Is anyone as unimpressed as I am with the garbage Simms is putting out! my CX jacket wetted out completely today.I have only wore it five or six times and have not abused it in anyway.What rain gear do you have and how would you rate it?

I’m surprised on the review of Simms products. I don’t own any but there seems to be a lot of satisfied customers.

 

I’ve got a set of Cabelas Guidewear Lite. It’s uninsulated and a thinner version of the standard Guidewear. I fish a fair amount in summer rain so I don’t need warmth. I just add a layer underneath if necessary.

 

I have been applying re-waterproofing to the outside of the jacket and pants once per year in an attempt to maintain its ability to shed water. My last set eventually just lost its ability to do that so I’m trying to stay on top of it.

I bought an old Gore-Tex jacket for $20 on eBay and spray coated it. The quality is high and fingers crossed it keeps me dry.

I’m surprised by the Simms comment. I’ve loved all of the simms I’ve owned, though my stuff is older. 
 

I wear frogg toggs guide series. I’ve had the jacket for 4 seasons now. I just got new pants last season. The first pair wasn’t guide series but was a lighter build and I eventually wore through the crotch seam. I keep them for snow blowing now. The guide wear are very reinforced. 

Gortex Guidewear, HUK uninsulated rain Jacket & Bibbs and a couple of different Simms set ups, are all part of my foul weather gear. 

The Simms stuff is easily "The Best" fitting, most comfortable and superior

at protecting me from the elements.

It is also the most $$$.

A-Jay

I own many SIMMS rainsuits, although not a CX, and have nothing but good experiences with them.  I've been in some pretty harsh weather in them too.

 

I suggest reaching out to SIMMS for a replacement.  No company is perfect, and sometimes mistakes slip through, but they stand behind their products and should take care of you.  I've never heard of anyone having problems with SIMMS customer support.

57 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

I’m surprised by the Simms comment. I’ve loved all of the simms I’ve owned, though my stuff is older. 
 

I wear frogg toggs guide series. I’ve had the jacket for 4 seasons now. I just got new pants last season. The first pair wasn’t guide series but was a lighter build and I eventually wore through the crotch seam. I keep them for snow blowing now. The guide wear are very reinforced. 

I'm surprised that I'm actually saying this also,it's just so frustrating paying hundreds of dollars and being soaked to the bone on the way back to the car!

I have 2 sets of BPS rain gear. One is light and the other is their 100mph. They’ve been good for the few seasons I’ve had them.

19 minutes ago, Bassnyak said:

I'm surprised that I'm actually saying this also,it's just so frustrating paying hundreds of dollars and being soaked to the bone on the way back to the car!

Not sure if you're using something like this as part of how you maintain your gear.

But it's been very good at helping to maintain the the stuff I use.

A-Jay

48 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Not sure if you're using something like this as part of how you maintain your gear.

But it's been very good at helping to maintain the the stuff I use.

A-Jay

Yes I have used the Nikwax in the past on my waders.You would think that I wouldn't have to use this on basically a new jacket.

I use the Nikwax products as well, @A-Jay.

 

Most rainwear has a DWR (durable water repellent) coating. Keeps water from soaking in to the fabric. DWR needs to be re-applied occasionally. 

 

My old Gore-Tex has held up okay. Some seams leak, and could use more DWR. I don't fish much in the rain, but I do like Gore-Tex to cut the wind.

 

When it does rain, I have a cheap pair of Frog Togs I throw on over the Gore-Tex...manages to keep me pretty dry. 

 

 

 

 

Frabill(thin) for warm weather and a BPS 100mph for temps under 50 degrees. Both are 6 or 7 years old and work great with zero maintenance given.

My uncle has simms and fishes a lot, haven’t heard a bad word about simms.

 

I bought a GILL set several years ago and it’s been rock solid! Mine is an insulated set and I use a cheaper frogg toggs set for summer fishing, which works fine also. I would rate the Gill set a 9 out of 10. My only gripe is it’s difficult to go #1 if you have to. The zipper on the bibs has material behind it to keep water out. It keeps ya dry for sure!

I’ve been using Aftco rain gear for awhile and it’s been performing great. Several friend use Simms and all seemed very satisfied. Sorry to hear of your problem but I would recommend contacting Simms. They’re a good company and I would guess they would help you out.

How hard did it rain, and how long were you out in the rain?  The great advantage of Gortex over traditional rain gear is it breathes, and is very light.  A Gortex jacket is very comfortable, and you don't get soaked with sweat when you are active.  The one disadvantage is Gortex does have a saturation point.  If you are in very hard rain for a long period of time any Gortex  jacket will start to leak.  Gortex waders with triple layers of Gortex fabric are an exception, but most jackets are not built like the waders.  There is a reason you see deck hands on commercial fishing boats in Alaska still wearing Grundens, or Helly Hanson traditional heavy cumbersome rain gear.  Gortex is great for most situations, and is so comfortable many times I don't even take it off when the rain quits, but if I'm going to be out on the water in heavy rain for a long period of time, I put on my old heavy, uncomfortable, Helly Hanson bibs and jacket.

