Pick One Set Based on How You Actually Get Wet.
If you want the short answer, I grab Sitka Coldfront for late-season cold rain and long sits, and I grab Sitka Cloudburst for warm-weather storms and hiking where breathability matters more.
I have worn both types of “waterproof” gear long enough to know that staying dry is only half the battle.
The other half is not sweating yourself soaked on the walk in, then freezing at 4:15 p.m. when the wind lays your sweat against your skin.
Back in November 2019 in Pike County, Illinois, I watched a 156-inch buck step out after a cold front, and the only reason I stayed put was because my outer layer kept the wet and wind from cutting through me.
I hunt 30-plus days a year, mostly bow, and I have burned money on rain gear that looked tough in the store but wet out in two sits.
Decide What “Rain Gear” Means For Your Season.
If you are hunting 48 degrees and steady rain, you need different gear than 72 degrees and a pop-up storm.
Here is what I do before I spend a dime. I write down the top three wet scenarios I actually hunt.
For me that is early season thunderstorms in the Missouri Ozarks, all-day drizzle and wind on an Illinois lease, and cold sleet junk I have dealt with in Buffalo County, Wisconsin.
If you are mostly a stand-sitter in November, I lean Coldfront. If you are a walk-and-glass or run-and-gun bowhunter, I lean Cloudburst.
This connects to what I wrote about where deer go when it rains because your rain gear choice changes where you can hunt without blowing deer out.
Coldfront Vs Cloudburst In One Sentence, With The Tradeoff.
Coldfront is heavier and warmer, and it blocks wind better. Cloudburst is lighter and packs easier, and it breathes better while you move.
The tradeoff is simple. The more “bombproof” the shell feels, the more you pay in weight and sweat.
My buddy swears by running a heavy shell all season because he hates being cold, but I have found that I hunt worse if I’m damp from the walk in.
My Quick Rule of Thumb
If the forecast is 38 to 52 degrees with steady rain and 10 to 18 mph wind, I wear Coldfront and I walk in slower.
If you see rain beading on your sleeves at first and then the fabric starts to darken and cling, expect your jacket to wet out and your sit to get short.
If conditions change to warm rain above 60 degrees or you have a 1-mile hike, switch to Cloudburst and vent hard on the walk in.
Make The First Decision: Are You Sitting For Hours Or Moving A Lot.
If I am sitting, I want quiet fabric, wind block, and room to layer. If I am moving, I want packability and venting.
Here is what I do on my Pike County, Illinois lease. I dress light for the walk, then add insulation at the tree.
Here is what I do on Missouri Ozarks public land. I wear less jacket and more merino, because I’m climbing ridges and sweating no matter what.
If you are hunting steep hills like Buffalo County, Wisconsin, forget about “tough guy” heavy gear and focus on not sweating out. Sweating ruins more hunts than rain does.
Noise Is A Bigger Deal Than Most Guys Admit.
I bowhunt first, so noise matters to me more than it does to my rifle buddies.
I learned the hard way that “waterproof” and “quiet” do not always live together. Back in 2007 I shifted in a cheap rain jacket, it rasped like a potato chip bag, and the doe snapped her head so hard I still remember it.
Coldfront fabric tends to feel more substantial, and in my experience that often means a little more sound when it’s stiff and cold.
Cloudburst feels lighter and less bulky, and that usually helps bowhunters on draw. The tradeoff is you can feel wind cut more if you are under-layered.
When I am trying to tighten up my shot setups, I re-read my own notes on where to shoot a deer because quiet gear does not matter if you rush the shot.
Don’t Ignore Wind With Rain, Or You Will Get Cold Fast.
Cold rain at 41 degrees with a 12 mph wind is not “just rain.” It is a slow robbery of your body heat.
Here is what I do. If wind is part of the storm, I pick the shell that blocks it better, then I pick my stand where wind covers my access.
This connects to what I wrote about do deer move in the wind because wind changes how deer enter a field edge and how close you can get.
In the Missouri Ozarks, wind plus rain also makes the woods quieter, which sounds good, but it makes swirling scent worse on those hollers.
I wasted money on $400 ozone scent control that made zero difference, so now I put that money into a shell that lets me control sweat and a plan that keeps wind right.
