Best Rain Gear For Kayak Fishing

Best Rain Gear For Kayak Fishing

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If you’re anything like me, you’re not going to let a little bit of rain ruin your day out kayaking and fishing. 

But when you do get caught out in the rain, and you’re wearing absorbent clothing, it can really put a dampener on the experience (pun intended!).If you get too wet and soggy, you could end up calling it a day way too early and miss out on catching some great big fish.The solution, of course, is to invest in good quality rain gear that can stand up to the elements.

I’ve been checking out and testing some of the best rain gear on the market today, and I’ll be sharing my reviews with you very shortly. 

These reviews are unbiased, containing pros and cons, and are based on my own experience wearing them.

Best Rain Gear For Kayak Fishing

And just in case you need a few pointers on what to look out for, I’ve also put together a handy buying guide that will walk you through some of the key points to consider before you buy.Then I’m going to top that off with a section where I tackle (pun intended!) some of your most frequently asked questions on the subject.Have I reeled you in yet? (you’re loving these puns, aren’t ya!)Anyways, let’s get started.If you’re in a hurry, check out my number one pick. It has everything you want to see in rain gear for kayak fishing, and it’s available for an excellent, reasonable price.

OUR TOP PICK

FROGG TOGGS Men's Classic All-Sport Waterproof Breathable Rain Suit , Stone Jacket/Black Pants, X-Large

Frogg Toggs Men’s Classic

EDITORS CHOICE

FROGG TOGGS Ultra-Lite2 Reusable Waterproof Breathable Poncho

Frogg Toggs Men’s Ultra-Lite2

BEST VALUE

SaphiRose Hood Waterproof Rain Suits for Men Women Fishing Hunting Jacket & Trouser (Black, S)

SaphiRose Men’s Rain Suit

OUR TOP PICK

Table of Contents

​Frogg Toggs Men’s Classic

FROGG TOGGS Men's Classic All-Sport Waterproof Breathable Rain Suit , Stone Jacket/Black Pants, X-Large

Talk about flying off the shelves! This waterproof rain suit is a prominent bestseller with the leading online retailers, and on Amazon, well over 15,000 people have bought and rated it.

Better yet, the average customer rating still comes in at an impressive 4 and a half stars out of 5. It’s available in 4 different color options. The pants are always black, but for the jacket you can choose from black, a dark stone, a light gray, or a high-visibility lime green.The hood of the jacket is removable. And the jacket in particular is very effective at protecting from cold winds, thanks to the snap down pull cord at the collar and the elastic cuffs.It’s available in 26 different sizes, going from small short, all the way up to XXX-large tall.

To see the size chart, you need to head over to the product page.I got myself a medium and I found that it was a good fit over my other clothes with plenty of maneuverability for fishing.

I wore it in the rain, and I can confirm that it’s 100% waterproof.

The elastic waist of the pants was comfortable enough, and I liked that it had adjustable leg openings, which seemed to suit just about any footwear I tried it with.The waterproof qualities come from its 100% polypropylene construction. And this also serves to make the gear lightweight and flexible.

And the other great thing about this material is that it’s perfectly breathable. And it’s even machine washable to boot. Amazon occasionally has deals on this particular rain suit, simply click on “Check price” to see if there happens to be a deal on now.

But to be honest with you, it’s still great value for money if you don’t manage to catch a deal.

Pros

  • Bestseller that’s flying off the shelves
  • Available in a good choice of colors
  • Lightweight & easy to move around in
  • I can confirm that it’s 100% waterproof
  • It’s also breathable & machine washable

Cons

  • The cost goes up with size

Also Available To Buy At

EDITORS CHOICE

Frogg Toggs Men’s Ultra-Lite2

FROGG TOGGS Ultra-Lite2 Reusable Waterproof Breathable Poncho

As you can see from the photo above, this is not a rain suit but a waterproof rain poncho. And this has several advantages over a rain jacket…First of all, it offers much better coverage than a jacket because it is longer.And secondly, it’s considerably easier to maneuver around in, which is an important feature for both paddling and fishing on your kayak.Thirdly, it’s usually much more affordable than a rain suit or even just a rain jacket.And, you also don’t have to worry about measuring or size charts, because it comes in one very big size, with a length of 36 inches and width of 44 inches.This particular poncho comes from a top brand in the industry, and the hood is adjustable with cord locks, and you can snap the sides shut if it starts to get coldIt’s available in a choice of three different colors, namely blue, carbon, and dark green.I went for the green one. I found that it kept the rain off perfectly, but I did feel a little cold wearing it at first. However, I soon warmed up. It was incredibly lightweight to wear, and it’s breathable.I was also pleased to learn that the fabric is machine washable.

