Best Women’s Fishing Rainsuits for 2021
I was finally able to beat the rain, or so I thought, and I had just enough time to mow the lawn. When I was halfway done it started to sprinkle. Three quarters through it started to rain. By the time I pulled the mower into the garage it was pouring.
I hate getting wet, it’s uncomfortable, makes you cold and ruins my hair.
I could have saved myself a lot of discomfort if I’d just taken a moment to put on my Gill Women’s Active Jacket (FG300JW). It has served me well, but as I recalled this scenario I wondered if there was other female-friendly rain gear out there. After all, just because I like something and it fits me doesn’t mean it’s perfect for everyone. Another female angler might prefer the fit of another brand or model. So I decided that I’d ask my lady angler friends from around the country and with a variety of different clothing needs, what they wear and why. Here are their answers:
Kristine Fischer – Pro kayak angler and musky enthusiast.
Describe your body:
I’m a beanpole, 5’11” and 135 lbs. Very long legs and arms.
What rainsuit do you own?
Bibs or pants?
I prefer bibs because they provide better coverage when I’m active.
Jacket or parka?
Jacket - more functional.
What color do you prefer? Camo, grey, black or green. I’m a natural type of gal.
How long has your suit lasted?
A few years and still going strong.
What kind of material is your suit made from?
Three layer eVent DVexpedition – Nylon
What features of your rain suit make it good for you?
It provides mobility, protection, and is still breathable.
If you could add a feature or change a feature, what would it be?
I’d probably add in vents along the sides and do a different style of cuff.
Besides your rain suit what other item of clothing is key to keeping you dry in a rainstorm?
Jennifer Combs – Close friend, wife of Pro Bassmaster Angler Keith Combs and avid fisher gal.
Describe your body.
Short and curvy.
What rain suit do you own?
Bibs or pants?
Bibs I love not having to worry about rain getting in my waistband.
Jacket or parka?
Jacket for comfort and flexibility.
How long has your suit lasted?
Two years.
What kind of material is your suit made from?
Nylon, Polyester, and some fleece lining.
What features of your rain suit make it good for you?
I love that it is made for women and it comes in normal sizes. For example 2,4,6,8. The Velcro around the ankles is great because most things are too long for me. I can tighten the pants around my ankles and not worry about walking on the pants. The jacket is slightly tapered for a more flattering fit.
If you could add a feature or change a feature what would it be?
I’d like it to be more flexible and have a removable liner for days that aren’t cool.
Besides your rainsuit what other item of clothing is key to keeping you dry in a rainstorm?
Number one is waterproof shoes. I don’t care how dry your body is, if your feet get wet and it’s cold you are going to be miserable!
Christie Bradley – Tournament Angler; highest finishing female angler in Bassmaster Opens history.
Describe your body
Feminine. 🤣
What rainsuit do you own?
Bibs or pants?
Bibs because pants are not as comfortable and can allow rain and wind in easier. My shirt tucked or not tucked doesn't provide as much protection from the elements as bibs.
Jacket or parka?
Parka 100%. Covering my core completely is the most important thing to me. I had to Google the difference between them and if length is the primary difference, parka is for sure the answer for me. I have a Calcutta waterproof windbreaker I occasionally use in the summertime. The main thing I love about it is the length. It is lightweight and does a decent job but doesn't keep me dry in heavy rain.
What color do you prefer and why?
The one I have now is black. The only time I would want a different color is during the spawn. I like to wear colors that blend in with the background better while sight fishing, but I don't really sight fish when it is raining and cloudy much anyway so black works for me.
How long has your suit lasted?
I used the last one for a decade. I only got the new one because it had some updated features that I wanted. I could have done a better job caring for the last one. I think that's the most important factor in making them last, how you care for and stow them. I keep my new one out of the boat when I'm not traveling for tournaments to be sure it stays dry.
What kind of material is your suit made from?
Gore-Tex and nylon.
What features of your rain suit make it good for you?
Sleeves, pockets, zipper, and hood. The sleeves on the new generation Bass Pro Shops 100MPH suit are vastly better than the last version. The cuffs are about 3" long and have great elastic to keep the sleeves tight to my wrist, keeping my arms drier. The pockets are perfectly designed for a fisherman. There are interior pockets in the jacket and truly waterproof pockets on the outside of both pieces. The waterproof zipper is high quality and the hood is one of the things that made me decide to get this jacket. The velcro covers my face well for running as it helps prevent the sandblasting feeling when getting hammered by rain at 75MPH.
Besides your rainsuit what other item of clothing is key to keeping you dry in a rainstorm?
My Huk rain boots have been a terrific purchase. I used to just wear hunting boots in the winter or flip flops the rest of the year. After my foot slipped on my trolling motor mount in the rain wearing flip flops and I went for a swim in 60 degree water, I had to find something safer. The Huk rain boots are great.
Samantha Sukupcak - Certified Internal Auditor with over nine years of audit experience; upper Midwest tournament angler; Wisconsin Women Fish instructor; Wisconsin B.A.S.S. Nation state team qualifier
Describe your body.
Short, pear-shaped.
What rainsuit do you own?
Huk Next Level rain suit
Bibs or pants?
Bibs - pants weren't offered and the straps keep the bottoms up.
Jacket or parka?
Parka - extra coverage with the longer hem on the backside and a jacket style top was not an option.
What color do you prefer?
Blue - favorite color
How long has your suit lasted?
It's two or three years old and considering that I wear it almost every trip out, it's held up really well.
What kind of material is your suit made from?
I don't have the exact name of it but it's a breathable and a water-resistant fabric.
What features of your rain suit make it good for you?
It's durable and does an excellent job at blocking the wind. It keeps me dry most of the time - the fabric it's made of is breathable which is great but in a soaking rain I sometimes get a little damp.