Breathability: The Mistake Guys Make Is Treating It Like A Buzzword.
If you sweat on the walk in, you are wet. Deer do not care if it came from rain or your back.
Here is what I do. I crack pit zips and hike 10 minutes slower than I want to.
I learned the hard way that the “fast walk in” costs me the last hour of daylight. I have sat shivering at 5:05 p.m. because I rushed at 3:30 p.m.
Cloudburst is built more for that moving hunter problem. Coldfront is built more for the “I am sitting in it all day” problem.
Pocket Layout And Hood Fit Matter More Than Instagram Guys Say.
If your hood blocks your peripheral vision, you will miss deer. If your pockets dump water into your lap, you will hate your life.
Here is what I do in the garage before season. I put the jacket on, I shoulder my bow, I turn my head like I am following a buck, and I check if the hood pulls with my movement.
I also test pockets with wet gloves. If I cannot open a zipper quietly with cold fingers, it is a problem in November.
This ties into my notes on are deer smart because little noises and odd movement get noticed faster than most hunters believe.
Layering Choices: Pick A Shell That Matches Your Midlayers.
Coldfront makes more sense if you run puffies or thick fleece under it. Cloudburst makes more sense if you run lighter merino and keep moving.
Here is what I do for a cold, wet Illinois sit. Merino base, grid fleece, then shell, then I add a puffy vest in the pack if the temp drops below 35.
Here is what I do for Ozarks rain at 55 degrees. Merino base, thin synthetic mid, then shell, and I skip anything bulky.
If you want a reality check on how much insulation you need, I look at how much a deer weighs and remind myself a mature buck is a big heat engine. He can move in weather that makes me miserable.
Durability Vs Weight Is A Real Tradeoff, Not A Forum Argument.
I have ripped lightweight rain gear crawling under blowdowns on public land. I have also hated heavy gear on long hikes.
Back in the Missouri Ozarks on Mark Twain National Forest, I slid down a wet oak ridge and tore a cheap shell on a dead snag. That was a long, wet walk back to the truck.
Coldfront feels like it wants to take more abuse. Cloudburst feels like it wants you to treat it like a shell, not a brush jacket.
If you hunt nasty stuff, forget about shaving 6 ounces and focus on not shredding your gear in October.
For public land, I would rather have a shell that survives three seasons than one that packs tiny but leaks after one bad rip.
Price And Value: I Care About Cost Per Sit, Not The Tag.
Sitka is expensive. I am not going to pretend it is not.
I grew up poor and learned to hunt public land before I could afford a lease, so I still look at gear like a used truck. I want it to start every time.
Here is what I do. I divide the price by how many wet sits I will actually do in three years.
If I am going to wear it 25 rainy sits per season, that is 75 sits in three years. If it saves five hunts from ending early, it paid for itself in meat and tags.
This also ties into processing. If you want to stretch the value of a deer, I keep my workflow tight like I laid out in how much meat from a deer because wasted meat costs more than a jacket.
Here Is The Simple Way I Decide Between Coldfront And Cloudburst.
If I am hunting November gun season or late bow with cold rain, I want Coldfront style protection. If I am hunting early bow in warm rain, I want Cloudburst style venting.
Back in Buffalo County, Wisconsin, I sat a ridge in sleet that felt like needles. A lighter shell would have been “waterproof,” but I would have been done by noon from wind chill.
On the flip side, in the Ozarks in September, I have sweat so bad on the hike that I could wring my base layer. In that case, a heavier shell would have made me wetter than the storm did.
One Mistake To Avoid: Buying Rain Gear To Fix Bad Timing.
Rain gear does not make deer move at noon. It just keeps you out there long enough to catch the movement that already happens.
When I am trying to time movement around storms, I check feeding times first, then I watch barometer and wind shift, then I pick access.
I learned the hard way that staying dry does not matter if you blow the bedding area on entry. Dry and busted is still busted.
Product Notes From My Real-World Use, Not A Catalog.
I am not a professional guide or outfitter. I am just a guy who hunts a lot and hates wasting money.
I have wasted money on gear that did not work before learning what actually matters, and rain gear is high on that list.
If you are choosing Sitka rain gear, you are paying for materials and design, but you still have to match it to your style or you will be mad at it.
