My Wading Jacket Blues

None of the jackets I ever owned fit my bill for a perfect jacket

Rain  Kasper Mühlbach
A favorite: the Nomad jacket  Nomad

I have owned quite a few wading jackets, and none of them have fit my bill for the perfect jacket for my type of fishing. In this article I sing my Wading Jacket Blues and try to describe my perfect jacket.
As some of the readers might know, my preferred fishing is in cold saltwater. I visit the coasts of my native country, Denmark, as often as I can, which - according to my records - was 53 times last year or about once a week.
I fish without a jacket as often as I can, mostly just carrying a small chest pack with the stuff that I need. But as I am located in the Northern hemisphere, I sometimes have to seek shelter from wind or rain - or both - in my jacket. Wading in rough water also calls for a jacket, since waves splashing over the edge of my waders lead to nothing but misery.

 
Back when
On my first coastal trips I was wearing a suede jacket. Yes, suede! I do not know what put that idea into my head, but it is a fact. I have pictures to prove it. And on top of that I wore a home made fishing vest sewn up from grey and red fabric. A sight for sore eyes I can tell you!
Sometimes when it was cold I swapped the combo for a down jacket, which I originally bought for using in the winter and on trips in the mountains of Norway, fjords of Greenland and other cold places.
Needless to say that none of these solutions were any good for fishing. None of the jackets were waterproof, they drew water like paper tissue and would take forever to dry.

My vest was a feeble try to make my own apparel which came out OK, but never really was in much use - mostly because I never really cared much for vests.

When the weather was really terrible I would creep into whatever rain jacket I currently had. These were chiefly red, blue purple or another bright color suitable for sailing or biking - but not really kosher for fishing.
Well… back then I also wore blue jeans and cotton long johns under my PVC waders.
Them were the days!
Much has happened since then...

	Red?  Henning Eskol	Blue  Martin Joergensen
	Brownish olive  Martin Joergensen	Blueish green  Kasper Mühlbach
	Contrast  Martin Joergensen	Dull olive  Martin Joergensen

My first wading jacket
As a solution I bought my first real wading jacket. It was an English Nomad jacket and it was expensive. At that time it was probably the single most expensive piece of fishing equipment that I owned.
It was a very nice jacket, which I loved. It was very subdued in color and design, but still had style. The fabric was dark olive, the jacket had few features and best of all was the lining which was a plat, Burberry-like colorful, soft fabric. This covered the upper part of the inside of the jacket, while the lower part was a smooth, thin, almost black material.
And the jacket was breathable. It was made with one of these new, high-tech materials, which I think in this case was named Ventflex - although I am not quite sure.
The only sure thing about it was that it didn't work!
Within a few trips I was soaked whenever it rained. Ten minutes of constant rain, and I would feel the water seep through on my shoulders. And a whole day would leave me so wet, that my inner T-shirt would be soaked.

I complained in the shop where I bought the jacket, and coincidentally they had a sales rep from Nomad visiting. He guaranteed me that the jacket was usually very waterproof, and offered to replace it. The swap never took place, and my Nomad Jacket eventually turned into a dry weather wind cover.
I still loved it. It was one of the best looking, most comfortable and best fitting fishing jackets I have had.

Au naturel  Kasper Mühlbach	Chest pack  Henning Eskol	Raindrops are falling  Kasper Mühlbach

More than that
Now before, I sing the next verse of my Wading Jacket Blues, let me chant a chorus with some other details of wading jackets that also annoy me - apart from them not being waterproof.
I first and foremost hate too many details! Yes, details.
Sure it does look good in the ads with dozens of little arrows pointing to all kinds of neat things that you absolutely must have: dozens of D-rings, pockets galore, built in retractors, strips and straps for purposes beyond my imagination and fancy, cuffs with built in mittens and a host of extravagant high-tech, space age materials applied on facilities you never knew you needed.

And you don't!

In my book a jacket is basically a cover for wind and rain. It is not a multi purpose garment that will cover all types of weather and all thinkable situations.
Neither does it have to be able to carry all necessities in life and fishing.
I do like pockets, but basically I need five: chest pockets for gear, side pockets for hands and a back pocket for my lunch pack and a thermos.
I like D-rings, but if I clipped stuff in all D-rings on most jackets, I would look more like a Christmas tree than a fly fisherman. A D-ring in the back for a net and maybe one or two in front for the odd clipper. But honestly I rarely use either, so leaving them out would not mean a big loss for me.

