Rain gear that won't break the bank?

[MasterOfCows]

So I did a search and was surprised when nothing came up.

 

I recently did a 24 km roundtrip hike, when it started to rain halfway through and didn't quit.  I had rain gear (jacket and pants), that were advertised as waterproof - 100% waterproof, not water resistant - that I'd bought at BassPro a few years back.  I'd worn them both a couple of times in lighter storms and they kept the water off just fine.  Not so this trip, I was 100% soaked for most of the hike back.

So I'm in the market for some new rain gear that is ACTUALLY waterproof, but won't set me back hundreds of dollars, and am looking for recommendations (note: I live in Canada).

Thanks!

[MasterOfCows]

C'mon team... help a girl out!

[Contrary]

I didn't post earlier because I'm having trouble with the "Won't set me back hundreds of dollars". When my old hand-me-downs-from-when-I-was-a-kid rain gear stopped being sufficient, I went with a Columbia jacket for ~100$. The jacket works just fine, but between the jacket and pants you'd be in the hundreds of dollars range. It looks like you could pick it up on sale for less, but I don't have any experience with the pants. Good luck!

 

 

[Steaky]

In my experience, the only clothing that is genuinely waterproof is gortex & as it is a proprietary material, it isn't cheap. 

[TheOtherScott]

Off-board opinion:

 

Would it be feasible to embrace the rain and dress for the temperature, rather than the weather?  Good baselayers can make being rained on a bit more tolerable, and you won't potentially overheat and sweat under another layer.

[MasterOfCows]

 

On July 16, 2016 at 6:42 AM, Contrary said:

I didn't post earlier because I'm having trouble with the "Won't set me back hundreds of dollars". When my old hand-me-downs-from-when-I-was-a-kid rain gear stopped being sufficient, I went with a Columbia jacket for ~100$. The jacket works just fine, but between the jacket and pants you'd be in the hundreds of dollars range. It looks like you could pick it up on sale for less, but I don't have any experience with the pants. Good luck!

 

 

I meant hundreds of dollars for each piece.  Unfortunately Columbia gear is not truly waterproof either.  Tested that already.
 

On July 18, 2016 at 1:50 PM, Steaky said:

In my experience, the only clothing that is genuinely waterproof is gortex & as it is a proprietary material, it isn't cheap. 

I suspected that might be the case, I was hoping for a miracle I guess!

 

On July 19, 2016 at 8:43 AM, TheOtherScott said:

Off-board opinion:

 

Would it be feasible to embrace the rain and dress for the temperature, rather than the weather?  Good baselayers can make being rained on a bit more tolerable, and you won't potentially overheat and sweat under another layer.

That's OK for small storms, but I'm looking to not have a repeat of the hike experience ever again.  I had good base layers, but it just rained so much that I was soaked right to the skin.

 

Thanks everyone!