Rain Sleeve or Plastic Bag?

Discussion

8 replies

Posted by Nat Coalson on October 4, 2007 at 12:59 PM

I'm going to Maine and Hawaii during October and expecting to do a lot of shooting in the rain.

Can anyone provide recommendations for a good rain cover?

I bought one from Kata that sucked so I've just been using plastic bags (which also sucks).

Are there any rain sleeves worth buying?

Posted by Mike Horn on October 4, 2007 at 1:37 PM

Nat, not sure how good they are, heard positive things about them, so you may want to try. They are kinda pricey @$80.

Aqua Tech SS-SPORT Rain Cover

I think B&H may carry them,

have fun!

Posted by Paul Beiser on October 4, 2007 at 1:45 PM

Op/Tech USA 18" RainSleeve (at B&H) - cheap but good

Posted by Rene Pirolt on October 4, 2007 at 2:15 PM

Nat – if you are looking for something inexpensive (actually free)... For years, I have been using the clear duvet cover bags (the clear bags which are used to package bed sheets and blankets). They are fairly rain-proof, are quite sturdy, and have a zipper on the bottom. You can zip the thing shut around the tripod head and it doesn’t get blown away.

I actually used mine the previous weekend while shooting in the unending rain in the Aspen area.

Of course they are not nearly as good as a professional rain cover, but better than plastic bags, and cheap!

Posted by Paul Wegemann on October 4, 2007 at 2:57 PM

Nat,
My rain cover is a really sturdy golf umbrella I bought at Walmart for $12. It's a sail in strong winds, but otherwise it's great for shooting in rain or snow.

Posted by Richard Voninski on October 4, 2007 at 3:03 PM

When I was up in the columbia river gorge I just used a garbage bag. Since then I always leave one in my camera bag. Not the most elegant solution. But cheap and disposable.

RichieV

Posted by Brent Doerzman on October 4, 2007 at 3:55 PM

Nat, I saw someone out this last weekend with one of these: www.stormjacket.com. Looked kinda cool, but don't much else about it.

I tried the duvet cover on Rene's suggestions. Worked great actually, until one VERY cold day in February in the driving snow when the plastic became so brittle, it completely cracked apart! Ha! I need to look for one with a little thicker plastic.

Posted by John Mumaw on October 4, 2007 at 5:19 PM

Another vote for the OpTech RainSleeve....2 for $6.50 at B&H:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/469774-REG/Op_Tech_USA_9001132_18_RainSleeve_2_.html

Product Description:
http://optechusa.com/product/detail/?PRODUCT_ID=73

Posted by John Mumaw on October 4, 2007 at 6:04 PM