Audio Rain Gear

[Larry Nolan]

I design and manufacture Audio Harness's. I am currently designing new rain gear to compliment my harness's and future Audio Bags. I would like to hear some feedback on the pros & cons of what you are using now, and what I can do to make your life better in bad weather situations. The material I will be using is a "GORETEX" type of material so it will breath.

Please let me know.
Thanks
Larry Nolan
President of Versa-Flex,Inc.

[Chris Bollard]

Great to know there are some new wet weather options on the way.

I currently use the Petrol rain "apron". Works reasonably well. Keeps the kit dry but hard to get your hands in to use the mixer or recorder. Also not great in high wind conditions.

Let me know what you're planning

[Larry Nolan]

Thank you chris for responding, I also have one of there Aprons,( I bought it, and the Poncho, to see how it functions. Your comments gave me some ideas to look at for the Apron style. I will post photographs of prototypes when I have something concrete.
Again, Thanks!

Larry

[André Boisvert]

Hi Larry,

Thanks for your post. It’s always great to see manufacturers on discussion groups asking for input from users.

My raingear is just a small sheet of soft, clear plastic that I drape over my Petrol with 2 slits cut in for the D rings my harness clips to. It was free and does the job very well, allowing for easy access to my mixer. It was made from a bag that a child’s Halloween costume came in. It’s not nearly as thick as the window plastic on Porta-Brace or Petrol stuff, but when it wears out, it’ll be replaced by the same soft, clear plastic from the bag my recently purchased bedspread came in. Reuse; one of the 3 R’s!

It also folds down to practically nothing, so that I can have it with me at all times. Size matters. I’ve seen the poncho-types, but for space reason, I’m not buying. The closest I’ve seen to something useful to me is the Petrol PERC. But in both cases, rain protection is independent of the bag. With my plastic, I can take my bag off, and the gear remains protected.

I think there’s a big improvements to be made in bag design. I really like my Petrol, especially for the ease of running wires throughout. But like all bags on the market, it’s taking weight farther and farther away from my belly. Simple physics says that the farther away weight is, the heavier the strain is on my lower back.

I’m got some good real estate on my left and right that’s unused. I really don’t need my Rx’s in front of me; a quick glance to the left would be fine. I’ve got room on my right for a pouch to hold my Tx’s and all the goodies I like to have with me at all times.

What I’m looking for is a wraparound bag (with enough room for i/o’s, of course).

[Larry Nolan]

Thank you Andre, I like your Idea for the wrap around, i will mention it to some audio gents here in Cleveland to see what they think. people really hate change, and I have made pouches that fit higher on my harness for better reception, but most like it in front in there bags. I should talk, I have been bitching at myself for not having a better website, I just get to wrapped up in finding solutions, or I feel I need to help PortaBrace & Petrol out. I am not an audio guy, just an old time AC.

larry

[Andy Paddon]

Hi Larry, it's great that you asking for input for this.
I'm yet to buy a Sound Slicker or something similar, but would very interested in seeing something new.
At the moment I just wear my wet weather gear and use my KT Systems Rain Bag. The gear is well protected but operating is difficult. I don't like the arm slots it has, they are too low and you have to bend your arm back on itself to get to the control.

I had heard that the Sound Slickers were quite heavy and also make a lot of noise when you are moving your arms around. I was looking at getting one of the Petrol Ponchos but one thing that put me off it was that the hood looked to be too large, falling over the 'models' face, and this is one feature of the Sound Slicker that does look really good, with the transparent panel. Certainly from my own experience with my North Face rain coat the hood is an issue, with my headphones on the hood is stretched and pulls the coat, and my so my head movement and vision is compromised too, so would it be possible to incorporate some kind of cavity or 'bump' in the hood for the headphones, so the hood fit comfortably over your head with 'phones on, yet was not so big it is constantly falling in front of your face? And for me, it would be great if the whole hood , or at least the front half,not just a panel, were transparent.

Look forward to seeing what you come up with.

[Larry Nolan]

Thank you Andy for responding,
I have received some great ideas, I hope I can make most of you happy, Keep the ideas coming, I am looking for function, comfort, and cost as my first function for you guys, the second is to make sure you guys look better than the camera operator!

Larry

[Simon Paine]

Hi Larry. I've been using your Harness for about ten years now. Great piece of gear.