If you could add a feature or change a feature what would it be?
Two things - this was a men's suit so I'd add women's sizing with adjustable hems as well as a drop seat.
Besides your rainsuit what other item of clothing is key to keeping you dry in a rainstorm?
Depends on the time of year. In summer nothing else is needed. In Spring/Fall I layer up and keep a dry bag with extra clothes in the boat. If I get wet, I can remove layers as needed and replace with something dry. I keep a towel in the boat as well.
Michelle Jalaba - Pro Bass Fisherman, Fishing Ambassador, Captain, life in the Great Outdoors.
Describe your body.
Short, athletic build.
What rain suit do you own?
Bass Pro Shops 100mph suit & BPS Bone Dry suit.
Bibs or pants?
Bibs for sure. Easy to throw on and off without falling or sagging. Easy to layer up hoodies underneath. It has more pockets and keeps the chest area warm.
Jacket or parka?
Jacket with the bibs. I often take things on and off relevant to whatever conditions are dictating. This can change by the minute.
What color do you prefer?
Black! Oftentimes you are landing fish, fishing grass, using bait dye, the list goes on and on. Black does a great job of covering up these elements or anything else a day on the water or in a rainstorm witll throw at you.
How long has your suit lasted?
I have literally had the Bass Pro Shops 100MPH suit for almost 9 years. It keeps me warm and dry in any conditions and has proved extremely durable through the years and all types of fishing.
What kind of material is your suit made from?
Gore-Tex.
What features of your rain suit make it good for you?
It covers everywhere that rain can get in but the best part is that everywhere on both the bibs and jacket have numerous Velcro, lining or drawstring features. You can truly customize your fit to snug during a long run and quickly loosen to move more freely if desired.
If you could add a feature or change a feature what would it be?
The only thing I would add or change would be a hoodie underneath or extra layers which has nothing to do with the gear. It really is foolproof on every level for what I need. Even the hood portion adjusts so I can change up if running with a face mask or just a hat. I can and have literally run 70 MPH in high winds, rain and even snow! Everything stays in place and I’m warm and dry. Even the knees are reinforced which contributes to the durability. They really covered all angles on these and I have tried them all. Yes, some other brands look more fitted or “stylish” but at the end of the day it’s about functionality. I have tried several and when it’s time to hit the big waters I know what I need to feel confident out there.
Besides your rain suit what other item of clothing is key and keeping you dry in a rainstorm? Another staple that I am absolutely obsessed with are the new BPS gloves. They are warm when needed and you can put little heaters in them as well. The also fold back and snap on to the back to that my fingers can be exposed if needed when fishing or driving the boat. They dry fast and are fully weatherproof. I have tiny hands and they fit me perfectly. Super functional in tournaments.
Melinda Mize – Former WBT competitor, daughter of two legendary Arkansas professional anglers, and mother of two daughters. Melinda has been fishing since she was 2 years old. “I love everything about it,” she said. “I love the challenge and the learning. I love how I feel every time I catch a fish.”
Describe your body.
I’m 5’4 so I’m on the short side of life. I am athletic but love beer and Mexican food so I’m probably not as skinny as I should be. 😂
What rainsuit do you own?
I own two, and it’s very important to me to have both. I wear the Simms Pro Dry in size small. I wear the men’s. I’ve never liked women’s cuts because I love to layer underneath and this is a boxier fit which allows this. This rainsuit is very lightweight. If you just want one suit, I would go with this because you can layer warm under it or you can be ready for a day in a hot summer rain storm. I’ve never been wet a day in it. I wear the Simms Waypoints fishing pants, they are $150, so lightweight they feel like silk. They’re perfect no matter if it’s raining cats and dogs or you just don’t want your bottom to get wet from dew.
I wear the Simms Challenger Insulated Fishing Jacket and Bibs when it’s cold. It has primaloft insulation and helps keep you dry and warm and more effective on the water.
Bibs or pants?
Both. I prefer pants for ease of going to the bathroom, no matter the temperature. Taking off all of your jacket when you are wearing bibs is a lot of work and takes too much time, I try to be as efficient as possible. If I’m making a long run and it’s really cold I wear my bibs, I don’t want the rain blowing up the jacket. There’s nothing worse than being cold and wet, you can’t function like you need to because it’s a constant thought in your mind that you have to work through.
Jacket or parka?
I wear jackets, they’re just my favorite.
What color do you prefer?
I’m not set on one color but the one I have now is gray. I fish in all types of conditions for all types of fish. I may even end up on a commercial carp boat and the slate gray I have is more forgiving of slime colors.
How long has your suit lasted?
My current one is two and half years old and it’s like new.
What kind of material is your suit made from?
Toray shell 75D 100% polyester with C6 DWR, lining 50D 100% polyester with C6 DWR
What features of your rain suit make it good for you?
They’re made to be able to move in them. The zippers are easy to get on and off in a hurry. This matters if a storm is blowing up and you’ve got to get on your gear quickly.
If you could add a feature or change a feature, what would it be?
I want the hood to be bigger and easier to secure running down the lake, I would suggest making regular hoodie strings to tie it down with.
Besides your rain suit what other item of clothing is key and keeping you dry in a rainstorm?
I wear short boots from Grundens or Xtratuf. They are super lightweight and something you can even wear out in public, which I catch myself doing a lot. They have a lot of cute colors in both brands and they’re extremely comfy.
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Once again the ladies came through with a ton of information. I was afraid everyone would own the same brand but luckily we learned that there are different brands for different needs and body types.
If I could design my own pants/bibs, I would incorporate a drop seat, adjustable hems, waterproof zipper, tapered design with room to layer and a hood with drawstrings. Now I just have to think of a brand name.