Some built in rettractors are actually OK. The spiral "plastic spring", which are sheathed in a narrow canal along the chest pockets seem to work. But few jackets have them.

Click on the different parts of this drawing for my thoughts and comments
or click here to see: back side  cuff detail  jacket open  front side

 

What I don't need

The almost-perfect jacket for deep wading and wet fishing in salt water Simple design Short - waist line above hip True breathable fabric, but still 100% water proof under any circumstances Thin with no insulation Limited loose membrane layers between inner and outer fabric All zippers sufficiently durable, salt water proof with extra cord to pull Front zipper with two gliders Chin shielded from exposed top of zipper, but not with a flap that always gets caught in the zipper Bottom of all pockets higher than the expected wading limit - basically the waders' upper edge Separate hand and equipment pockets Large back pocket with side access Simple not-too-baggy one-room chest pockets with large lids and Velcro closing Rod holder consting of a hidden strap in the lower rim and a velcroed strap on the opposite chest front Large hood that fits in collar One hand cord tensioning for the hood Cord to tighten the hood horisontally around head Machine washable

It is actually more fun to mention all the details that I would rather be without than listing the boring few things that I really need.

I don't want a waterproof inner pocket. All my jackets have had them, but luckily I never trusted my digital camera or cell phone to one. After having seen friends' wallets and cigarettes completely soaked, I have learned that there is no such thing as a waterproof inner pocket. Secondly they are always placed so low that they submerge if you wade deep.

I don't want cuffs that extends as fingerless gloves. After 15 minutes of fishing they are basically transformed into a couple of wet, uncomfortable appendages that either make your hands colder than they were or just sticks unpleasantly to your wrists when you feebly try to stuff the surplus fabric into the sleeves.
And for some reason they never dry. While most materials used on wading jackets are fast drying, these two cylinders will stay wet and soggy for days. On one of the jackets I had, which featured them, the holes for the thumbs were placed in line with the stitching on the sleeve - probably saving a step in the sewing process. No need to say that these holes were not in line with my thumbs!

On the subject of cuffs I must remember that I don't want narrow cuffs with outside velcro straps. Cuffs are OK, and adjustable cuffs are alright too, but they just have to be concealed so that no fly line eating thingys stick out.

I don't want insulation in the jacket. I actually bring my jacket to tropical destinations where the rain can be much harder than back home. And fleece is not welcome when the temperature is 35 degrees Centigrade or running towards 100 on the Fahrenheit scale. I'll accept fleece lined hand pockets, bu apart from that I will supply the fleece I need myself.

I don't want loose layers of fabric and membranes only held together by seams along the edges. For some reason many wading jackets seem to consist of a tough outer layer, the breathable membrane and an inner mesh. I hate this construction. Why can't the jackets be constructed in such a way that all layers stay together? This will make the jacket less fragile and ensure that everything doesn't slide uncontrollably around.

I don't want Velcro strips or small locks on strings outside the jacket. These serve one purpose only: snagging my fly line. The instant I have a good cast going or have hooked a nice fish, my runningline will be tangled in a small spring loaded lock in the lower part of my jacket, which is just in the water's surface. I then have to fight both fish and jacket. I like Velcro and the ability to tighten the jacket, but stove away all locks inside the jacket where they do not get into trouble.

And speaking of, I don't want velcro and zippers on pockets where it's not needed. I need to close pockets that contain stuff - chest and back - but not the ones that I stick my hands into. Actually my experience with zippers or velcro on hand pockects is that I scratch myself when I stick my hands in them - after having battled to open them of course. And those are usually cold hands, which makes it rather painful as a matter of fact.

I don't want patches of enforcing or extra waterproof fabrics in contrast colors on exposed places like the elbows or shoulders. In my eyes these patches are a sign of a too weak fabric chosen for the jacket in the first place. If it needs enforcements on large surfaces, it is too weak to begin with. I also hate the patchy look with contrasting colors, which has become so trendy. One color please. And preferably a really boring and dull kakhi or olive hue that blends well with the surroundings and not makes me look like a badly designed downtown storefront.

I do not need D-rings and straps by the dozen. A couple might come in handy, but too many will just add extra work, complexity and cost. I do not attach half a dozen or more gizmos to the jacket anyway. I recently discovered a D-ring under a pocket lid on a jacket that I have owned for more than a year! I have no idea what to use it for...