Like most others, I've tried all sorts of different options, but I'm still looking for the perfect solution for a rain cover. The problem is pretty self evident, you need access to your bag, but you don't want water to enter. After trying different brands models of rain covers, I've settled on two different systems that work for me. The first, is similar to what Andre described. I cut a generous square of 5 mil vapour barrier, put two small holes to pass my carabiners through for my harness, and let it hang over the top of the bag. It allows easy access on the sides and can accomodate my ever growing number of antennas in the bag by just floating over them. It works well, but isn't very rugged. Usually good for a few days. Luckily, I've got about fifty feet left on a roll in my basement.

The other solution I use is the Rain slicker Poncho. It keeps me and my gear dry in the most extreme conditions. I use that when I know I'm going to be in the rain all day. It's big, it's bulky, but it works. If we could get a similar product, but less bulky, it would be a winner. My poncho was so good at keeping everything dry, that during a project last summer, the camera guys were using a section of it to hide there camera while they did memory card or battery changes....while I was still wearing it ! Luckily we all got along well.

For me, I think a kind of, oversized in the front belly area, Anorak might be a good solution. Have side access holes on the front, and maybe, (just thinking out loud here !) use a thinner plastic inside the access pockets so you can freely adjust switches and knobs through the plastic. Sort of like those neo natal care cribs in the hospitals, where the nurse inserts there hands into gloves moulded into the side of the enclosed crib. But instead of it being glove shaped, just maliable, thin plastic might work. Might be worth experimenting. Then add a clear plastic cover to the front of the anorak, so we can see into the audio bag. You would basically wear the anorak over top of your bag and harness.

All just ideas.

If the product you come out with is half as good as the harness I've been using for just about a decade, I'm sure it will be great.

[Larry Nolan]

Thank you Simon. I will keep you posted, and thanks for using our product.

Larry

[Peter Mega]

Hi Larry,
I use the Sound Slicker made by MTO.
It works extremely well. I've been in terrential rain, tropical downpours and hours and hours of standing around on rainy days and not once did my gear get wet. Keeps me dry too. With my Gortex pants and boots, I stay totally dry.
The thing I like about it is the slits in the side where my arms come out. I can bring my arms in and out easily to get to my mixer etc. The fact that it doesn't have built in arms is not a problem for me. I figure if it has arms, water will run down the sleeves and onto the mixer when you insert your arm through the hand slit, like the Petrol poncho.
What I do with my Sound Slicker is bring my hand/arm through the side slits and quickly wipe off the excess water from my hand onto my shirt or jumper and then use my mixer/recorder etc. So my gear never gets wet, even from my hands.
I never use the hand slits around the clear window, which I always keep open.
The hood is big enough for headphones to fit inside, no problems.
The air vent system on the back is quite good too.
Its also big enough to put my boom pole underneath when I'm not using it.

Working in wet weather's is always clumsy and cumbersome, no matter what you have and the Sound Slicker is no exception BUT it really works well.

I know I look totally dorky in it and I get some strange comments whilst wearing it but who cares!!

Having said that I'd like to see what you come up with too.
Hope my input helps you.
Good Luck,
Peter Mega

[Larry Nolan]

Thanks Peter for the info. Are the slits from the inside, or out?

larry

[Peter Mega]

The slits are down the sides of the poncho.
Take a look at this http://www.shooterslicker.com/Sound.html
You can see the guy in the blue poncho, has his hands poking out the slits, which run down the sides and have velcro tabs at certain points for fastening.
Peter

[James demer]

I might first suggest that you re-design your harness so the mixing bag sits higher up. I've owned 2 of your harnesses and while the construction is absolutely top notch, the ergonomics is not. The bag needs to sit much higher on the chest instead of low on the belly. Also the shoulder straps could be closer together. I've heard this from many mixers and I told you myself last year on the set of the Apprentice but I've seen no changes.
I would say to make an effective rain cover, dont try to build a raincoat that covers the human, just cover the gear. I have multiple high-end rain coats and I like wearing them when I'm working in the rain because they are the result of years of design and fabric tweaking by companies who only manufacture outerwear. You might end up designing a product that is too expensive and not appealing to wear. Specialize in what you are good at and you'll create something awesome.

By just covering the mixing bag you wont require breath-ability so you wont have to use gore-tex. instead you could focus on being truly water resistant with things like welded seams and waterproof fabric. One idea I've had is to create a 1/2 tunnel of clear plastic erected over the mixer bag with light weight flexible mini-tent poles. you could put your hands in either end and antennas would have room to stay vertical. Imagine a covered wagon made of clear plastic.
Please test any clear plastic in cold weather. I've worked in Alaska and Northern MN in the winter and had clear plastic dry bags just crack and almost shatter. Thats a big problem with the Petrol apron. Good Luck.