Pros

  • Much cheaper than a full rain suit
  • Incredibly easy to move, paddle & fish in
  • Available in a good choice of colors
  • I can confirm that it’s 100% waterproof
  • It’s also breathable & machine washable

Cons

  • Poor protection from cold winds on the sleeves
  • No lower leg protection for wading in open water

Also Available To Buy At

BEST VALUE

SaphiRose Men’s Rain Suit

SaphiRose Hood Waterproof Rain Suits for Men Women Fishing Hunting Jacket & Trouser (Black, S)

What drew me to this particular rain suit is the grass camouflage design featured on all panels of both the jacket and the pants of this rain suit.

This camouflage is perfect for blending into the background on rivers.It’s not the only camouflage pattern available in this range, there’s also a nice forest camouflage option which I quite like.

But if you’d prefer something more conventional, there are 6 other color options, including all black, all navy, all yellow, and two high visibility options.It’s available in a range of different sizes, starting at small, and going up to XXL.

I found it to be quite true to size, with plenty of room for paddling and fishing.I was more than happy to buy this rain suit given the bargain, affordable price tag.

The pants were quite snug with its elasticated waist, and I found that the adjustable leg opening meant that I could wear boots underneath them.

I also enjoyed keeping my hands warm in its two deep pockets.As for the jacket, it has pockets too, and the high collar and elasticated cuffs were great for keeping the wind out.

I can also confirm, after being out in the rain, that both the jacket and the pants are both 100% waterproof.

They’re also soft, comfortable, breathable thanks to the fine mesh liner, and quick drying, which is always a plus.

Pros

  • Great range of colors & designs
  • Range runs true to your usual size
  • There are 2 deep pockets in the pants
  • I can confirm it’s 100% waterproof
  • Excellent protection from cold winds
  • It’s breathable and quite quick to dry

Cons

  • The cost goes up with size

Also Available To Buy At

RUNNER UP

Ourcan Waterproof Rain Suit

Ourcan Rain Suits for Men Waterproof Rain Gear Breathable Rain Coats Hooded Rain Jacket Pants

What I love about this rain suit is just how smart and understated it looks.

But you don’t have to worry about going unseen, because both color options available feature high-visibility yellow stripes.I’m also a fan of the high collar and the deep pockets on the front of the jacket, and on the pants.

The hood is removable, but I wouldn’t know why anyone would want to remove it.

There are elasticated cuffs too, which really help protect against cold winds.It features an excellent PVC coating together with a soft, high quality polyester lining.

The result is a very comfortable and lightweight rain suit.It’s available in 6 different sizes, starting at small and going up to XXX-Large.

Unfortunately, the price does go up with size, however even the largest size is still very competitively priced and great value for money.If you click on “Check price” the product page will open on another tab, where you can check out the size chart.My usual size is medium, so that’s what I picked up. I found it a little loose to be honest, but not too loose.

However, because the waist of the pants was elasticated, the pants felt quite secure. And it was excellent at keeping out the rain. I can confirm that it’s 100% waterproof.

I was able to tuck the pants in my footwear to keep completely dry.

I put this rain suit through its paces and was very pleased with just how durable it was.It comes with its own compact, neat little black carry bag.

So if the weather is looking good when you leave, you can carry the suit out in the bag and simply unpack it when you need it.

Pros

  • Has a smart, understated aesthetic
  • Comfortable, lightweight, keeps out wind
  • Very competitive, affordable price tag
  • I can confirm that it’s 100% waterproof
  • Comes with its own matching carry bag

Cons

  • Only available in black
  • Not 100% true to size, a little loose

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RUNNER UP

FROGG TOGGS Ultra-Lite2

FROGG TOGGS Men's Ultra-lite2 Waterproof Breathable Protective Rain Suit, Blue, XX-Large

What I love the most about this range of rain suits is just how lightweight it is.

But even though it’s so lightweight, I found it to be just as effective at keeping out the rain as more heavy-duty rain suits.I also found that it was very comfortable and perfectly breathable, not too stuffy at all.