Why, oh why? I sometimes wonder why designing a good jacket can be so difficult. I can only speculate, but I have my ideas. Many of them are designed at desks and never really tried in the real fishing situations before they are put in production. The ones that are tried and tested may have good design from the beginning, but during the production design, details are omitted and corners are cut to reduce production steps - and costs. Materials may also be changed for less expensive ones - in an inferior quality. I know this is inevitable if you want to hit a good price mark, but I don't really care about the price... well, at least not that much. Have good design and sensible production meet, and make a jacket that has what it needs - and no more.

The odyssey continues
I'm still hunting for my perfect jacket. I have tried a couple of Scierra jackets during the last couple of years, and they do a fine job. My latest venture is with last years Scierra Aquatex jacket, which would be an excellent jacket if it was not for a few things: the side (hand) pockets are far too far out on the side of the jacket, and for some reason close with a zipper. Move them in towards the front (where I want to keep my hands) and remove the zipper, which just scratches my wrists.
Also the jacket takes in water in the bottom when I wade deep. The water stays in there until I press it out! That's what I call water proof!
The cuffs close with Velcro straps, and my fly line constantly gets caught in them. And there is no rod holder. A simple little thing that all jackets should have.
Correct that and omit the contrasting reinforcements on the elbows and we're getting close. The fit is good, the jacket comfortable. It's water proof and seems to be able to take some abuse. And the color is good. I like this jacket.

Much of this seems to be corrected in the new Aquatex, which seems like my kind of jacket, and Scierra has an even better jacket in the make, of which I have worn a sample and that seemed to be close to perfect.

PS: I have since acquired an Aquatext jacket, and while it's still not perfect, it is very close. All the above mentioned drawbacks have gone - including the side pocket problem. This jacket simply has no side pockets! Period. But the cuffs are almost perfect, the jacket is water proof, and the reinforcements have gone. We're getting there. You can see me in the jacket on this picture.

Other jackets that I know of, which would do the job, are Patagonia's classical SST jacket and Simms guide jacket, which are highly praised by their owners, but still aren't perfect in my eyes. Those two still have proved themselves to be excellent choices for many people - but are also hilariously expensive.