Find This and More on Amazon
Find This and More on Amazon
Use Rain To Hunt Closer, But Don’t Get Dumb About It.
Rain can cover your sound and let you slip closer to bedding. It can also make tracking a nightmare if you shoot late.
I learned the hard way that poor decisions in bad weather cost deer. In 2007 I gut shot a doe, pushed her too early, never found her, and I still think about it.
If you are hunting in rain, forget about taking a marginal angle and focus on a clean broadside shot inside your real range.
For shot discipline and recovery, I keep the basics in my head from how to field dress a deer because the faster you handle the deer after recovery, the better the meat, especially in wet conditions.
FAQ
Is Sitka Coldfront too warm for early season rain?
Yes, for me it is too warm above about 55 degrees if I am walking more than 600 yards.
If I know I will be moving, I pick Cloudburst and I manage sweat with vents and a slower pace.
Is Sitka Cloudburst enough for cold, windy, all-day sits?
It can be, but you will need better insulation under it, and you will feel wind more than with a heavier, more wind-blocking shell.
If it is 40 degrees with rain and steady wind on my Pike County, Illinois sits, I lean Coldfront because I hate cutting a hunt short.
How do you keep from sweating on the walk in with rain gear?
Here is what I do. I wear my base and maybe a thin midlayer, carry insulation in the pack, and I start the hike cool on purpose.
I also stop once for 90 seconds to dump heat before I climb, because sweat is the enemy in cold rain.
What is the biggest mistake hunters make with rain gear?
They buy a shell to fix bad strategy, then still walk in too fast and hunt the wrong wind.
This ties back to how deer move in wind because wind mistakes ruin hunts faster than getting a little damp.
Should I size rain gear bigger for layering?
Yes, if you plan to sit in late season, but not so big that the fabric flaps or bunches at full draw.
Here is what I do. I try it on over my thickest midlayer, then I draw my bow in the store mirror and make sure the elbows and shoulders do not bind.
Does expensive rain gear help you kill more deer?
It helps me stay on stand longer, and that is what kills deer for me.
My first deer was an 8-point in Iron County, Missouri in November 1998 with a borrowed rifle, and I can tell you this. Time on stand beats fancy gear, but good gear buys time on stand in nasty weather.
Pick One Set Based on How You Actually Get Wet.
If you want the short answer, I grab Sitka Coldfront for late-season cold rain and long sits, and I grab Sitka Cloudburst for warm-weather storms and hiking where breathability matters more.
I have worn both types of “waterproof” gear long enough to know that staying dry is only half the battle.
The other half is not sweating yourself soaked on the walk in, then freezing at 4:15 p.m. when the wind lays your sweat against your skin.
Back in November 2019 in Pike County, Illinois, I watched a 156-inch buck step out after a cold front, and the only reason I stayed put was because my outer layer kept the wet and wind from cutting through me.
I hunt 30-plus days a year, mostly bow, and I have burned money on rain gear that looked tough in the store but wet out in two sits.
Decide What “Rain Gear” Means For Your Season.
If you are hunting 48 degrees and steady rain, you need different gear than 72 degrees and a pop-up storm.
Here is what I do before I spend a dime. I write down the top three wet scenarios I actually hunt.
For me that is early season thunderstorms in the Missouri Ozarks, all-day drizzle and wind on an Illinois lease, and cold sleet junk I have dealt with in Buffalo County, Wisconsin.
If you are mostly a stand-sitter in November, I lean Coldfront. If you are a walk-and-glass or run-and-gun bowhunter, I lean Cloudburst.
This connects to what I wrote about where deer go when it rains because your rain gear choice changes where you can hunt without blowing deer out.
Coldfront Vs Cloudburst In One Sentence, With The Tradeoff.
Coldfront is heavier and warmer, and it blocks wind better. Cloudburst is lighter and packs easier, and it breathes better while you move.
The tradeoff is simple. The more “bombproof” the shell feels, the more you pay in weight and sweat.
My buddy swears by running a heavy shell all season because he hates being cold, but I have found that I hunt worse if I’m damp from the walk in.
My Quick Rule of Thumb
If the forecast is 38 to 52 degrees with steady rain and 10 to 18 mph wind, I wear Coldfront and I walk in slower.