I put this down to the polypropylene outer layer combined with the soft inner lining.The jacket features an adjustable hood that you can secure up with a draw cord, and elasticated cuffs.

These features really keep out cold winds. Meanwhile, the pants feature a comfy elastic waist, and they feature a straight leg design, designed to be worn over any boots. It’s available in a range of different sizes, starting at small, and going up to XXXL.

I found it to be quite true to size (I’m a medium), with plenty of room for maneuver to paddle the kayak and reel those fish in.

There’s a handy size chart on the product page.It’s also available in a range of 8 different color options, including blue, real tree edge camouflage, carbon black, green, khaki, and beige.And it also happens to be very well priced for gear from such a top brand.

Pros

  • Very lightweight & breathable
  • It’s definitely 100% waterproof
  • Designed to keep out cold winds
  • It’s pretty much true to size
  • 8 great colors to choose from
  • Has a very reasonable price tag

Cons

  • It’s not machine washable, it’s to be hand washed only

Also Available To Buy At

Buying Guide

As promised, here’s your buying guide. Let’s walk you through some of the key points to think about before you buy.

Waterproof

I know, I know, this may sound obvious to some, but it’s important to bring up because some outer clothing is only water-resistant, also referred to as shower resistant, rather than fully waterproof. It’s an important distinction.

Whereas fully waterproof clothing will allow rain and water to glide right off, clothing that is only water-resistant will allow some rain or water to slowly seep through.

Sizing

You should get yourself rain gear that fits you well.

Although I haven’t included any size charts in my reviews, you can review the various size charts on the product pages.

To get to the product pages, all you have to do is click on “Check price” and the product page will open on another tab.

Coverage

It’s no good only having waterproof gear on your head and chest. When kayak fishing, there’s potential for any part of you to get wet from rain.

That is why most of the reviews in my shortlist earlier are for full rain suits, and not just for jackets alone.

This is particularly important if you would consider getting out of the water to wade into the river to get to a good fishing spot.

Aesthetic

The aesthetic of the gear can be important to some people.

More often than not I’m happy enough to wear the usual shades of rain gear such as black or navy, or other dark shades.

But I know some people prefer high visibility gear or camouflage gear. Each to their own, I guess.

Maneuverability

This aspect of fishing gear never gets the attention it deserves.

When you are fishing, you need to be able to move your arms very freely, so that when you do get a bite, you can act quickly and get that fish in. 

This means that you can’t have a rain jacket that is too tight in the arms and shoulders, and you must ensure that you can move around perfectly comfortably.

Breathability

Kayak fishing is typically an expedition that takes several hours.

And in that time, if you are wearing several layers of clothing, you could start to sweat if your clothes aren’t sufficiently breathable.

Pockets

Pockets in your rain gear can often come in really handy when you are kayak fishing.

It gives you somewhere to stow tackle, or small lures, or small items that you want to keep dry.

Value For Money

Waterproof rain gear can vary quite significantly in price.

You can get some rain suits that cost as little as $20, while at the other end of the spectrum you can expect to spend closer to $60. 

You might have noticed that I don’t include prices in my reviews. This is because prices can change over time.

However, whenever you click on “Check price” you will bring up only current prices.

If you have a tight budget to stick to, I recommend that you check prices as you go along.

Answers To Your Most Frequently Asked Questions

What Do You Wear When Kayaking In The Rain?

Any of the rain gear that made my shortlist would make excellent choices for kayaking in the rain.

Four out of five of the items are rain suits, that serve to keep rain and water off your whole body.

What Rain Gear Do Fishermen Use?

The key thing to consider when shopping for rain gear for fishing, as I mentioned in the buying guide a little earlier, is manoeuvrability.

A restrictive jacket won’t give you that arm and shoulder movement you need to reel in those fish. 

An excellent option for this would be the loose fitting poncho that I reviewed for you a little earlier, my number two pick, the Frogg Toggs Men’s Ultra-Lite2 Waterproof Breathable Poncho.

Are Frogg Toggs Good For Fishing?

In my view, Frogg Toggs are an excellent brand of clothing for fishing.

In fact, I listed three Frogg Toggs rain gear items in my shortlist of top 5 rain gear items for kayak fishing.

I chose them because I tried them out for myself and was more than happy with their performance and quality.

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