This winter I bought a set of Rivers West Back Country rain gear for backpacking but have noticed that they take up a lot of space in my pack and they are also pretty heavy. I was just wondering what all you hard core backcountry guys use and weather you have noticed this same problem.

Thanks

Sorry I cant give you an answer, I am also wanting to know this too. Good topic to bring up, hurry up guys give us an answer so I can go and buy some good rain gear soon .

I also got a set of Rivers West last year. You are correct, they do take up a lot of space, but it is the best rain gear I've ever owned. I usually strap them to the outside of my pack (I have a badlands 2200)...there are straps on the bottom...I just roll up the rain gear and cinch the straps up real tight.

I sat through a whole day of heavy/down pour rain the first week of the PA rifle season last year and did not get wet at all.

Haven't done much in the back country, my rain gear is my Chevy!

rivers west is about the best as far as quality goes but honestly i do nothing but pack in , bivy-style hunting anymore and space and weight is an issue. i have a couple sets of [ its says "cabelas whitail clothing" on the tag] and it is light and quiet it has a fleece like cloth on the outside. but it is never let me down in the worst of conditions. i think the set of pants and jacket runs around 80-100$$ lots cheaper then rivers west and still works great. but if i am on a hunt where i'm not carrying everything on my back, rivers west is all i take.

I just bought a Down Pour Jacket and Pants from Sitka Mountain Gear. It is lite, compactable and very Waterproof. The other very positive thing about this gear is it dry's very fast.

I have been using Red Heads XPR (Extreme Packable Rainwear) for some years.

I have the original set I bought. it is GORETEX, light, dries quickly, and is very packable in my gear, and has a micro fleece finish so it is quiet.

Expensive but darn well worth it.

Have hunted all day in the rain during the winter and stayed dry.