If you see rain beading on your sleeves at first and then the fabric starts to darken and cling, expect your jacket to wet out and your sit to get short.
If conditions change to warm rain above 60 degrees or you have a 1-mile hike, switch to Cloudburst and vent hard on the walk in.
Make The First Decision: Are You Sitting For Hours Or Moving A Lot.
If I am sitting, I want quiet fabric, wind block, and room to layer. If I am moving, I want packability and venting.
Here is what I do on my Pike County, Illinois lease. I dress light for the walk, then add insulation at the tree.
Here is what I do on Missouri Ozarks public land. I wear less jacket and more merino, because I’m climbing ridges and sweating no matter what.
If you are hunting steep hills like Buffalo County, Wisconsin, forget about “tough guy” heavy gear and focus on not sweating out. Sweating ruins more hunts than rain does.
Noise Is A Bigger Deal Than Most Guys Admit.
I bowhunt first, so noise matters to me more than it does to my rifle buddies.
I learned the hard way that “waterproof” and “quiet” do not always live together. Back in 2007 I shifted in a cheap rain jacket, it rasped like a potato chip bag, and the doe snapped her head so hard I still remember it.
Coldfront fabric tends to feel more substantial, and in my experience that often means a little more sound when it’s stiff and cold.
Cloudburst feels lighter and less bulky, and that usually helps bowhunters on draw. The tradeoff is you can feel wind cut more if you are under-layered.
When I am trying to tighten up my shot setups, I re-read my own notes on where to shoot a deer because quiet gear does not matter if you rush the shot.
Don’t Ignore Wind With Rain, Or You Will Get Cold Fast.
Cold rain at 41 degrees with a 12 mph wind is not “just rain.” It is a slow robbery of your body heat.
Here is what I do. If wind is part of the storm, I pick the shell that blocks it better, then I pick my stand where wind covers my access.
This connects to what I wrote about do deer move in the wind because wind changes how deer enter a field edge and how close you can get.
In the Missouri Ozarks, wind plus rain also makes the woods quieter, which sounds good, but it makes swirling scent worse on those hollers.
I wasted money on $400 ozone scent control that made zero difference, so now I put that money into a shell that lets me control sweat and a plan that keeps wind right.
Breathability: The Mistake Guys Make Is Treating It Like A Buzzword.
If you sweat on the walk in, you are wet. Deer do not care if it came from rain or your back.
Here is what I do. I crack pit zips and hike 10 minutes slower than I want to.
I learned the hard way that the “fast walk in” costs me the last hour of daylight. I have sat shivering at 5:05 p.m. because I rushed at 3:30 p.m.
Cloudburst is built more for that moving hunter problem. Coldfront is built more for the “I am sitting in it all day” problem.
Pocket Layout And Hood Fit Matter More Than Instagram Guys Say.
If your hood blocks your peripheral vision, you will miss deer. If your pockets dump water into your lap, you will hate your life.
Here is what I do in the garage before season. I put the jacket on, I shoulder my bow, I turn my head like I am following a buck, and I check if the hood pulls with my movement.
I also test pockets with wet gloves. If I cannot open a zipper quietly with cold fingers, it is a problem in November.
This ties into my notes on are deer smart because little noises and odd movement get noticed faster than most hunters believe.
Layering Choices: Pick A Shell That Matches Your Midlayers.
Coldfront makes more sense if you run puffies or thick fleece under it. Cloudburst makes more sense if you run lighter merino and keep moving.
Here is what I do for a cold, wet Illinois sit. Merino base, grid fleece, then shell, then I add a puffy vest in the pack if the temp drops below 35.
Here is what I do for Ozarks rain at 55 degrees. Merino base, thin synthetic mid, then shell, and I skip anything bulky.
If you want a reality check on how much insulation you need, I look at how much a deer weighs and remind myself a mature buck is a big heat engine. He can move in weather that makes me miserable.
Durability Vs Weight Is A Real Tradeoff, Not A Forum Argument.
I have ripped lightweight rain gear crawling under blowdowns on public land. I have also hated heavy gear on long hikes.
Back in the Missouri Ozarks on Mark Twain National Forest, I slid down a wet oak ridge and tore a cheap shell on a dead snag. That was a long, wet walk back to the truck.
