Cabela's Rainy River Parka with Gore-tex PacLite

Cabela's Rainy River GTX Pac Lite Parka is (at today's $100 price) still the best bargain out there for a breathable rain parka. Gore's Pac Lite is now its second most breathable laminate, after the new Gore Tex Pro laminate.

All drawstrings are elasticized with tethered toggles, adjustable with one hand.

The parka hood can accommodate a climbing helmet and has a drawstring at the back of the hood for adjustment.

The hood also has its front drawstrings whose ends are captured by fabric loops so wind won't whip the ends into your face.

The only two pockets are flap covered, zippered, diagonal slash chest pockets but they are huge and backed on the inside with mesh. Since there are no pit zips (You want pit zips at THIS price??) the pockets become the venting mechanisms and work quite well.

Two hemline drawstrings are toggled at each side of the bottom. Wrists are Velcro adjustable W/ elastic inserts on one side.

The front zipper is protected by a full length flap and your chin is protected by a soft, velvet-like piece. It's the small details like this that make the Rainy River parka a great bargain.

My one nitpick is that the front zipper flap has only two snaps, one at the top and one at the bottom. It needs about three more snaps, which I will soon install.

I recommend buying the TALL size to get better "butt coverage". Cabela's is one of the very few to offer lightweight Gore Tex parkas in TALL sizes.

Cabela's also offers Rainy River Pac Lite pants that have cuff to knee zips. As with REI products, if you don't like it send it back to Cabela's for a full refund, even a year or so after purchase.

One word sums up this parka—excellent.

Got to use it while hiking a section of the Buckeye Trail around Clendening Lake in the rugged Appalachian Plateau of east-central Ohio one very wet, cold day last April. I wore this parka the entire hike—all 11.5 miles! The rains were of a slow, misty type, which made for cold and wet conditions the entire hike. I'm very pleased to report the Rainy River Parka kept me very dry and comfortable. No rain ever came through.

I did manage to work up a moderate amount of body moisture while wearing the parka however, which in part was due to the fact I was "layered" with some fleece and the steep terrain which made hiking in spots tedious. So it could of been more "breathable" but all in all I am very satisfied with my purchase.

Cabela's, which I know from years of actual on the trail experience, makes excellent clothing, which includes this Rainy River Parka. I did get the one in the Bark color, which is very fitting for a hike in the forest!

Plus I love the fact it is not one of those trendy, BIG name brands. Thank God!

My advice: Get this parka! You will be very pleased you did!

Great value.

This is my go-to rain jacket when fishing or hunting. I have spent many days in pouring rain and near freezing temperatures and have never gotten wet.

It packs down incredibly small so you can throw it in a pack or tackle box and always have it ready to go. I also like that it is available in tall sizes. I am 5'11" and 180lbs and a large tall fits good. It gives me the extra length in the arms I like without making the body too large. Best of all it is a fantastic deal.

As a disclaimer, I am affiliated with Gore for product testing of Gore-tex products for the purpose of product review and recommendation. I do receive items from Gore for these purposes.