Waterfowling Parka/Jacket

B

Bill Gass

Active member
Good Day

I'm considering buying a 4 in 1 parka/ wading jacket. I've been looking at the 4 in 1's at Cabelas. Anyone care to wade in as to what they prefer and why. Certainly where you will be hunting and what you intend to do will be the deciding factor. Originally I was set on the parka as my brother in law has one (Cabelas Brush Buster-Gortex)and it's a nice parka, but he hasn't really used it enough to really test it. That model is kinda pricey though. Although Cabelas has lots of those parka's on sale they have very few in stock mostly larger sizes and not the camo pattern that I want. So then I took to looking at the wading jackets, I've been researching this online for five evenings now and I'm not getting very far. Any thoughts or experiences that anyone would like to share would be appreciated.

Bill gass
NB, Can
 
Bill,

The best thing about the 4 in 1 jackets is that you can remove the liner. Most of them, like Cabelas or Columbia, have a bulky insulating liner that you probably won't need very often, but it's good to have if it gets very cold. I wear a Drake shirt-jack for most of my hunting--and if it gets windy or rainy I can put on the shell of my Columbia 4 in 1 over that. The liner usually stays in the boat--nice to have in case the weather takes a really bad turn or I step in over the waders. But I don't like shooting with the liner in--just too much bulk. Makes me feel like the little brother in "A Christmas Story."
Rick
 

I currently use another brand parka over a fleece shell for most hunting, almost always over waders.
It seems like I am constantly getting the bottom 6" of the parka wet, muddy, etc. along with whatever is in the lower pockets on the parka - usually gloves or shells.

For my style of marsh and boat hunting, my next buy will definitely be a wading jacket.

If a lot of your hunting is goose and ducks in field blinds or really shallow water the parka length might work for you.
 
Bill, my opinion is the 4 in 1 parka is 20 year old technology. Perhaps the whole thing was a ploy to sell you an additional inside jacket/liner that most never wanted to begin with.

Most of the new technology is in camo deer hunting clothing ...and you see very little 4 in 1 offered. Companies like Drake, Rivers West, and others are way out front on technology. If you just want the Parka, you should be able to buy just a parka and not be saddled with an additional garment you don't need.

I have been asking Cabelas for years, why some of the new tech clothes are not available in waterfowl patterns and why they keep shoving the 4 in 1 on us?
 
Sometimes if it isn't broke,....don't fix it. Yes the quad parka or 4-1 omni may be old technology but it is tried and tested true. I first got a Columbia Quad parka in 1991. If it would still fit me, I'd still be wearing it. Heck, waxed cotton and oilskinning has been around since the old gold rush if not longer and it is still used. Hunting in Alaska, we had alot of glacial silt in the rivers. This silt got on the sleeves of my first Quad parka and it began to leak there. I contacted Columbia and they told me to wash the shell a couple times before drying it and if it leaked after that, they would replace. No need, didn't leak. So, as I got old and "XL" I bought the Columbia Widgeon Wader parka. Quick strip shell holders on the front for 6 quick loads is just one sweet feature besides knowing the company stands behind the product. You're picking the right time of year to buy one too. You just might luck out and find a 10-20% off somewhere due to end of season sales
 
I have a Cabela's brand 4in1 parka (MT050 cloth) that is 5-8yrs old now and still going strong. I can't really complain about it. All zippers and Gore-Tex still work (I follow manufactures care instructions for it's yearly washing). Next time I may buy a 4in1 wading jacket. The shorter length may be more comfy under the waders. Lots of good pockets and I usually don't wear the liner and sometimes not even the shell until I get set up to hunt if I'm walking in, but I have the warmth if I need it. Good luck with whatever you decide.
 
Rivers West is by far, the lightest, toughest, warmest, most waterproof stuff I have seen of the 'new' breed of hitech stuff....Their 'jackets' seem to be merely shells, but they'll keep you warmer than Columbia /Cabelas quad/4-1 stuff, anyday. I still think waxed cotton is hard to beat for tough, warm, etc....but my RW stuff is SO much lighter weight.
 
Bill
I have had my Cabelas 4-1 parka brush buster Goretex model for 3-4 years. I have never been cold in it. Most of the time I can't even wear the liner with it. Too warm. We go out on Delaware Bay and it works perfect. I do use it for deer hunting too. You get what you pay for.

Pete
 
Bill,

I have an older Cabelas Northern Flight Parka. I've had mine for a lot of years and it's a good coat. A few years ago I bought my dad a dri fowl parka from cabelas and he swears by it. Very warm and dry coat. The only thing he doesn't care for are the sleeves. The liner in the coat has a tight sleeve around the wrist. It keeps the heat in but can be kind of tough when trying to get the coat on and off. The nice thing about so many cabelas stores around now is that you can go and try stuff on before you buy.
 
