I've worn all sorts from straight PVC to high-tech breathables made by a number of brands. But Matt touched on a design flaw that makes even 100% waterproof PVC less than "waterproof".

I've been known to stick it out thru some pretty gnarly conditions if the bite is on. Standing exposed on the tiller, I often have the wettest "seat" on my vessel when running to the next troll. That wetness can come from quartering wind waves that splash over the gunnel with every bounce. Or it can be from powering into a driving rain in a 15-20 knot headwind. I can run, but I CANNOT hide. At some point I gotta look forward to see where the dam boat is headed and any hazards along the way. That's when having your face and corneas pelted by thousands of raindrops puts a real damper on the trip.

And that's when a poor hood/collar design is gonna let a bunch of water into the coat.

Thinking back on all the ones I've owned over the years, the coat that let the least water in thru the neck/collar is my Simms G3. Designed with an integrated hood that overlaps a very high collar, any drainage from the edge of the hood was directed to the outside of the coat below the collar. The hood could also be cinched up quite tight. Any water that got past would be directed to drain OUTSIDE the collar.

The only water entry was right at the front top edge of the collar itself. Water gaining entry thru the rest of the perimeter around my face would be channeled outside the coat rather inside.

I retired that coat from everyday powerboat use because I didn't want to trash it with constant saltwater exposure and I wanted a longer cut in my dedicated boat coat.

Been using a longer cut Cabelas Guidewear Parka ever since. It does OK most of the time, but I return to the dock with a wet lining more often than I would like.

Was gonna make the switch to PVC Grundens, but now I'm second guessing that choice after examining the hood/collar design of even their flagship Brigg 44 coat.