3 minutes ago, king fisher said:

How hard did it rain, and how long were you out in the rain?  The great advantage of Gortex over traditional rain gear is it breathes, and is very light.  A Gortex jacket is very comfortable, and you don't get soaked with sweat when you are active.  The one disadvantage is Gortex does have a saturation point.  If you are in very hard rain for a long period of time any Gortex  jacket will start to leak.  Gortex waders with triple layers of Gortex fabric are an exception, but most jackets are not built like the waders.  There is a reason you see deck hands on commercial fishing boats in Alaska still wearing Grundens, or Helly Hanson traditional heavy cumbersome rain gear.  Gortex is great for most situations, and is so comfortable many times I don't even take it off when the rain quits, but if I'm going to be out on the water in heavy rain for a long period of time, I put on my old heavy, uncomfortable, Helly Hanson bibs and jacket.

 

I too keep my bibs bottoms on most of the time they are in the boat.  They aren't goretex, but are frogg toggs version of it- 3-4 layer, breathable membrane, etc.  Since I'm in a kayak it helps with spray and splash too.  Anything under 60 degrees and I'll have them on for sure.

11 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Not sure if you're using something like this as part of how you maintain your gear.

But it's been very good at helping to maintain the the stuff I use.

 

That's what I was getting at with my initial post earlier in this thread.  Maintaining the fabric's ability to shed water is key.  And you have to do it regularly.

 

My last set I didn't try doing it until after I had already owned it for a decade.  By that point, it was already too late.  Reviving the garment's ability to shed water doesn't work after that long.  I am determined to stay on top of it so that my current set keeps that feature.

3 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

That's what I was getting at with my initial post earlier in this thread.  Maintaining the fabric's ability to shed water is key.  And you have to do it regularly.

 

My last set I didn't try doing it until after I had already owned it for a decade.  By that point, it was already too late.  Reviving the garment's ability to shed water doesn't work after that long.  I am determined to stay on top of it so that my current set keeps that feature.

X2

Agreed.

Maintaining the waterproof properties works best if there are still some there to work with. After that it's too late. Disregarding specific care instructions is not a good plan either.

A-Jay

I just get soaked, part of living in a rainforest. Even those pros will tell you (off the record) that you will get wet no matter what you buy if it’s raining hard enough 

 

@Pat Brown just catches 9 lb bass in a poncho 

Whatever you get, ensure it's designed for fishing.  Here's what a pair of Carhartt Storm Defender bibs did to a boat seat:

 

I have a Simm’s Challenger suit and it’s been amazing. I’ve had a couple 100mph suits and they’ve been underwhelming at best. Both fell apart (returned the first after less than a year of use and the cuffs coming unstitched), and then the same issue with the second pair. First pair was a hassle to return so I didn’t bother with the second pair, just kept them for a beater set.

Ponchos are much dryer than other stuff in my experience!  If you're serious about getting wet and fishing - get a poncho!

3 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I have a Simm’s Challenger suit and it’s been amazing. I’ve had a couple 100mph suits and they’ve been underwhelming at best. Both fell apart (returned the first after less than a year of use and the cuffs coming unstitched), and then the same issue with the second pair. First pair was a hassle to return so I didn’t bother with the second pair, just kept them for a beater set.

Great gear.

Besides fishing, I use it to blow snow !

A-Jay

1 hour ago, king fisher said:

How hard did it rain, and how long were you out in the rain?  The great advantage of Gortex over traditional rain gear is it breathes, and is very light.  A Gortex jacket is very comfortable, and you don't get soaked with sweat when you are active.  The one disadvantage is Gortex does have a saturation point.  If you are in very hard rain for a long period of time any Gortex  jacket will start to leak.  Gortex waders with triple layers of Gortex fabric are an exception, but most jackets are not built like the waders.  There is a reason you see deck hands on commercial fishing boats in Alaska still wearing Grundens, or Helly Hanson traditional heavy cumbersome rain gear.  Gortex is great for most situations, and is so comfortable many times I don't even take it off when the rain quits, but if I'm going to be out on the water in heavy rain for a long period of time, I put on my old heavy, uncomfortable, Helly Hanson bibs and jacket.

It was a steady rain,I was wet within 15 or 20 minutes,I fished about 3 hours.

I know for most of the country this is a bad time to ask this, but what are some good rain jackets to wear in warm weather? Just something that will keep you dry but not make you hot. Is that even possible?