Go to article start ^ User comments

From: Guttormsen · peter·at·guttormsen.dk Submitted July 5th 2008 Hi Martin, Just bought myself a VISION Gillie this spring, not a100 % fit to your needs, but it’s light and no-nonsense, a close match in my opinion…. From: Frank Ross · thehodgpodg·at·verizon.net Submitted April 15th 2008 I've been using a jacket from Drift Creek Outdoors and it has been great. No leaks, simple and functional design, and reasonable price. I did quite a bit of research before buying a jacket and found out some interesting facts. Any jacket that has seam seal taping is not to be put in the dryer, EVER, no matter what the manufacturer says. Jackets should not be machine washed either. The wash cycle removes the DWR (Durable Water Resistant) coating. This coating is what causes the water to 'bead off'. Many jacket manufaturers tout their product as 'care free', you can wash and dry them. WRONG! I have found that soaking the dirty jacket in cold water with detergent, rinsing, and hang dry is the best way to make it last longer. Be wary of campanies that say you can wash and dry their jackets, they are just trying to make a sale by promising you the world. The Tundra Tech Xtreme Guide jacket was recommended to me by a guide in Alaska, and Alaska has the most challenging weather for a fisherman, in my opinion. It has held up to every test I could put it through. From: Christian Morgen · morgen·at·privat.tele.dk Submitted March 30th 2008 I used a Patagonia SST for 10 years - mostly the same kind of fishing as Martin (coastal fly fishing in Denmark and Sweden). My maintenance routine is a yearly spin in the washing machine with a special soap for breathable fabrics, and an impregnation substance - both from Nikwax. Bought a new Patagonia stretch last year (the one with concealed, top-entry frontpockets), but that particular model has now been redesigned. And I think i know why. My biggest problem is the depth of the front pockets - access is not very easy. I should have bought the SST again. My old SST is still working well - but 10 years of service has given it a "well-worn" look. From: Chris Submitted November 15th 2007 I have had similar problems in the past with wading jackets in the past. I recently decided that I wasn't going to pay a fortune for a jacket and decided to have a look at the lower end of the scale. I bought a Stillwater Short wading jacket from the Glasgow Angling Centre in Glasgow, Scotland. This jacket is superb and VERY affordable. After two seasons of Scottish and Swiss weather, the jacket is still going strong and is 100% waterproof. The only drawback is the neoprane velcro cuffs...a little annoying, but a small inconveniance in such a superb jacket. From: Joe Secula · flygtr·at·aol.com Submitted May 8th 2007 Hi! I was feeling the same way for a long time, but I think I found the one. I got one of the new Columbia wading jackets for $100 USD from Cabelas. The only thing missing is that there are no hand pockets (but they are not a big issue for me). I have been in some serious downpours and heavy nor'Easters on the North East Coast of the US and it is waterproof so far - and it has been a year of heavy use! the hood even has a brim to cover your cap brim, too! No velcro on the cuffs - just a plain tapered neoprene cuff and a neoprene waistband with 2 tabs out of the way to snag a line and two huge chest pockets. A great jacket so far. From: Ken Anderson · kenandersonphoto·at·gmail.com Submitted March 11th 2007 I have a Simms G3 Guide Jacket that I bought for US$399 and it is NOT WATERPROOF! It is fine under a little rain but I have been wearing it her in Oregon and after one hour or more in heavy rain it is wet EVERYWHERE. All the pockets are wet inside. My phone is wet, camera is wet, fly boxes wet. Not waterproof. I went back to the shop I bought it at was told that that is all the protection that should be expected from Simms jackets and that they are not to be considered totally waterproof. Very discouraging. From: Paul Kalbrener · PHKalbrener·at·aol.com Submitted November 8th 2006 I just bought the Cabelas Gore-Tex Guide jacket, From looks and build looks fine, I not sure about the sleeves though, velcro over what is suppose to be a waterproof cuff???. I will test it this coming weekend on the Danish coast andlet you know how it tests out. Paul From: Jari Wiklund · jari.wiklund·at·gmail.com Submitted November 8th 2006 Just a comment on the Scierra jacket: I've used the scierra aquatex jacket for a year and a half or so now and it truly is close to perfect. I still think there's another year of wear and tear left in the jacket. The problems I've encountered so far are these: The Chest pocket zipper-handle have started rusting, they still work, but I wonder for how long? The locks on the cords in the waist and hood do not work anymore or rather they are constantly locked, since the spring in them have rusted too much. But the jacket works fine without them. I would like cuffs that resemble those found on divers wetsuits, with no velcro locking mechanism, just a tight waterproof! fit around the wrist, I haven't yet seen a velcro cuff that was watertight. From: Don Smith · smith934·at·gmail.com Submitted November 7th 2006 The Patagonia SST is a great wading jacket and if you get lucky as I did you can it at a great price. Bought them for me and my son for $75.00 each on a close out a few years ago. Great article, BTW. From: Martin Joergensen · martin·at·globalflyfisher.com Submitted October 2nd 2006 Paul, My good old suede jacket? Sure! Take a look at this picture, which is taken in Southern Germany actually or this one of me in a float tube (one of my first trips ever) where I'm wearing a suede jacket and a home made red/grey fishing vest! Martin From: Paul Kalbrener · PHKalbrener·at·aol.com Submitted October 2nd 2006 Hi´Martin, nice article, I'm also looking at the scierra jacket, and ran across this article. I would love to see the picture of you in the suede jacket with homemade vest. Paul From: Rob Kolakowski Submitted June 15th 2006 I was just searching the internet for a good wading jacket. Martin has described the ideal wading jacket and exactly what I am looking for. I also believe that a lot of fishing gear ends up on the market before it is put to the test. There is a lot of junk. One day we all may thank Martin if he would be so bold as to present his idea to a number of companies. His ideas are good. From: Andy Submitted January 27th 2006 I still use a sailing jacket that I've had for >10 years. It's a Douglas Gill Pilot jacket - more of a bomber style than a full coat. Its lightweight, breathable and completely waterproof. Doesn't rust either (and it's not some garish colour either but a dark blue). Fits the bill perfectly. You'll need a hat tho' as there's no hood and the pockets are only small with zippers. From: Anders L. Hansen · lindgaard·at·familie.tele.dk Submitted October 29th 2005 Martin i kown the problem and if you ever find the perfect jacket pls. tell me

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