HPR and the 100MPH, mainly warmth and wind resistance?  Or is the 100 MPH and the new Pro Qualifier stuff actually more rain proof?  I had some rain gear that worked ok for me last year until I found myself in a 4 hour constant downpour.  Basically I had to drive home wet all the way down to my... well, you know.  Anyone have any experiences with the various different rain gear lines that BPS sells.  I know the 100MPH stuff is the bomb.  I probably can't afford it though.  Will the other stuff stay just as rain proof?
Thanks!

[stackenem]

I fished a 6 hour tournament in a driving down pour and stayed totally dry in my frog togs. They are great warm weather gear but I don't think they would be that good in cold weather or cold wind.

[Hooksetter]

Revtro,

I bought a set of rain gear at Gander Mtn. 2 or 3 years ago called Guide Series TecH20. It is not made with Goretex, but something similiar.So far I have not had any problems with it.? My buddy has the same kind and his have been good also.

Last year I spent 8 hours on St. Clair with my 2 son-in-laws fishing for wallies and smallies in a steady hard rain. They were both wearing packable rain gear and got soaked. I was campletely dry except where some water got in around my neck, I didn't have the front all closed up like it should have been.

I think the set ( bibs and coat) were about 40% cheaper than the Goretex set. I bought mine at the Gander Mtn. in Flint at the moving sale they had before they moved into the new store. I think I paid about $80.00 for the set.

I have a set of Frogg Toggs as well and they work great in warmer weather. They have never leaked.

[Skulley]

Frogg Toggs have been great for me warm or cold weather.  Best Rain Suit I ever owned.  I have had a few.  My daughter wants Frogg Toggs.  Told her I would buy her a set when she stopped growing.


BD         

[Dan]

Have the frogg toggs as well and would agree they are the best buy for the money. Also have a 100mph suit from BPS and I love it. It is comfortable, warm and is just the thing for watching fishing shows on a Saturday morning.

[dcain]

I have Frogg Toggs as well. Also fished in cold weather when I loved in TN and they work really well. I always wore layers underneath them.

Yes it does get cold in TN. Have fished a couple of cabin fever tourneys when it was in the teens.

[MBell]

I've been wearing frog toggs all winter and they have been great.  I buy a size bigger and wear my winter stuff underneath.  The stuff is 100% wather proof but doesn't last too long.  I put duct tape on the knees so I don't have to worry about them wearing out.  For the price you can't beat them.  I just bought a new set beacause I tore my bibs up but at $50 a set, who cares.  It's cheaper to buy a few frogg toggs a year than some of the other suits.  Janns netcraft has them for $50 a set, a little cheaper than bps.
-Matt

[Dan]

Do they have a website?

[Revtro]

Thanks for all the input.  I will be purchasing Frog Toggs for my wife since she will be my parter for one of the NBAA divisions this year.  For myself, I ended up getting the new Pro Qualifier stuff.  I liked that the all the zippers are sealed and that the knees in the bibs are reinforced.  I was going to get the Red Head GT Jacket, but they sold out of them and they are officially discontinued.  Too bad because at $99 for a Gore Tex jacket that accepts a zip in liner, it was the best deal around for a heavyweight nylon GT parka.  So, I'm gonna make them give me a deal on the Pro Qualifier parka.  They were supposed to order me a Red Head prior to finding out that they were discontinued.  But since no one bothered to call me and tell me this before they sold out of them, I will be making BPS make it up to me with a deal on the PQ stuff.  They already told me they would.

They also told me that eventually they will be phasing out the 100mph stuff in favor of the new design that the Pro Qualifier uses.  The manager in the dept basically said that they may re-design the 100mph stuff or phase it out altogether.  We'll have to see.

Well, thanks again for the input.  It helped me make a decision.