Sick Of "Wading" Jackets

I want a jacket for fishing that is light weight, very waterproof, and covers my butt so I can stay warmer.

I think wading jackets are stupid because they are too short to be comfortable in a lot of weather I fish in. A parka sounds pretty good these days. Maybe I'm getting old?

If you can name a jacket that fits this description and know if I am or am not getting older please let me know.

you're wearing it with waders?

Yes, I will be wearing waders. My lower back is usually exposed with wading jackets. Wind and rain make me cold in this area. I want something that hangs down farther but has fishing jackets features.

Patagonia river/salt jacket.

Patagonia River Salt.

A jacket that covers your ass? I'm pretty sure that's called a dress.

If you want an even longer one, Patagonia has their Minimalist fishing jacket.

http://www.patagonia.com/product/minimalist-wading-jacket-for-fly-fishing/81830.html

You get better ass coverage, but it's much lighter material so you'll sacrifice the durability of the wader-caliber fabric of the River/Salt model.

I'm particularly short thru the torso, so the River/Salt gives me ample coverage of my back side.

I used several Columbia and Redington coats and eventually became dissatisfied after a long cold day of pouring rain, and both coats eventually becoming saturated.

Because of this reason, I've switched to wearing my snowboarding shell, which is an Arcteryx Sidewinder coat. It 's just a waterproof shell without any insulation, but that's fine because it will not get get wet, stay wet, or leak. I just layer with fleece or a hoodie for warmth underneath. These coats are long and also have an elastic powder bib which prohibits drafts and water from coming up through the garment from below.

It's called a parka.

Check out Dutch Harbor.

Legs straight in the air and not even a dying quiver.

JTFC. You guys are so predictable. It's like 8th grade in this place.

Lets see:

You wear waders

You have a wading jacket that you feel is to short, thus your back gets cold.

1. If the wading jacket you have is "water proof", then a simple solution would be "buy a set or just a top of thermal underwear"

2. If money is NO object, then go with the Patagonia River Salt jacket.

If I plan on doing a lot of wading, which I do in the summer time, I only use my wading jacket, if I use my long rain parka the bottom will always be in the water and gets wet. There are times when my wading jacket is too long.....grrrrr

I LIKE Sky-Guys solution to this problem, and will look into this!!!!!!

Drifter, the River Salt jacket Doc posted about above is very similar to what I am wearing. The point is, buy a bomber waterproof shell that excels at keeping water out, and layer underneath. that may not equal a "fishing coat"....Look at Patagonia, Arcteryx, Marmot, Outdoor Research.

"JTFC. You guys are so predictable. It's like 8th grade in this place."

Yup I think I was about in 8th grade when I answered the question you originally asked for myself.

Here is a free tidbit for extra credit.
Wear a brimmed hat and water won't run down your neck.

When you look in the mirror does it look like a horses a$$?

Or maybe you are still in 8th grade? Long addition can be tough young buck. Keep at it.

Best thread of 17 so far

http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Rain-Jacket-Reviews


"While some jackets offer specific advantages for certain applications, if we could only have one jacket for a wide range of activities, this do-everything rain jacket would be it."

This statement within the review speaks to my point above. Think away from "fishing coats" and look at everything in the marketplace.

It's lookin like Simms Contender fits the purpose. I'm kinda over Patagonia they burned me bad with that H2NO gArbage years ago. To their credit I got a full refund.

Wow even Hanky gets it. Thanks!

The minimalist wading jacket from Patagonia is in my opinion the best fishing jacket for the money, and they are on sale now. If it's raining really hard, I just put on a rubber jacket over the wading jacket even thought the wading jacket keeps me dry, I just like the extra protection and warmth. I just ordered another one as a backup since they are on sale and I don't like their latest two color version. They are pretty light weight but durable and pack well. I really like the felt lined hand warming pockets and the chest pockets are pretty substantial.

But we established that we are wearing waders. If you sit down with waders on and your ass gets wet, something is wrong with your waders.

Or, the dumbest.

"But we established that we are wearing waders. If you sit down with waders on and your ass gets wet, something is wrong with your waders."

So true.
The moisture must be coming from the inside.

