BushLife - Wearing the TideWe Rain Suit

TideWe Rain Suit: Dry From Head to Toe for $49.99!

Do you want to go fishing, hunting or for that dream ATV ride but it’s raining? Did you drive hours to get to your destination only to find the weather is messing with your plans? For one, you’re not made out of sugar, and it certainly won’t kill you. Unless it’s also wildy cold, of course… But perhaps you could have packed a rain suit and stayed perfectly dry! Or should we say “snug as a bug” 😊

In all seriousness, actual functional rain gear is not expensive these days. Nor does it have to be considered an ultra specialty item reserved only for the serious outdoor types. Let’s look at how to save the day for as little as $49.99 with the TideWe rain suit review.

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Budget-Friendly Rain Suit
TideWe Rain Suit, Waterproof Breathable Lightweight Rain Coat & Pant
4.2
$49.99 Sale

A 100% waterproof rain suit made of high density polyester. Waterproof, windproof and breathable. With 2 pockets, hood, and elastic cuffs. Comes with its own stuff sac and priced very afforadable.

Get 15% off any TideWe product using code 'AFF15'

Pros:
  • Very affordable
  • Good value for money
  • Excellent waterproofing
  • Excellent use of elastic cuffs
  • Includes stuff sac
Cons:
  • Pants are really baggy
  • Material feels thick
  • Could use more pockets
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Specifications

Hiking the woods with the TideWe Rain Suit on
Hiking the woods, while wearing the TideWe Black Rain Suit

Specs are the boring bits so let’s get them out of the way. And in this case it won’t take long as there really are no specs.

I’m dead serious, TideWe’s site provides very little in the specs department. Nor are there actual water ratings, and so on. What is said is that the material is a “high-density polyester, non-woven fabric and sealed seams”. Some people will take that at face value, while for others that can be scary when faced with a purchasing decision.

What there is are claims of being 100% waterproof, 100% breathable and windproof, so we will test it thoroughly in this TideWe rain gear review and dispel any doubts about what the product is or isn’t.

Adjustable drawstring hood using a cinch button on the TideWe rain jacket
Adjustable drawstring hood using a cinch button

Features of the TideWe Suit: Built for Protection

Quick and dirty, let’s just list these:

  • concealed hood
  • adjustable pant waist
  • elastic drawstring cuffs
  • large side pockets (jacket only)
  • portable lightweight package
Rain drops sitting on top of the TideWe rain suit, showcasing protection from the rain
Rain drops sitting on top of the rain suit
TideWe rain jacket is seam sealed to prevent leak throughs
Sealed seams inside the TideWe Jacket to prevent leak throughs

Now we can begin the good stuff… reviewing!!

Fit and Finish: How the TideWe Rain Suit Feels

Wearing the TideWe Rain Suit for protection while fishing
Fishing in the TideWe rain suit

I’m 6′ 2.5″ tall and around 185 pounds. In other words, tall and slim, It’s also very difficult to find clothes that fit well thanks to my inspector gadgetly long arms. The TideWe rain suit for men fits like a glove and it’s fairly comfortable.

When I say fairly, the material is a bit on the dense side, Ie. it doesn’t drape as easily and has some bulk to it. I’d compare the fabric to Tyvek building wrap if that makes any sense.

The rain pants are simple and have no pockets. They are very comfy around the waist thanks to elastic straps but are very baggy and not stylish. Ie. I don’t look very skinny in them… But who cares, it’s more about staying dry than looking cool.

The rain jacket covers the baggy pant part as well. I don’t consider this a bad thing, as there’s enough room for layering, without restricting movement.

For the TideWe rain suit size information and to find the correct size for you, click here to get to TideWe’s sizing chart.

TideWe Rain Pant elastic waistline for added comfort
TideWe Rain pant elastic waistline for added comfort

The jacket is also fairly simple but with 2 outside pockets, a concealable hood, and elastic bands in the cuffs. The jacket is far more stylish than the pants, in fact it looks really nice.

Portable Lightweight Package

The TideWe Rain Suit compressed into its stuff sack inside a survival backpack for off-roading adventures
The TideWe Rain Suit compressed into its stuff sac for off-roading adventures

TideWe doesn’t market this next bit enough and let’s think of it as a nice “bonus”. The jacket and pants arrive in packaging, obviously. But more importantly, they are rolled up in their own stuff sac made of the same material as the rain suit.

In other words, the lightweight rain suit can be conveniently tossed into a backpack, car, boat, atv, or wherever it’s convenient. I absolutely love that it comes with its own little stuff sac and it’s an undersold feature.

Function: Does the TideWe Rain Gear Protect You From Getting Wet?

Fishing offshore in the rain wearing the TideWe rain suit in black
Wearing the durable, breathable TideWe Rain Suit in the rain while fishing offshore

Here’s the meat and potatoes. The rain suit works! I wore it on multiple occasions before writing the post and as you’ll see in our YouTube video, I wore it fishing in quite the heavy rains! Not one drop has ever come through.

No, it’s not a fancy rain suit, nor are you getting crazy specs like 5000 mm hydrostatic water ratings or whatever they call it. But for $49.99, you are getting a basic rain suit that’s outstanding in function. See the full product details here.

Right now, for a limited time, on select gear, TideWe has a Buy One, Get One Free offer that you can advantage of.

Yes, the TideWe rain suit is breathable, and yes, it’s also windproof as well. I honestly can’t complain about function whatsoever.

