Enduring the Elements

Foul weather gear can be essential to staying comfortable and preforming your best while on the water. With so many options, in all price ranges, it was pretty overwhelming for me to make a choice. Compounded by the fact most of my shopping these days takes place online, my indecisiveness led me to all but abandon my search for better and just settle on the most popular choices. While mainstream big names can be the best options available in some categories, new smaller brands are starting to emerge with great products. I have been lucky enough recently to grab a couple products from smaller brands that exceeded my expectations for performance. I know it can be a crap shoot to jump in on high priced items so i wanted to share the gems that I have found.

First off, the Rogue hoody is one of the best light jacket/ hoodies I have ever owned. It is made by Simms, a no where near new comer or small company. Despite this, I still have to give props where they are due. I am only on my second one, the first lasted years and years. Heavy construction, fleece lining, comfortable sleeve cuffs, great fit... it’s hard to find a place where this jacket lacks. The only thing it doesn’t do is hold out the water in anything more than a light drizzle but wind is stopped dead in it’s tracks. While not light enough to be a summer hoody in all other seasons it is a go-to

for me in almost any conditions. The gloves I use are also Simms, pictured above, but I dont think they make this model anymore. On the Simms website the closest replacement looks to be the Ultra-wool core 3 finger liner. Defintiely worth a look, click the pic to the right to check out Simm's awesome line up of gear.

A versatile and light jacket that is waterproof was the last niche I needed filled after finding the Rogue. Step in Lateral Vision’s Eminent jacket. I have been following LV on Instagram for a while and after some hesitation I figured I’d take a chance and order the Eminent. At $100 it’s not the cheapest option, so without knowing anyone that owned one I honestly seen it as a risk. Boy am I glad I ordered it. When I say this jacket does it all I am not exaggerating. My favorite part is that you can layer up underneath it or just wear it as a shell. From rain in the high sierras fishing for trout and long offshore skiff runs to San Clemente Island to battling winds and winter fog on the California Delta, this foul weather chameleon has handled it all. I bought it expecting a water resistant light jacket for the summer but I got a jacket I can wear all year around anywhere I go in almost any conditions. Click the image to the right to check out this jacket for yourself.

Last but not least I have to shout out Swimbait Underground. Consistent, quality, dope and functional designs are constantly being brought to the consumer. The models offered change from year to year and season to season, but I have yet to get a piece of clothing that did not perform on a high level from SU. The most recent hoody I received is no different then all previous but it is my one of my favorites. I would say you cannot go wrong with anything purchased from Swimbait Underground. They definitely bring the heat day in and day out. With hats, stocking caps, t-shirts, sunshirts, jackets, hoodies and other accessories it's hard to find something SU doesn't have.

I’m sure there are a million options and products I haven’t discovered yet or maybe they are superior to the ones listed above. I can’t comment on those, but I can say without a doubt that the Simms Rogue Hoody, Lateral Vision Eminent Jacket and Swimbait Underground’s line up of cold weather gear will not disappoint. If you were on the fence about any of these products or if they sound like something you can use definitely jump on their sites and give them a look. Good Luck

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