"Think away from "fishing coats" and look at everything in the marketplace."

Great advice.

Perhaps Depends has the perfect product to help Breezy keep his A$$ dry?
After speaking with him they will probably throw in a free pacifier too.

Where else on the web can you ask for advice about fishing coats and get completely throttled and get good feedback at the same time. I love PP

"Moisture" in his waders, ....now that statement has serious legs!

I take this back.

This thread is going places now!!!!

I just wish Vision Hooks made a wading jacket.

Instant classic.

Vision sucks....

Grundens Weather Boss is a good jacket, kinda spendy tho... SG's option is very very smart, plus if you dont need it you can take it off and not lose a bunch of heat as you are still layered underneath...

if your back gets cold, i take it you wear wading pants? either that or you went to the wrong isle when you bought your waders... well maybe not....

Nice no-frills jacket... even comes Ornamental color.

Oh wait.... that' s the ONLY color.

As I've said before, it's the wearer of the coats fault, not Visions fault.

Visions coat works as advertised. It's a light fabric, waterproof, inexpensive coast made in bulk over seas that keeps water off of the wearer when warn and used in the appropriate manner.

Yeah, so a few zippers and a couple of sleeves fell off a couple of early production Vision Coats and so they had some delivery issues. Those are all a thing of the past

It's not Visions fault that people wear this coat and choose to either snorkel or swim in the river with it. Anyone that chooses to snorkel or swim in a river is going to get wet on the inside, regardless of the coat they use.

At least this is how I would picture the argument to go......

Fact, if you sit on wet surfaces wearing waterproof breathable fabrics, the pressure pushes water through. With my fat a$$, it pushes through faster.

I just noticed the change in Beezy's status.

ROFL!

Not it, by the way! I am a bit disappointed in myself for not thinking that one up first. Dammit!

Fixed it

Todd the Mod strikes again.....

If your just sitting on your A$$ and not generating any heat then why do you even need breathable??

When you slip on your Simms garments, with the company logo written all over the outside in big letters, I know you guys feel like superman putting on his cape. What it should say is,
"I just spent a ton of money, pushed against something moist, and now my A$$ is wet.

Waterproof and breathable in the same garment is a sales tactic.
Breathable fabrics leak, don't breath, or do a half A$$ job of each.........Period.

Get out of the fishing circle of gear, I looked into a good climbing/hiking rain jacket and haven't looked back.
The company I trust is Mammut, have had one of their medium weight climbing jackets for 8 years now and it still sheds water well, lasts thru a good Forks soaking...and is long enough (since it's a hiking/climbing jacket) that is covers my ass.
It's just another thought and another recommendation but if you've never seen or tried on their gear you owe it to yourself to do just that.

they made coats?

hell i figured they would have stopped at sh!tty hooks....

Well some of us have this thing called a pro deal (including me), so we buy Simms if it fits the purpose at prices we'd be crazy not to take them up on. The trouble is, I'm still not buying much Simms with the deal cuz they aren't as good as they think they are or all the fly guys think they are.

This is what I heard straight from the horse's mouth this past summer. Ain't that right, Paker?

Rubber is the only way to go for the lazy slobs fishing outta boats.

Just buy a KUIU Yukon or First Lite SEAK Stormtight and move on.

I'm confused. Is the problem a wet ass, a cold ass, or perhaps something more personal like a self-consciousness issue?

If either of the latter are the case, you might check out the products from Skhoop. Warm and they keep those riverside eyes from undressing you inappropriately. My wife loves hers. Waders required for a dry ass though.

Someone with adult level education would just layer a good fleece or sweater under their waders.
Hell what's your address I'll send ya $3 so you can hit up goodwill.....

Stormr Jackets are pretty bomb

Sky-Guy nailed it. Get on steepandcheap.com, rei-garage, or backcountry outlet and find a 20,000 mm waterproof or Gore-Tex shell. If you get cold, find a primaloft insulated jacket to wear underneath. Skip anything with a DWR coating as it'll wash off pretty quick.