I have given up on 4in1. Used one for years but always felt it was too heavy and cumbersome. I agree that it is old tech, although you do stay warm and dry. For the past 3 or 4 years, I have turned to layering today's great fabrics under waterproof hi-tech shells and/or less bulky jackets. NEVER get cold or wet even at near 0 deg temps when sea ducking. Gloves are another story. Warm, waterproof and thin enough to shoot with, seems to be mutually exclusive terms. Still looking.

My 2cents
Bill
 
This season I bought 2 new jackets both Drake Gear
MST Strata Systems™ Coat
MST Waterfowl Fleece-Lined Pullover

The coat: I tried to wear 1 time so far this season and it was way too warm
We had left the boat launch and it was 2 degrees I still didn't wear this coat

I wear the pullover all the time and I have yet to get cold
There are time when I get to hot with this coat also
Imop, drake gear is the best stuff out there right now
I own quite a few products from them
 
Bill:

4 in 1 parkas are old tech, but layers is layers and they still work. I bought a Cabela's 4 in 1 parka this season because it seemed to have everything I was looking for. I liked it better than other brands because it was inexpensive and had all the features I thought I needed. Then I went hunting in it.

The first morning I wore my new coat it was cold, windy and raining. I was poling out to my spot with the wind, but as I shifted direction into the wind several flaws in the hood's design became very apparent. The hood has flaps with velcro that help with buttoning up against the elements. Unfortunately, unless you take the time to button up like the kid in "A Christmas Story" the hood is easily blown off. Needless to say, I was a mad wet hen by the end of the day. That afternoon I went to Cabela's and got my money back.

Of course, my buddy had a 4 in 1 parka from Bass Pro (a Redhead) and he laughed all morning. I bought one that day and have been impressed with it ever since. It has a hood design that allows an active hunter to flip it up and it stays in place without drawstrings or velcro. It's made of polyester, unlike the teflon coated wonder fabric that Cabelas makes theirs out of, but it works great...if you don't want to spend the money on a Drake, go with Redhead.

Good luck.
 
I have a Cabelas 4 in 1 and love it. Having the liner double as a wading jacket is awesome. Like Mike says the liner cuffs on the sleeves are tight and when used with the parka makes it hard to get off. but that is a minor issue as far as I'm concerned. Plenty of pockets and the fabric used is very quite so i can use it for the real cold days deer hunting. I dont think that you would be desappointed with the Cabelas.
 
I've had a Columbia quad parka for about 20 years. It is fine but I prefer to use other gear faround salt water - mostly using Grunden/Helly Hansen dark green foul wx gear.

When you buy a quad or 4-in-1 you get the manufacturer's choice for liner/layering. You can do this yourself. With my quad, more often than not I use a fleece layer rather than the quilted jacket the Columbia's zippers are set up for.
 
Hi Bill,
Like everyone else I bought a 4in1 wading jacket but I got mine from LL Bean about 20 years ago.
I don't think I ever wore the jacket and liner fastened together. I always shot better with the liner as
the top layer regardless of the temp. The jacket is only used to get to the blind or for the boat ride,
to stay dry. I got a Drake Equader this year and love it. If it gets extremely cold I wear a Cabelas wool
sweater with windblock under it but still wear the old shell to get there dry.
Happy Hunting John
 
I have had the columbia for two seasons now. I agree, the liner they give you is way too bulky. I bought the fleece Columbia liner that works with the zippers. So far it has treated me well, but I have ot really abused it yet.

Stern
 
I have had the Brush Buster wading length jacket 4 seasons. I like it a lot. I don't even bother with the liner -- never have -- just use the coat as a wet-proof outer shell and a good set of pockets.
 
I gave up on any hi-tech "waterproof and breathable" fabric, as far as I'm concerned they are all toys. Commerical fishermen and watermen don't wear gor-tex, why dont' they choose to eb comfortable - because gor-tex is a disposable toy that someone who works in the elements every day can't afford to play with. I've went to wearing a waterproof slicker over my float coat. I won't make the cover of DU with a fancy CS endorsed pattern, but you don't need camo if you know how to stay still.
 
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My hunting partner bought a set of Helly Hanson rain gear. He too was tired of "costume camo", that couldn't keep him dry.

If that is your slicker in the logo pic. it blends in fine with those tidal rocks. I just wish someone would make commercial pvc raingear in light grey.
 
My hunting partner bought a set of Helly Hanson rain gear. He too was tired of "costume camo", that couldn't keep him dry.

If that is your slicker in the logo pic. it blends in fine with those tidal rocks. I just wish someone would make commercial pvc raingear in light grey.
Click to expand...


That is my float coat, don't leave home with out it! I used to wear it alot without something over top, but once it lost its water repellancy I just put a slicker on over it.

I haven't seen gray either, would be nice. I don't think paint would stick.

T
 
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