Coldfront feels like it wants to take more abuse. Cloudburst feels like it wants you to treat it like a shell, not a brush jacket.
If you hunt nasty stuff, forget about shaving 6 ounces and focus on not shredding your gear in October.
For public land, I would rather have a shell that survives three seasons than one that packs tiny but leaks after one bad rip.
Price And Value: I Care About Cost Per Sit, Not The Tag.
Sitka is expensive. I am not going to pretend it is not.
I grew up poor and learned to hunt public land before I could afford a lease, so I still look at gear like a used truck. I want it to start every time.
Here is what I do. I divide the price by how many wet sits I will actually do in three years.
If I am going to wear it 25 rainy sits per season, that is 75 sits in three years. If it saves five hunts from ending early, it paid for itself in meat and tags.
This also ties into processing. If you want to stretch the value of a deer, I keep my workflow tight like I laid out in how much meat from a deer because wasted meat costs more than a jacket.
Here Is The Simple Way I Decide Between Coldfront And Cloudburst.
If I am hunting November gun season or late bow with cold rain, I want Coldfront style protection. If I am hunting early bow in warm rain, I want Cloudburst style venting.
Back in Buffalo County, Wisconsin, I sat a ridge in sleet that felt like needles. A lighter shell would have been “waterproof,” but I would have been done by noon from wind chill.
On the flip side, in the Ozarks in September, I have sweat so bad on the hike that I could wring my base layer. In that case, a heavier shell would have made me wetter than the storm did.
One Mistake To Avoid: Buying Rain Gear To Fix Bad Timing.
Rain gear does not make deer move at noon. It just keeps you out there long enough to catch the movement that already happens.
When I am trying to time movement around storms, I check feeding times first, then I watch barometer and wind shift, then I pick access.
I learned the hard way that staying dry does not matter if you blow the bedding area on entry. Dry and busted is still busted.
Product Notes From My Real-World Use, Not A Catalog.
I am not a professional guide or outfitter. I am just a guy who hunts a lot and hates wasting money.
I have wasted money on gear that did not work before learning what actually matters, and rain gear is high on that list.
If you are choosing Sitka rain gear, you are paying for materials and design, but you still have to match it to your style or you will be mad at it.
Find This and More on Amazon
Find This and More on Amazon
Use Rain To Hunt Closer, But Don’t Get Dumb About It.
Rain can cover your sound and let you slip closer to bedding. It can also make tracking a nightmare if you shoot late.
I learned the hard way that poor decisions in bad weather cost deer. In 2007 I gut shot a doe, pushed her too early, never found her, and I still think about it.
If you are hunting in rain, forget about taking a marginal angle and focus on a clean broadside shot inside your real range.
For shot discipline and recovery, I keep the basics in my head from how to field dress a deer because the faster you handle the deer after recovery, the better the meat, especially in wet conditions.
Make The Second Decision: Do You Want “Dry On The Outside” Or “Comfortable All Day”.
Guys get hung up on waterproof ratings, then they quit at 2:00 p.m. because they are clammy and cold.
Here is what I do. I pick the set that keeps me hunting the last 45 minutes of light, not the set that feels toughest in my hands.
Coldfront is the better choice if you get cold easy, sit long, and deal with wind-driven rain on field edges like I do in Pike County, Illinois.
Cloudburst is the better choice if you climb, hike, and still-hunt in wet timber like I do on Missouri Ozarks public land.
Wetting Out And DWR: The Mistake Is Never Maintaining It.
I learned the hard way that “this jacket sucks now” is often “I never washed it and the face fabric is clogged”.
Here is what I do. I wash shells with Nikwax Tech Wash, then I hit them with Nikwax TX.Direct and dry them like the label says.
If you see the outer fabric darken fast and stop beading, you are about to feel colder even if the membrane is still holding water out.
I used to ignore this step because I was cheap and stubborn, then I paid for it on an all-day drizzle sit that turned into a four-hour shiver fest.
Fit For Bowhunting: Don’t Buy A Great Jacket You Cannot Draw In.
The tradeoff with heavier rain gear is bulk at the elbow and shoulder.
Here is what I do. I wear my thickest midlayer, then I hook a release on and do three slow draws while twisting my torso like I am shooting behind a tree.