I ended up finding some Acteryx ski pants at an REI garage sale for $33, and they've been the best rain paints I've owned.

http://www.backcountry.com/marmot-pallisades-jacket-mens-mar00lr

http://www.backcountry.com/houdini-4-ace-jacket-mens

"Well some of us have this thing called a pro deal (including me), so we buy Simms if it fits the purpose at prices we'd be crazy not to take them up on. The trouble is, I'm still not buying much Simms with the deal cuz they aren't as good as they think they are or all the fly guys think they are."


Crazy is being a "Pro" for a product that "ain't as good as they think they are".
Unless of course you share that way of thinking.


The real "pros" who fish for a living in the wettest conditions in Alaska wear rubber. Not some squirt your employees down with a fire hose yuppie chit.
Perhaps you should roll on the rubber and you wouldn't get a wet a$$.

+1 for a rubber jacket. Cheapest and most functional option.

Agree... These are the top choice for CHARTER captains and their faithful occupants during adverse weather. Maybe we can switch gears and talk about charter boat outer wear and fashion.....

If you got a moist A$$ on a charter boat then you might want to go with a different crew.
I say might because I realize the expectations on a California charter boat are different.

Per usual, I have nothing substantial to offer this conversation. I just wanted to post in this chit show.

Beezy is Moist.

Moist. Moist. Moist.

Had to go back and see if I was in the dark side.
This thread has potential.

oh, and a dude that admits that he is moist should be drowned in the tears of a baby harp seal

Looks like Frank has gotten himself very moist talking about Charter boats....all the rubber in the world won't keep that boy dry

"That's not exactly true. GoreTex and Hydus 3L are waterproof, breathable and leak proof fabrics. But they're spendy."

That's BS.
Water repellent for a time but never waterproof.

Reach past the gimmicks, grab the rubber, or be accountable for the spreading of moisture.

"I have never had a drop of water inside my dry pants or jacket."

I imagine the guy that invented the term waterproof for these breathable garments probably lived in California as well.
Great state to field test rain gear.
Some real soakers down there.


"Are you still sporting your neoprene on the rivers?"

I don't sport waders.

This doesn't have anything to do with the water proof/resistant issue, but here's a solution for the keeping warm part.

Having a bad back, I put a ThermaCare heat wrap on one cold morning on the Columbia and to my surprise if kept me nice and warm for the several hours I was in a boat. They claim the heat will last up to 16 hours.

Almost all quote waterproof jackets will eventually start soaking water. I was photographing rain gear for the Fenwick catalog several years ago and it shed water so well I could have duck taped the pants to a pair of rubber knee boots and waded in the river up to the zipper. After five or six years they just soaked the water up. I was somewhat able to get them back to shedding rain drops by using a treatment that you run them in the washing machine and air drying them.

The are not nearly as comfortable but my 40 year old Helley Hanson rubber gear sheds water like the day I first used it, which I seldom do because I usually use the newer and lighter clothing.

If want to stay dry, wear a rubber jacket.

This is best if you are a throttle jockey...if you actually steelhead fish, then rowing can get pretty warm in a rubber jacket.

I would love to contribute something useful to this thread, but that's about all I've got right there. I wear a rubber jacket with fabric overlay, and when it gets too warm rowing, I unzip it and it cools off. I've never worried too much about getting wet while fishing...this isn't knitting, after all.

Fish on...

Todd

P.S. I am not a Mod.

I do the same thing,never fails to keep you dry.

Boy,ain't that the truth. This myth needs to end.

As long as your nards are dry and you've got some Crown R- it can piss rain on me all day. Do they make rubber underwear?

Snort!

Just wanted to follow up since I mentioned that the Patagonia deep wading jacket has felt lined hand warming pockets. I just got the latest version and realized that it does not have felt lined hand warming pockets like my older version but instead has very large zippered pockets in place of the hand warming ones, so there are 4 total zippered pockets, 2 which are huge. The cuffs are also not rubberized like the previous version and the main front zipper is not water proof but does have a storm flap. I think Patagonia made some cost saving updates. I still think it will be a very functional jacket but it will likely be a long while before this new version replaces my old.

