DetectingWales.com

With all this rain that we're having, It got me thinking, what have you found to be the best
Wet weather gear for Metal Detecting?  At the last DW rally I saw Alan wearing a poncho and I was thinking of getting one of them. Suggestions please  guys

thick woolen hoodie and waterproof trousers + top , Ski boots , seal skin gloves and thermal socks

Dylan I work outdoors all year round, and all my boss says is your skin is waterproof what more do you want........ :o They do supply the cheep leggings and jackets but you sweet, and end up wet anyway.
personally I would go for Gore-Tex... I have a army issue very light, breathable Gore-Tex bivibag what I used for Hadrian's wall last march, it was great it kept my sleeping bag bone dry on muddy ground in the snow, with no problems.... I also washed it out in the shower before I used it and filled it up like a giant water bomb, it never even leaked, and remember its breathable.
The boys at work buy there own Gore-Tex waterproof from a bloke at cheddar market 2nd hand for something silly like £8 but good condition, my work waterproofs cost about £60,000 but that's a JCB with a heater..... ;)   

LOL, thanks guys , Dale any chance you can get me a pair of those £60,000  waterproofs ;D  ;D
I haven't been to Cheddar market for a couple of years, used to be a regular, i'll have to pop down
there.

Im getting a set myself it was only a couple of months ago the bloke was there, I think he's a regular il ask me mate ;)

Your first idea of the poncho is probably the best Dylan as long as it's rubberised, gore-tex is OK but contrary to popular belief it isn't waterproof, water resistant yes but if you have driving rain with a good wind behind it the rain comes straight through ;)

Rip stop army trousers and jacket/smock, layers of cotton shirts and a good pair of hunting boots are my preference.

Rip stop material is breathable and wicks away water quickly. Windproof and warmish but doesnt make you sweat. If you get drenched, it dries out really quickly. Skin is waterproof.

Boots need to be insulated and supportive, hunter boots are made with breathable fibres so you dont sweat too much and you feet stay warm.

A poncho for deluges is a good idea to keep rolled up and with you, military ones come with fittings to use as a shelter if needed.

Eric

Some good points there!

At the last rally , I think it was ,we had one heck of a shower, as you said Geoff "driving rain"
my camo jacket got soaked luckily enough I had my spare Camo  coat. I was under the impression that all ex army gear would have been waterproof, but apparently not, just showerproof.

No that's why they issue ponchos  ;)

lol ;D ;D

i use an army windroof smock and council workmans over trousers most of the time but when its really heavy i got a belgian policemans motorcycle jacket i bought years ago when i used to do auto jumbles in holland.
 i used to buy and sell them and wish i could get more of them because they are awsome ,kevlar lined too incase you get shot for being on the wrong beach lol ,
 army surplus generally good but never as water proof as its described as.
you could get an army jacket and spray it with tent water proofing spray but the stuff stinks lol

I use flexothane jacket and over trousers you can get these from Hoggs of Fife pretty sure they have a web site I get mine from work as we have a shop which sells to farmers .They do get a bit hot in the summer but lightweight and very waterproof.

There is a detectorist over here who wears these and I've always meant to order a pair, he swears by them, not the cheapest but they are meant to do the business.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dickies-Waterproof-Padded-Overall-WP15000/dp/B0052JZU4K/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1388826089&sr=8-2&keywords=dickies+waterproof (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dickies-Waterproof-Padded-Overall-WP15000/dp/B0052JZU4K/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1388826089&sr=8-2&keywords=dickies+waterproof)

I've got one of them Chef, and they're all right as long as you don't need to move around a lot. I find it is quite bulky and you feel like a michelin man ! But very warm.
I prefer just a thin layer of something water proof, and if cold a thin layer of wool on the inside. Layers prevents too much condensation so you get wet on the inside of the waterproof. Most importantly, I always have a spare set of dry clothes, and as was said earlier, my skin is water proof  after all  ;)

I'm just detecting naked from now on then.

First the naked Cheff [ Geoff don't even think about it ]. Then the Naked detectorist.
Blughhhhhhhhhhhhh , Baby  ;D ;D ;D

dales waterproofs ,sound the best but pricey at £60.000..but does save your back digging your holes

They are good items, and as Svaipa says very warm.

I have been detecting for 19 years and have tried quite a few different coats and then 3 years ago I bought a used ex Austrian army Gortex coat. Also bought ex army Gortex desert over trousers to go with the coat. Best 2 items of clothing I have ever used for detecting. Completely water and wind proof and no wet inside due to sweating. Loads of pockets in the coat. (No pockets in army ponchos).
Clicky linky thingy for coat..... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Austrian-Army-Gore-tex-Jacket-Coat-Waterproof-Green-M65-Hood-Military-Surplus-/161126500714#ht_2801wt_1002 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Austrian-Army-Gore-tex-Jacket-Coat-Waterproof-Green-M65-Hood-Military-Surplus-/161126500714#ht_2801wt_1002)

Yes but you do, or at least I do, wear clothes under the poncho thus pockets ;D

 ;D ;D

 ;D ;D ;D 

The length some rally organisers will go to..............  ::)

I have a pair of those, usually live in them through winter, I think mine must be a bit grubby as they tend to leak a bit, but if you want to stay warm you can't fault them, the hood is detachable and it's worth shopping round for them as the price varies, machine mart do them. But I do think that your hard pushed to find anything that will keep you dry for prolonged periods of wandering around a field in some of the downpours we've had recently :D