If the cuff rides up past my watch and the sleeve binds, I size up or I pick the lighter set.
This also ties to deer behavior, because if you have to fight your jacket, you will move more, and movement gets you picked off fast.
Stand Hunting In Rain: Decide If You Need A Pack Cover Or A Different Pack.
Rain gear does not help if your pack straps soak through and rub your shoulders raw.
Here is what I do on wet Illinois sits. I keep dry layers in a contractor bag inside the pack, even if the pack has a cover.
On Ozarks ridges, I keep my puffy and gloves sealed up, because once those get wet, the hunt turns into “just get out of here”.
When I am taking my kids, I double down on this, because cold wet gear makes a kid hate hunting in one afternoon.
Don’t Forget Your Hands And Feet, Or Your Fancy Shell Is Pointless.
I have watched guys spend $900 on rain gear, then wear cotton socks and cheap gloves, and quit early anyway.
Here is what I do. I run merino socks, rubber boots if it is sloppy, and I keep a second pair of gloves in a zip bag.
If you are hunting 42 degrees in rain, forget about “lightweight” gloves and focus on staying functional enough to clip your release and range a lane.
My Real Buying Advice If You Are On A Budget.
If you can only buy one set, buy for the worst weather you will actually sit through, not the weather you talk tough about.
I grew up poor, and I still think like that kid hunting public land before I could afford leases.
Here is what I do. I buy one good shell, then I fill the gaps with cheap wins like good base layers and gear I know lasts.
The best cheap investment I ever made was $35 climbing sticks I have used for 11 seasons, because access and setup time kill more hunts than jacket logos.
One More Tradeoff: How “Rain Proof” Changes Your Scent Plan.
Rain knocks scent down, but wet vegetation also paints your pant legs with stink from every leaf you touch.
Here is what I do. I plan a cleaner entry route and I touch less brush, even in rain.
For terminology and deer talk, I still catch myself using the right words, and I point new hunters to what a female deer is called because clear talk helps when a kid is learning fast in bad weather.
FAQ
Which one do you trust more for an all-day cold drizzle sit?
I trust Coldfront more for that, because it blocks wind better and feels more comfortable when I am parked in a stand for 6 to 8 hours.
That is the kind of day I get on my Pike County, Illinois lease, and I would rather carry extra weight than climb down early.
Which one packs smaller for a daypack on public land?
Cloudburst packs smaller and rides better in a pack if I am hiking ridges on Missouri Ozarks public land.
If I am covering ground, I want less bulk, because bulky shells make me sweat and snag brush.
What should I do if my rain jacket starts soaking on the sleeves?
Assume the DWR is failing and your face fabric is wetting out, so you will feel colder even if you are not “leaking”.
Here is what I do. I wash it, re-treat it, and I stop storing it dirty in a tote all year.
Do you hunt the rain harder or back out?
I hunt it harder if I can get in clean, because rain covers sound and I can slip tighter to bedding.
If access gets sloppy and I will bust deer, I back out and I lean on what I wrote about deer habitat to pick a better route and a better tree.
Does rain change where you aim on a deer?
No, the vitals are still the vitals, but rain makes me more picky on angle because tracking can get ugly fast.
When I want a quick refresher before season, I look at where to shoot a deer to drop it in its tracks and I remind myself that shot discipline saves more deer than gear does.
Is either one worth it if I only hunt a few rainy days a year?
If you only hunt 3 or 4 wet sits a season, I would put money into boots, base layers, and tags first, then buy Sitka when you know you will use it.
If you are trying to learn deer basics, start with simple stuff like deer species and build your system, because gear never replaces time in the woods.
Where I Land After Owning Too Much Gear.
I have chased mule deer in Colorado, dealt with Texas feeders and hogs, and froze on sits that made my teeth hurt, and I still come back to the same point.
Coldfront is my pick for cold rain and long sits, and Cloudburst is my pick for warm rain and moving hunts.
Here is what I do now. I buy gear to keep me hunting the last hour, then I spend the rest of my energy on wind, access, and patience.
I have lost deer I should have found and found deer I thought were gone, and I know this is true. The jacket helps, but the decision-making is what fills the freezer.