It’s ALL in the Details

The 2 outside pockets of the TideWe jacket do keep water out with the overlapping flap. It’s surprising how well it does that even without the use of zippers.

Concealed pocket on the TideWe rain jacket
Concleaed pocket on the TideWe jacket
Reaching into the TideWe rain jacket pocket on a hiking trail

My favourite part of the rainsuit is the jacket’s wristbands. I generally HATE elastic bands on certain things, like around my wrists, ankles and so on:) With elastic wristbands, I find the cuffs ride up and get stuck or they generally don’t work unless they are uncomfortably tight.

The TideWe jacket is the opposite on both fronts. You don’t notice that the cuffs are even there! They also work perfectly in keeping water out and I tested that thoroughly while fishing over the course of hours – when your arms are generally angled up as you hold the rod and reel to fish. This detail is not good, it’s amazing!

Pitfalls of the Classic Rain Suit

Anyone who grew up in the ’80s (zip it, I already know I’m getting old) will remember those hideous yellow ducky suits. We’re talking about a heavy plastic jacket and pants, with a hi-vis yellow you can spot from a mile away.  Hotter than hell on a summer day but it was that or getting wet. But hang on a minute, after a while we used to say it “soaked through” and would call it a day. A miserable day.

But did plastic actually soak through? The answer is a big no. We were drenched in our own sweat! Yeah, no thank you! But things have changed these days and there are so many fabrics that breathe and keep you dry while repelling water on the outside. It seems magical to have fabric with water only going one way, but it’s not a big deal to achieve these days.

The classic rain suits were probably $40 or more in the ’80s, and while they were technically waterproof, they failed in every possible way. I’m shocked that TideWe can deliver a functional rainsuit at this price point.

Alternatives to the TideWe Rain Suit

I happen to have several raincoats, maybe even a dozen. One of them is a US Military surplus jacket that was $100 cash in a surplus store for the jacket alone.

Another is a (albeit beautiful) Gill sailing jacket that commands $260 these days. Take a SIMMS fishing jacket and I think they are around $400-$600. In other words, a “rain suit” is a sort of specialty in itself, and the more you can market that specialty, the more you can charge.

Are there nicer rain suits on the market than the TideWe? Absolutely. But at this price point, it’s hard to beat and TideWe is a frontrunner. In its basic form and regardless of price, a rain suit really has one job – and the TideWe rain suit is no exception.

What About Hunting?

A close-up of the Tide Rain Jacket zipper and hood cinch
A close-up of the Tide Rain Jacket zipper and hood cinch

Hunting is a perfect example of an outdoor activity where you find yourself outdoors for several hours – during a time of year when the weather just isn’t very nice.

So in comes the multi-hundred dollar garments from brands like Sitka, Kuiu and so on. Again, specialty if not double specialty. But there are infinitely more hunting grounds that could destroy WHATEVER it is you’re wearing.

I’ve bushwhacked those types of woods before and would cringe if I were wearing anything that costs so much in such a harsh environment.

At $49.99, it’s nice to have an almost “disposable” (though I hate to use those words) rain suit for hunting. More eloquently put, it’s nice to enjoy your adventure without overly worrying about potentially damaging your gear. This allows you to focus on why you are out there in the first place.

TideWe Rain Suit Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does the TideWe Rain Suit protect you from heavy rains and wind?

Yes, I tested the TideWe Rain Suit in heavy rains and can confirm that I was left dry and comfortable.

2. How do I care for my TideWe Rain Suit?

To keep your TideWe Rain Suit in great condition, it’s recommended to hand wash it with mild detergent and hang it to dry. Or launder using specialized outdoor garment detergents. Avoid bleach and fabric softeners!

3. Does the TideWe Rain Suit have pockets?

Made for comfort, the TideWe Rain Suit features 2 large pockets for storing small items, making it both functional and practical for hunting, fishing and hiking.

4. Does the TideWe Rain Suit come in different sizes?

The affordable TideWe Rain Suit is available in multiple sizes to ensure a good fit for everyone. Be sure to check the sizing chart before ordering as it does run a little large!

The Verdict

I wish the TideWe rain suit had a softer hand to it, and I wish there were more pockets, especially on the pants. Granted my army surplus jacket has no pockets at all… But for $49.99, it’s an insanely good value and the bottom line is that it really does work! Not only is it a breathable rainsuit, but it’s lightweight and 100% waterproof.

Longevity may be a different story as we can’t speak to it. Only time will tell and we make a point of mentioning that in our BushLife reviews. Personally, I’ve had really bad luck when dropping a lot cash on a high-end purchases. So price is never a guarantee of anything, rather it’s a suggestion of what you might be getting. For now, the TideWe rain suit looks like a winner.

TideWe Rain Suit For the Hunter

We reviewed the TideWe rain suit in black. But it also comes in camouflage, and that choice can add a whole lot of function for anyone who hunts. Or simply just to look cool, because this is BushLife and I don’t care who you are, camo is the new black:)

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Outdoorsmen wearing the TideWe Rain Suit in Black
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Stelios Lazos
Stelios Lazos

Stelios comes from the corporate world where he was a highly successful executive. Inspired by his love for the outdoors he has re-located with his family to live to the BushLife where he blogs about his adventures. Finding inspiration in the never-ending questions from aspiring outdoors people, Stelios aims to share his knowledge, one post at a time.

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