How would you rate the ass area of this coat in terms of dryness, warmth, and security from sexual harassment?

low

That's why the military doesn't use rubber? Your story has some holes in it gore-Tex is a superior fabric!

I went fishing this weekend in sideways snow. By the end of the day I was definitely moist and very cold. My fat ass had to be rescued (pic).

Coley, no sexual threats were encountered despite my posterior being exposed to the elements.

GoreTex superior to PVC and rubber.???
Good one.

Your GoreTex fabric is what has holes in it!!!!!!!!!!!!

Check out Cabelas Gortex guidewear. I have a long coat like you are describing that is my everyday wear. Used it at B10 with Guide pants & stayed very comfortable & dry. I have Grundens also & would get very clammy damp & cold. FWIW

Another advantage of rubber over today's fashion suits is the fact you can clean egg, herring, blood, etc messes off them easily.

Great thread, and I wish I had something funny to offer.

As it is, I just have a review:

I have been thoroughly impressed with my Simms Slick jacket. Pricey, but it has performed flawlessly. To answer the initial question of the thread, the back is cut low and it does keep me warmer. In addition, the internal cuffs do a fantastic job of keeping the water from running down your arms while holding your rod up. And for its namesake, all of the hidden zippers don't catch/foul anything (this is more applicable to fly casters, but is still very nice for all fishermen).

Hands down best coat I have ever seen, and I did quite a bit of research prior to buying it.

Simms is coming out with a breathable chastity belt model next year for you homo's. lol

Unlike some, I've never had moisture, temperature, or vanity issues in the ass region of my wading knickers. As such, I prefer a wading jacket designed for, well, wading.

As for my sexual orientation, just because you think my ass looks great doesn't mean I'm gay. Come to think of it, you been hanging around Beezy? Maybe that's really why he wants to cover the kaboose.

Belly laugh

Resurrecting this thread because I'm also in the market for a new jacket to use while fishing and performing other outdoor activities, but I don't like the shortness of many "wading" jackets.

However, I do like to keep one or two lure boxes in my jacket pocket when I'm bank fishing, and a lot of otherwise good rain jackets don't have big enough pockets, D rings, etc.

Does anyone have any experience with the Hodgman Aesis or h5 jackets?

sick bump lol. one of my favorite threads.

Patagonia River Salt Jacket will give you the length you need plus the large front pockets you seek... all in a sleek uncluttered CLEAN frontal profile. Buy it ONCE and rest assured their iron-clad warranty will have you covered for friggin' ever.

So does nobody on here use Simms?...

I just read through this entire thread. I'll never get those minutes back!
It seems that everyone has missed the obvious. If I want to keep my ass warm and dry I don't look at a jacket - I look at pants! Just like if I want to keep my head warm and dry I don't look at pants, but jackets and hats. I wonder if the OP looks for gloves to keep his feet warm?

I'm sure we never met, but I'm sure I'll recognize him by the way he wears stuff.

Still using my Arcteryx Sidewinder coat for all things outdoor. Hunting, fishing, snowboarding, boating, & hikes. Hasnt failed me yet and dont expect it to. I've had it for 4-5 years now and still going strong and feels like I'll have it a long time. Awesome build quality and durabilty, huge pockets, only weighs 1.4 pounds. Love it.

Yea...but does it keep your ass warm?

I tried on the River Salt, and it's a good option (I even like the camo styling), but I'm a cheapskate at heart and found pretty good deals on the two Hodgman options

This World's Best Boat Ho is one smart dude.......

Best river jacket for myself - hands down the SIMMS G3 Guide Jacket.

Don't have many good things to say about the over-priced SIMM's Pro Guide suit (bibs and jacket) and the G4 jacket....unless you like getting wet and cold.

I got a Simms Freestone jacket several years ago. I like some of the features, but I don't like how short it is. Also, some of the waterproof/breathable material appears to be wearing off on the neck/hook area. I tried on a Simms Challenger jacket recently, which was longer, but didn't have the same large chest pocket options.

My buddy has the river salt (I think) and got soaked in the front as the water came in through the zipper. I have no idea why they didn't include a storm flap in that design. Serious thunderstorm while fishing the hump in september.

For the "too short" complaints just but a tall size if they have it. Before cabelas eviscerated their warranty the goretex guide jacket in tall was near perfect...

If you enjoy killing hatchery fish I would consider not wearing or supporting anything from Patagonia. Also if you're a hunter, and support predator management.... same.

I know how much folks around here just LOOOOVE Wild Fish Conservancy. Well good news Patagonia does too!

https://www.patagonia.com/actionworks/grantees/wild-fish-conservancy-northwest/

Yeah, I'm turned off by some of Patagonia's political advocacy (not to mention the price), but I haven't totally written them off yet.

F!!! Patagonia!!! Complete hogwash propaganda.

I’m also in the market for a high end rain jacket. Not many options for someone who is 6’5 without looking like I’m swimming in it. Anyone know of any companies or models that have tall sizes?

I will get bitch slapped for this but you should go straight to Cabelas and buy the Guidewear Advanced shell.

The Cabelas' Guidewear was the best set of bibs I have ever owned...and still own/use. Probably longer than the SIMMS G3 jacket. Never got a chance to use the jacket, though. If it's anything like the bibs, it would be an awesome jacket.

The the Cabelas GuideWear jacket wicks moisture straight up the sleeves from the cuffs.

I've had good luck with them too.

Cabelas guidewear does appear to have tall sizes. Thanks for the response. Anyone know of any others?

The guide wear is great, BUT now that they are owned by bass pro they do NOT have a life time warranty, you now have 90 days ( i think that is what he said) to return any item with factory defect. They will NOT honor the old warranty, or at least that is what I was told AFTER the buy out when i purchased mine. Crappy timing on my part.

Plus a lot of their jackets now have the ugly-ass Bass Pro Shops logo prominently displayed, which is kind of a dealbreaker for me.

Yes. One of the only drawbacks. Depending on conditions you can get wicking up to your elbows. Ass,shoulders and everything else stay dry as a bone. Maybe a neoprene cuff would correct this?

I wear a 100 dollar Grundens with neo cuffs and I see no reason to change. It may be a bit warm walking around but I guess I'm just all man!

I have the long dark Cabela's guide coat, bought it 5, maybe 7 years ago, neoprene cuffs, NEVER had an issue with water up the sleeves, and I've had my hands in water halfway to elbows with no wicking. Francis commented on it being a nice looking coat at the Monte Launch a few years ago. My previous Cabela's guide coat (stolen, unfortunately) was yellow, an even better coat but wasn't available anymore. Bought it about 10 years ago. Every time a new product comes out from Cabela's it isn't as good as the previous item was that it replaced.

I don't think that is isolated to Cabelas products. Most products in general ain't what the used to be anymore. Industry is pumping out straight crap so we can just go buy more next year.

SQUIRREL!!!!!!!!!

Well, I ended up going with the Patagonia River Salt, even though (a) it's pricey (despite getting it for 20% off), (b) I would have preferred a jacked that had lower pockets in addition to chest-level pockets, and (c) I'm not a fan of some of Patagonia's stances.

I was very tempted by the Hodgman Aesis jacket, because I found a screamin' deal on Amazon, but (a) the chest pockets were just barely too small for the lure boxes I like to carry, and (b) the color I preferred would have cost over $100 more.

None of the Cabela's, Simms, Sitka, or Frogg Toggs products I was able to try on made the final cut.

If you are against their stance why would you support that company? I usually don't speak out but after reading up on Patagonia and watching that propaganda riddled one sided anti hatchery film they put put I would never give them a dime of my hard earned money especially when we are seeing now that when hatchery fish have been cut back or eliminated these wild fish still aren't rebounding. It's BS .

They can suck a turd.

May as well make a Christmas Donation to WFC.

While you're at it release all hatchery fish.

The best part about the Patagonia River Salt jacket is it actually wicks the hatchery fish right out of your home river. It's magic.

I hope they go out of business

all hatchery fish must die, haven't you heard?

I bought the jacket because it's the product that best fits my needs. I was conflicted, but ultimately my self-interest in having a jacket that meets my needs won out against my self-interest in the production of hatchery fish.

At least you'll be dry hiking the river banks.