Jerry finally a thread I know something about!! I can't help you on planes but I know something about raingear.
We sell or have sold all the brands mentioned except Kuiu and Simms and I suspect both of those would be great but not something you want to wear while blowing in insulation. I got a tour of the Simms factory in Bozeman and was highly impressed with manufacturing and testing and how they stand behind their product. I understand why they cost so much.
The companies have differing breathable fabrics, they test them all pretty extensively and the reputable name brands can't afford to have something that won't work. They are all on a scale of breathable versus waterproof. Helly Hansen coats are more on the waterproof end and Columbia is more on the breathable end. Helly, The North Face, Mountain hardware all are good and get tested frequently in Valdez. Grundens also has breathable products too, I like those. You can find the whole line of them at B&J's in Anchorage, the Grundens rep did a good job of getting them to stock everything. Many commercial fishermen are finding this tough enough that they are giving up their PVC jackets and wearing the breathable ones by Grundens. another option from both Grundens and Helly is the stretchy products like Impertech from HH and Neptune/Petrus by grundens. The lighter fabric is stretchy, tough and much more comfortable to wear but not breathable. I think only the hunting specific brands worry about quiet, however.
Some of the coats have three layers, that is the breathable layer is in between the outer shell and an inner shell to protect it. Some now just have the inner waterproofing exposed to save weight. The white on the inside is the breathable membrane. There is also a difference in how they are taped. Some are just "critically taped" to save weight and cost with the waterproof tape over seams on areas like shoulders but not all the way along the sides. If they are "fully taped" then all seams get it.
I would agree that a breathable coat probably isn't worth much in winter. There has to be heat generated to get the coat to breath and I would bet that turns to ice in the sub zero. If you are just sitting around non breathable but waterproof may be the answer as you are not creating heat and a breathable coat can finally get saturated and leak. We get a lot of people who think their rain gear leaked and it is the condensation. I think there is also a point for breathable coats that when it is so humid and soaked there is no way they can transfer moisture. If your breathable coat leaks wash it in something like Sportwash. Once the membrane gets dirt in it they will leak. The special cleaners will rinse completely out of the fabric, regular detergent will ruin the fabric by not washing out.
Finally for those who are wanting to stay dry you have to dress for it for all layers. You are going to feel wet with a cotton t-shirt no matter what your coat is. You have to wear a polyester based base layer then poly (NOT cotton) fleece mid layer then the rain shell. Leave the cotton undewear, shirts and socks at home when doing much of anything outside. Cotton keeps you cold when cold and warm when warm but now I am preaching....
Good luck on your search, fly over to Valdez and I would be happy to show you what we have at the store! :smile:
